Here Bartholomew tackled one of the most fundamental question head-on, and his answer may be a surprise: the purpose of life is understanding you are not an ego. This tape also contains pointed warnings about the sense of "spiritual superiority" in relationships, and a remarkably clear description of what happens at death.

Context: Speaking to the early Socorro (NM) quest group, Bartholomew addressed one of humanity's most fundamental questions - what is the purpose of life? He acknowledged that different listeners will seek different answers, but offered the teaching "in the highest degree" he perceives, trusting that those who can hear will hear, and those who cannot will someday come to hear.

The Core Teaching - You Are Not an Ego: The purpose of life, Bartholomew stated plainly, is to understand that you are not an ego. Most humans perceive life's meaning as bound up in family, work, personal love, country, or vocation - and while none of these are wrong, as long as we believe this illusion, we cannot fully participate in the broader teaching the planet provides. We say "all is one," but if we look honestly at our thoughts, we act constantly as if we are separate - not only body from body, but mind from mind. The ego maintains its power by promising us specialness: "You are special if you are a separate ego." But in oneness, no one is more important than anyone else - and this is something the ego refuses to accept.

Dangers of the Spiritual Path: Bartholomew warned against the misuse of the spiritual quest - anything that makes you feel different from or superior to others is a misuse, because there is no real difference. He pointed especially to close relationships, where an "insidious feeling" can emanate toward one's mate that makes them feel less. The long-suffering partner who stays home caring for family while the other attends spiritual meetings may well be the more caring and dedicated. Taking on the "deadly habit" of thinking oneself exalted because of some glimmering of spiritual truth is one of the greatest traps on the path.

Death and What Lies Beyond: Addressing the group's questions about death, Bartholomew explained that consciousness does not change when you die - there is no explosion into something vastly different, because there really is no "other side"; it is all the same. Fear exists only in the body sense, not in consciousness. He advised keeping awareness focused on consciousness rather than the body during transition, letting the body take care of itself. On the other side, what you envision will initially manifest, because the mind creates - and you will come to realize this is happening. The degree to which we cultivate deep awareness of our oneness with the divine force while in body determines how smooth and expansive the transition will be.

Finding Right Work: When asked how to discover what work one should be doing, Bartholomew observed that many people mistake their job for something "God has given them" when in fact they have placed themselves there through their own limitations - comfort, convenience, fear of expansion, fear of decreased income, or attachment to prestige. What the higher forces want above all is for us to move with creative joy. The first step is honest self-examination: Why am I here? Is it fear? Is it ego? Only after removing the veil from our true motivations can we become open to genuine guidance about our path.