This is a masterful, wide-ranging session covering the pitfalls of meditation (ego-driven practice vs. true surrender), the technique of "dynamic watching" of inner space, why thoughts always seek other people, the terror of the ego facing its own mortality, what an enlightened person actually sees (dynamic life force in all things), primitive cultures vs. modern awareness, the power of vision, the dangers of spiritual teaching, and a fascinating prediction that the USSR and USA - both filled with "courageous, malleable minds" - will eventually bridge their differences and receive new spiritual teachings. This tape by itself constitutes a near-complete teaching on meditation, thought-transmission, the ego's terror, enlightened perception, and the qualities needed to receive new truth. The title understates the scope.

The Pitfalls of Meditation: Bartholomew addressed the main obstacle facing meditators: letting the ego be the meditator rather than the inner source. Many people sit for twenty minutes, think thoughts, return to center, think more thoughts - then rise feeling "what a good boy I am." This ritual meditation is worse than nothing because it gives the ego the pretense of being on a spiritual quest. If you cannot quiet your mind, "it is because you don't want to" - because you still believe that separate thinking is what makes you happy. "Where your happiness lies, there will your thoughts be." He recommended instead choosing just three practices (such as diet, mantra, and meditation) and doing them well for years until they become automatic.

Dynamic Meditation on Inner Space: The key instruction: watching the inner space must be dynamic, not passive. "You must learn to get your power together... take all of this energy that is constantly moving around your physical vehicle and focus it inside yourself." It should be like a cat watching at a mouse hole - fully alert, whole being mobilized. Energy goes where it's focused; this is the law. When you focus dynamically inward, the surrounding energy field naturally gathers to support the process. This applies throughout the day, not just during formal sitting.

Thoughts, Energy, and the Oneness of Egos: Whatever you think about another person reaches them directly. "If you were thinking a very terrifying thought about someone, be aware that they're receiving it." Negative thoughts sent to someone hundreds of miles away enter their aura and lower their resistance; loving thoughts uplift them. When asked how egos can be "one" if they're unreal, Bartholomew explained: energy constantly flows between all beings. "You don't end at your skin." Part of your wife's energy field moves into yours; the painting moves into you; sunlight particles enter you. Bodies appear solid only because perception is fooled by density. Marriages work best when both partners draw similar vibrations.

The Terror of the Ego: Every negative reaction traces back to the ego's sense of being "number one" is threatened. The ego wants to see itself as omniscient, omnipresent, everlasting - a copy of God but personal. "And it doesn't have them. Everything the ego makes dies. Nothing that God makes dies." The stacked deck cannot be overcome. The ego's deepest terror is knowing "it has failed in its major job" - to be godlike while remaining separate. Most egos spend eons refusing to face this.

What the Enlightened Person Sees: The planet is real in one sense - it doesn't disappear when someone becomes enlightened. But what we call "unreal" is anything that is not upheld by divine power. The enlightened person looks at the same tree you do but perceives "the incredible movement, the incredible, moving, dynamic life force that is embodied in that structure." He looks at rocks and sees they are divinely alive. Nothing is dead. "And that is what gives him this incredible joy because he knows there is no death." This differs from primitive cultures who feel instinctual connection but lack understanding and remain trapped in fear.

Vision, Goals, and the Dangers of Teaching: Whatever your goal is, you will amass energy toward it - this is the law. Most people's goals are so mundane they'd be disgusted if they brought them to consciousness. Many on the spiritual path want to appear wise rather than to know truth. Spiritual teachers face a grave danger: they cannot teach past what they've experienced, and if they impose their "higher view" on students not ready for it, they create karma. When a group stops growing and becomes tedious, "realize that you've come to the end of your power... they should leave and find a higher teacher."

Malleable Minds and the Coming Teaching: Asked about fundamentalist Christians playing the role of Pharisees, Bartholomew warned that many groups - Catholic, Protestant, even Eastern traditions with their Vedas and sutras - will resist new teachings because they believe "nothing further is to ever be revealed." The coming age needs "malleable minds and hearts, minds that are able to be courageous enough to question everything." Surprisingly, such minds exist in both the USA and USSR. "From our perception, we see a great deal of similarity between the two countries and the peoples. And we see great potential for a bridge of beauty and light." Countries run by rigid doctrine will have more trouble; people with no beliefs are actually easier to reach than those who must first unlearn.