We often speak in terms of perfection: the perfect relationship, car or boss, for example. Perfection in this sense is an unattainable myth. Perfection, as a qualitative rather than a quantitative term, can be applied to the meditation, first looking at perfect sila as freedom from craving and hatred in the moment, then covering the other sections of the 8-fold Path. 

Alan James founded the House of Inner Tranquillity, along with his wife Jacqui James in 1980. He continued to teach the way to enlightenment until his retirement in 2010.  

This talk was originally given in April 1983