by Otto Bathurst, UK

I have a partner. I met her before starting my study of the Esoteric Teachings. And so we have been on this journey together. Like all relationships, we have had huge ups and downs. It’s really hard at times, but that’s the same for all of us. There is no magic pill, potion or switch to flick. But what is beautiful about what is happening now is that, as we both… in fact, I shall only speak for myself… as I begin to get to know who I truly am and start to shed some of the masks, costumes and suits of armour that I had been wearing, that relationship becomes more and more honest and more and more true. I’m not there yet. Not by a long way. I still have much to learn. But that’s cool. And what is even cooler is that I can honestly say that the love I have for my partner is way more honest than the love I had for her when I met her. What’s more, it’s darn sexy. Honestly, some days I look at her and I fancy her more than ever.

I have three kids. All young. Boy, oh boy, it’s full-on! Same as everyone, I find it pretty much the most challenging thing in my life. And same as everyone I am sometimes a terrific father… sometimes I’m a car-crash. I lose my rag. I get exhausted and I stuff it up. But since studying the Esoteric Teachings, this too has changed. Again, in the most simple of ways. I know that the only thing that matters is that I do everything I can to enable, encourage, show and nurture them to remain everything that they already are, to be themselves. Nothing else matters. And, as with all parenting, the key is to lead by example. They are them, and I am me. Sounds simple!? To be honest, I find it blooming hard with three big mirrors running round the house pushing my buttons! But I am doing good. They are beautiful kids and together we are learning.

I have a job. I am a Television Director. I’m good at it. And I enjoy it. But, like everyone, it sweeps me up sometimes and I can get lost in it. There is a thin line between committing to what you do and getting lost in what you do, using it to escape. I have played both sides of that line. And continue to do so. Still, much to learn. But again the Esoteric has helped me enormously, both on a practical level of how to juggle the balance of work and home lives, and on a creative level. I now endeavour to bring the truth of who I am to my work and, without any question whatsoever, the quality of the work has improved immeasurably and the quality of me in my work has improved immeasurably. My colleagues see and feel that and are inspired by that, though very few of them know about the Esoteric – why should they? – I’m just an ordinary man.

Like my colleagues at work, I have many friends outside of the Esoteric Community. Some of them know about it, some of them haven’t got a clue. It makes no difference either way. But all of them can see and feel that I have changed, that my life has become more simple, that I am more open, honest, loving and truthful, that I have shed many of the masks and costumes that I used to wear. That I am more… me. Some are challenged by that, because of what it reflects in them. Some are inspired by that. Either works for me! Because, in truth, we are all the same and none of us are perfect.

And that includes Serge Benhayon. He isn’t ‘the one’. There isn’t ‘a one’, because we are all the same. All of us. But what Serge Benhayon is, is a super beautiful, super cool, super loving, super inspiring man who has nailed all of the above (well, almost all of it – perfection isn’t possible!). He is a living, breathing example of what life could be like for all of us. And here’s the most important thing: he does life. Totally. Family, job, bills, emails, movies, stuff, rubbish, life… all of it… yet amongst all of that… his commitment to being his true self is total… his commitment to true love is total… his commitment to humanity is total… I could go on and on… He is an inspiration.