To determine who the self is becoming requires the student to focus upon the self, to seek the assistance of those around the self and to welcome all that which is provided to the self that conflicts with the self’s own belief about who the self is believed to be. Failure to seek the opinion of another by asking, “How do you see me?” indicates that the self prefers the story provided to the self by the characters that have been created in order to defend and to protect the self’s false image.

To view the self impartially is impossible; oftentimes, to garner impartial view of the self from another can be equally impossible, for the other may have ‘an ax to grind’ or may seek to soothe the self with an appraisal that states that the behavior of the self is all that could be expected due to the response of another. The provision of truth to another is rare, for the characters have convinced the self that truth will diminish the relationship, will destroy the feelings of love and support, will not be welcomed by the other. The self will be punished for telling the truth; therefore, the character steps forth, informing the other that the self would have conducted the self in similar fashion, stating that the other did all that was possible thereby ensuring lesson failure – current, as well as lesson failure future, for the other has now been reinforced, told in fact that the self’s behavior was appropriate and decision will now be made due to the honor and respect afforded to the individual who has spoken falsely to the self. Do all understand my words?

All: Yes, I do – thank you.

It is the self’s failure to step forth, to eliminate the characters, stating, “I shall speak truth. It may not be welcomed. It may in fact damage my relationship if it is ill-received but I must be true to myself and I must be true to the other. I must speak truth at all times, regardless of that which is reaped.”

Student: I have a very clear picture of this character called the “good friend” – and there’s a whole set of beliefs that go with that when I’m a good friend and I’m wondering if that’s almost archetypal with human behavior – that we each have a set of beliefs of how we’re supposed to be when we’re being a good friend and this question of endorsement or telling the truth or acceptance… is part of that in all relationship with people that we care about.

Indeed.

Student: So then it’s fair to say that anytime we’re in connection with another human being we’re going to be challenged in that way.

You will indeed my sister. It is the goal for all students to learn and to then teach; failure to teach informs the inner Teacher that the self has not yet learned. Do you understand?

Student: I do – thank you.

Loereve: Is it failure to teach or failure to teach appropriately?

It is failure to teach, my brother. To offer something erroneous, to offer endorsement to one whom the self knows that the behavior is detrimental to the other’s progress upon the path – this is not teaching, my brother. Do you understand?

Loereve: Yeah, I do.

Rather, it indicates that the self has yet to learn, for honesty is a most difficult lesson – one that the bulk of humanity struggles to integrate the necessity, for the characters have convinced the self that honesty can be damaging to the self as well as to the other. The student who walks the path to healing does not seek to damage - the character is believed; therefore, the self speaks half-truths or remains silent when asked by another that which would return the assessment that could be viewed as negative. It is the negative assessment that is of the greatest assistance. To endorse another, particularly to tell another that their actions were appropriate oftentimes garners karma for the self, for assurance has been provided to another falsely, creating hurdles unnecessary that must be crossed later in the life experience. Do all understand that karma is garnered by the self that speaks dishonestly to another, endorsing behaviors that are then employed by the other time after time after time due to the self’s counsel?

Learn/teach, teach/learn brings forth responsibility to the student who walks the path to healing.