Why is betrayal so painful? (Walking Through Illusion, Thompson)

"Betrayal is an act of doing in a way you'd hate to be done to."  Betsy Otter Thompson

     In Walking Through Illusion, Thompson, dives into the controversial story of Judas' betrayal of Jesus.  She explains that his betrayal was not to hurt Jesus but to free himself of his own inability.  Judas hoped that he could persuade Jesus to leave town by turning him in and warning Jesus beforehand.  In this way Judas could save Jesus from dying.  Judas thinks to himself, "How will you find your spiritual growth if your spiritual leader is dead?"  In reality, Judas didn't have enough courage to leave town himself and was hoping that if Jesus left he could too.  He didn't want Jesus to die and thought if he could get Jesus to leave then he would be safe.  To Judas' dismay, Jesus did not leave town.   His actions were selfish and they didn't work.  Instead he betrayed his friend and then couldn't live with his limiting thought, that there was nothing left in this life for him to progress through and he commits suicide.   Betrayal is never a good option.  It hurts others and it hurts yourself.
     Another life-changing point Thompson points out is that we all have the same opportunity of success here on this Earth.  That it's not unfair that some have more than others such as money or fame but that everyone has a fair chance to succeed in feeling all the love, joy and peace one desires.  People think the material possessions will bring us these eternal feelings of goodness but they don't.  These feelings, we all seek, come from how much we give out.  Everyone has the opportunity to feel their highest potential.  It's a matter of mirrors.  Give love to receive love.  Do not betray, do not get betrayed.  Give peace, receive peace.  We all want happiness, to feel good.  Give out what you want.  Change your thoughts. Change your actions. Change how you feel.   Jesus says, in Walking Through Illusion, "When I knew the ultimate prize was a feeling to be experienced, not a place to be led to, I urged people to listen to themselves."  We are all on common ground when it comes to living our greatest life.  It is the feeling we possess not the external success we are trying to achieve.