Editing The Order of Christ Sophia (section)

===Student-teacher relationship===
The student-teacher relationship is one of the defining characteristics of OCS as it is in other major mystical practices, including [[Sufism]] and [[Zen]]. People attend the Centers at various levels of involvement and are free to choose to come and go as they desire. Those who choose the higher levels of training attend classes and services on a regular basis and also tithe and strive for personal integrity. Students who choose higher involvement are also expected to complete daily spiritual exercises, attend [[Eucharist|communion]] daily or as often as possible, fast once a month for world peace, and be willing to learn. In the early years of OCS, all affiliated members took part in the intensive training associated with being a student, but in recent years OCS changed their policy and now invites members to be associated with OCS at various levels of commitment.

OCS suggests that through the process of being counseled and guided by teachers of the spiritual path a person can be helped to raise their consciousness, heal some of their wounds of the past and find their purpose in life. OCS cites the relationship between Jesus and his [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]] as the model for the practice of having those who have more experience and knowledge guide those who are less experienced and knowledgeable.