This session opened with Bartholomew acknowledging that as their work together approaches completion, many students will feel an inner prompting to explore different spiritual paths that may look and feel different from their current practice. He emphasized that no path is truly "new" since there is only one awareness, and he encouraged students to become connoisseurs of what works for them personally. The key criterion for evaluating any teaching or path involves paying attention not to mental reactions (which can be easily tricked by preferences about terminology or style), but to the actual feelings that arise in the physical body when encountering genuine spiritual transmission.

This teaching addressed the apparent contradictions between different spiritual approaches - some emphasizing breath concentration, others focusing on chakras, mantras, prayer, or various meditation techniques. Bartholomew explained that truly enlightened teachers laugh when discussing their "special" path because they recognize there is only one light manifesting through countless approaches. What matters is not the specific technique but the wholehearted commitment to whatever method generates excitement and cellular response. This vibrational attunement, created through dedicated practice, brings about enlightenment awareness regardless of the particular form it takes.

A significant portion of the session explored the relationship between suffering and bliss as valid paths to God-realization. While acknowledging that suffering legitimately leads to spiritual awakening by revealing something trustworthy and resilient beyond immediate circumstances, Bartholomew emphasized that bliss is equally valid and perhaps more accessible. He challenged the notion that this planet represents a "kindergarten" level of spiritual development, pointing out that human beings demonstrate tremendous courage in facing daily difficulties with grace, humor, love, and compassion - qualities that require mature consciousness rather than childlike stumbling.

The session then delved deeply into the true nature of love, distinguishing between romanticized conditional love ("I'll stay if you're good to me") and the mature commitment that characterizes genuine spiritual development. This mature love demands sustained patience - the willingness to maintain loving commitment for months or years while allowing people, families, nations, or planets to evolve. This patience extends to global awareness, where individuals can learn about their own inner responses by honestly observing their reactions to world events without trying to eliminate or excuse their initial judgmental responses.

Bartholomew introduced the concept of conscious identity creation, explaining that people selectively focus on negative aspects of themselves while ignoring countless examples of loving, honest, caring behavior throughout each day. He suggested deliberately strengthening positive identity markers by noticing instances of desired qualities rather than reinforcing problematic self-concepts. This applies equally to health, spiritual development, and personal relationships - the key involves identifying with the light and awareness that is constantly present rather than with temporary circumstances or limited self-concepts.

The teaching addressed those who have practiced for years without seeming progress, explaining that spiritual work occurs on two levels simultaneously. On the individual level, each person brings conscious awareness to whatever arises moment by moment - fear, pain, confusion - recognizing that awareness itself remains constant while experiences change. On the planetary level, committed practitioners serve as "outriders" in a vast experiment of bringing conscious light into unconscious and shadow-filled moments, contributing to collective human evolution regardless of personal feelings of success or failure.

The session concluded with the recognition that what people seek is so familiar and ever-present that it has been overlooked and misnamed. The central "I" that experiences all changing circumstances - the same awareness that has been present from birth through every life transition - represents the source of all seeking. This awareness cannot be earned, lost, or failed because it constitutes what each person fundamentally is. The job involves simply becoming aware of this already-present awareness as many moments as possible, using whatever method feels authentic and generates genuine response. When this recognition stabilizes, life becomes much simpler and profoundly sweet, with an inner knowing that transcends all external circumstances and affirms that "all's well."