This comes from our "understanding" of Asian martial system with specificity to Japanese influences and by osmosis Chinese. Then we have to ask, "what do the Japanese consider perfection?"
You can look to the Japanese folktales, provided you understand enough about them, to provide an answer - a vague one. The "generally" feel that a perfect person is one who has a very "strong will." The feel that a person who acts in accordance with their own will and who become happy through their intelligence is perfection. That perfect person is one who has a strong will and decisive judgement. The folktales also provide the ideology that harmony with nature or living in harmony with nature is a means of expressing perfection.
Perfection to Japanese, in general: Living in harmony with nature and being a person of strong will and decisive judgement.
Yet, we Americans and that includes me tend to think perfection goes way beyond this simple statement. We tend to believe, as I do, that the ancient classics are the guide to that self-perfection. It provides a type of "moral compass" that I find critical to have if one practices a brutal form of martial system with the intent to use in self-preservation against violence and violent persons. It is that compass that keeps the person on course in using such systems with proper attitude and intent with all that entails.
I suggest that if my theory is accurate that we learn to NOT assume such extravagant beliefs from lack of knowledge and understanding. Another reason I believe, if truly said by Tatsuo Sensei, that learning of the customs and beliefs of those who came before in regards to learning and practicing martial systems is relevant and critically important.
Perfection, as it means to a person, may not be what you would expect.
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