This session addressed a fundamental obstacle in spiritual development: the tendency to avoid deep yearning for God because it requires confronting the very fears and pain that seekers typically try to escape. Bartholomew explained that authentic yearning cannot be accessed without being willing to enter the same psychological space where fear, hopelessness, and awareness of planetary suffering reside. He challenged the common spiritual misconception that awakening should feel good, pointing out that even enlightened beings experience longing - not to escape their current state, but to deepen ever further into the totality of existence.

The teaching emphasized that genuine spiritual maturity requires acknowledging both personal pain and the universal suffering of humanity. Bartholomew criticized the superficial spirituality that proclaims "God is love, I am light" from a detached, high-pitched voice that hasn't genuinely encountered the depths of human anguish. He stressed that one cannot bypass the collective pain of humanity, as each person is inherently connected to the whole and destined to carry this universal sorrow. The path forward involves allowing oneself to open to both personal fears and the broader aches of the world, including legitimate concerns about planetary chaos, war, illness, finances, and the future of children and grandchildren.

Bartholomew revealed that within the depths of pain lies "the pearl," "the jewel in the heart of consciousness," and "the golden light" - but these treasures can only be discovered by those willing to collapse completely into their fear rather than trying to mentally talk themselves out of difficulties. He explained that thinking mind creates endless catastrophic scenarios and keeps people trapped in a repetitive, shallow existence, while the path to authentic awakening requires abandoning the illusion of personal control and surrendering to the vast creative principle at work in all circumstances.

The session addressed practical applications, particularly regarding teenagers and family members experiencing pain. Rather than trying to fix or adjust external circumstances, Bartholomew advocated for the radical approach of being willing to feel what others are feeling without defending oneself or trying to make oneself right. This willingness to experience another's pain transforms it from "their pain" into "the pain" - the universal suffering of humanity that believes itself separate from its true nature. He cites Christ's forgiveness from the cross as the ultimate example of this total willingness to absorb others' unconscious actions without resistance.

A significant portion of this session examined the relationship between "letting go" and experiencing fear fully, clarifying that these are the same process - both involve stopping the mental struggle to escape what's present. Bartholomew acknowledged that current generations face unprecedented levels of fear and separation from their source, but he framed this intensity as an opportunity rather than a tragedy. He explained that the rising fear serves to finally motivate large groups of people to say "we must get through this" and develop the willingness to go through rather than around their deepest terrors.

The teaching concluded by helping participants to distinguish between who they are and who they are not. Through honest self-inquiry, one discovers they are not their thoughts, emotions, body, or fears - all of which are temporary and changeable. What remains constant is the sense of "I Am" that never confuses itself with others and persists through all states of consciousness. Bartholomew revealed that what people run away from (fear) contains exactly what they're seeking (light and bliss), making the spiritual journey ultimately about developing the courage to be whole by embracing everything present rather than selectively accepting only pleasant experiences.