Reading # 5753-1 This psychic reading was given by
Edgar Cayce at his home, on the 16th day of June, 1933,
at 5pm, before the Second Annual Congress of the
Association for Research and Enlightenment, Inc., in
accordance with request by those present.
GC: You
will give at this time a comprehensive discourse on
reincarnation. If the soul returns to the earth through a
succession of appearances, you will explain why this is
necessary or desirable and will clarify through
explanation the laws governing such returns. You will
answer the questions which will be asked on this subject.
EC: Yes. In giving even
an approach to the subject sought here, it is well that
there be given some things that may be accepted as
standards from which conclusions - or where parallels -
may be drawn, that there may be gathered in the minds of
those who would approach same some understanding, some
concrete examples, that may be applied in their own
individual experience.
Each soul that enters,
then, must have had an impetus from some beginning that
is of the Creative Energy, or of a first cause.
What, then, was - or is -
the first cause; for if there be law pertaining to the
first cause it must be an unchangeable law, and is - IS -
as "I AM that I am!" For this is the basis from
which one would reason:
The first cause was, that
the created would be the companion for the Creator; that
it, the creature, would - through its manifestations in
the activity of that given unto the creature - show
itself to be not only worthy of, but companionable to,
the Creator.
Hence, every form of life
that man sees in a material world is an essence or
manifestation of the Creator; not the Creator, but a
manifestation of a first cause - and in its own sphere,
its own consciousness of its activity in that plane or
sphere.
Hence, as man in this
material world passes through, there are the
manifestations of the attributes that the consciousness
attributes to, or finds coinciding with, that activity
which is manifested; hence becomes then as the very
principle of the law that would govern an entrance into a
manifestation.
Then a soul, the
offspring of a Creator, entering into a consciousness
that became a manifestation in any plane or sphere of
activity, given that free-will for its use of those
abilities, qualities, conditions in its experience,
demonstrates, manifests, shows forth, that it reflects in
its activity towards that first cause.
Hence in the various
spheres that man sees (that are demonstrated, manifested,
in and before self) even in a material world, all forces,
all activities, are a manifestation. Then, that which
would be the companionable, the at-oneness with, the
ability to be one with, becomes necessary for the
demonstration or manifestation of those attributes in and
through all force, all demonstration, in a sphere.
Because an atom, a
matter, a form, is changed does not mean that the
essence, the source or the spirit of it has changed; only
in its form of manifestation, and NOT in its relation
with the first cause. That man reaches that consciousness
in the material plane of being aware of what he does
about or with the consciousness of the knowledge, the
intelligence, the first cause, makes or produces that
which is known as the entering into the first cause,
principles, basis, or the essences, that there may be
demonstrated in that manifested that which gains for the
soul, for the entity, that which would make the soul an
acceptable companion to the Creative Force, Creative
Influence. See?
As to how, where, when,
and what produces the entrance into a material
manifestation of an entity, a soul:
In the beginning was that
which set in motion that which is seen in manifested form
with the laws governing same. The inability of destroying
matter, the ability of each force, each source of power
or contact - as it meets in its various forms, produces
that which is a manifestation in a particular sphere.
This may be seen in those elements used in the various
manifested ways of preparing for man, in many ways, those
things that bespeak of the laws that govern man's
relationship to the first cause, or God.
Then, this is the
principle:
Like begets like. Those
things that are positive and negative forces combine to
form in a different source, or different manifestation,
the combinations of which each element, each first
principle manifested, has gained from its associations -
in its activities - that which has been brought to bear
by self or that about it, to produce that manifestation.
Hence man, the crowning
of all manifestations in a material world - a causation
world, finds self as the cause and the product of that he
(man), with those abilities given, has been able to
produce, or demonstrate, or manifest from that he (the
soul) has gained, does gain, in the transition, the
change, the going toward that (and being of that) from
which he came.
Periods, times, places:
That which is builded, each in its place, each in its
time.
This is shown to man in
the elemental world about him. Man's consciousness of
that about him is gained through that he, man, does about
the knowledge of that he is, as in relation to that from
which he came and towards which he is going.
Hence, in man's analysis
and understanding of himself, it is as well to know from
whence he came as to know whither he is going.
Ready for questions.
(Q) What
is meant by inequality of experience? Is it a strong
argument for reincarnation?
(A) Considering that
which has just been presented, isn't it the same
argument?
(Q) Is
experience limited to this earth plane?
(A) As each entity, each
soul, in the various consciousnesses, passes from one to
another, it - the soul - becomes conscious of that about
self in that sphere - to which it, the entity, the soul
attains in a materially manifested way or manner.
Hence the entity develops
THROUGH the varied spheres of the earth and its solar
system, and the companions of varied experiences in that
solar system, or spheres of development or activity; as
in some ways accredited correctly to the planetary
influences in an experience. The entity develops THROUGH
those varied spheres.
Hence the sun, the moon,
the stars, the position in the heavens or in all of the
hosts of the solar systems that the earth occupies - all
have their influence in the same manner (this is a very
crude illustration, but very demonstrative) that the
effect of a large amount of any element would attract a
compass. Drawn to! Why? Because of the influence of which
the mind element of a soul, an entity, has become
conscious!
A soul, an entity, is as
real as a physical entity, and is as subject to laws as
the physical body as subject to the laws in a material
world and the elements thereof!
Does fire burn the soul
or the physical body?
Yet, self may cast self
into a fire element by doing that the soul knows to be
wrong!
What would make a wrong
and a right? A comparison of that the soul knows its
consciousness to be in accord or contrarywise with, in
relation to that which gave it existence.
(Q) Are
not transferred memories misappropriated by individuals
and considered to be personal experiences?
(A) Personal experiences
have their influence upon the inner soul, while
disincarnate entities (that may be earth-bound, or that
may be heaven-bound) may influence the thought of an
entity or a mind.
But, who gives the law to
have an element to influence, whether from self or from
others? That same as from the beginning. The WILL of the
soul that it may be one with the first cause.
In the material, the
mental, and the spiritual experience of many souls, many
entities, it has been found that there BE those
influences that DO have their effect upon the thought of
those that would do this or that. Who gives it? Self!
Just as it is when an
entity, a body, fills its mind (mentally, materially)
with those experiences that bespeak of those things that
add to the carnal forces of an experience. Just so does
the mind become the builder throughout. And the mental
mind, or physical mind, becomes CARNALLY directed!
The mind is the builder
ever, whether in the spirit or in the flesh. If one's
mind is filled with those things that bespeak of the
spirit, that one becomes spiritual-minded.
As we may find in a
material world: Envy, strife, selfishness, greediness,
avarice, are the children of MAN! Longsuffering,
kindness, brotherly love, good deeds, are the children of
the spirit of light.
Choose ye (as it has ever
been given) whom ye will serve.
This is not beggaring the
question! As individuals become abased, or possessed, are
their thoughts guided by those in the borderland?
Certainly! If allowed to be!
But he that looks within
is higher, for the spirit knoweth the Spirit of its Maker
- and the children of same are as given. And, "My
Spirit beareth witness with thy spirit," saith He
that giveth life!
What IS Life? A
manifestation of the first cause - God!
(Q)
Explain, in the light of reincarnation, the cycle of
development towards maturity in individuals.
(A) As an individual in
any experience, in any period, uses that of which it (the
soul or entity) is conscious in relation to the laws of
the Creative Forces, so does that soul, that entity,
develop towards - what? A companionship with the Creative
influence!
Hence karma, to those
disobeying - by making for self that which would be as
the towers of Babel, or as the city of Gomorrah, or as
the fleshpots of Egypt, or as the caring for those
influences in the experience that satisfy or gratify self
without thought of the effect upon that which it has in
its own relation to the first cause! Hence to many this
becomes as the stumblingblock.
It is as was given by
Him, "I am the way. No man approaches the Father but
by me." But, does a soul crucify the flesh even as
He, when it finds within itself that it must work out its
own salvation in a material world, by entering and
re-entering that there may be made manifest that
consciousness in the soul that would make it a companion
with the Creator?
Rather is the law of
forgiveness made of effect in thine experience, through
Him that would stand in thy stead; for He is the way,
that light ever ready to aid when there is the call upon
- and the trust of the soul in - that first cause!
Has it not been given
that there IS an influence in the mind, the thought of
man, from the outside? Then, would those that have lost
their way become the guides and both fall in the ditch?
or would the soul trust in the Way, and the Light, and
seek in that way that there may be shown the light?
What caused the first
influences in the earth that brought selfishness? The
desire to be as gods, in that rebellion became the order
of the mental forces in the soul; and sin entered.
(Q) What
is the strongest argument against reincarnation?
(A) That there is the law
of cause and effect in MATERIAL things. But the strongest
argument against reincarnation is also, turned over, the
strongest argument for it; as in ANY principle, when
reduced to its essence. For the LAW is set - and it
happens! though a soul may will itself NEVER to
reincarnate, but must burn and burn and burn - or suffer
and suffer and suffer! For, the heaven and hell is built
by the soul! The companionship in God is being one with
Him; and the gift of God is being conscious of being one
with Him, yet apart from Him - or one with, yet apart
from, the Whole.
(Q) What
is the strongest argument for reincarnation?
(A) Just as given. Just
turn it over; or, as we have outlined.
We are through for the
present. -
Edgar Cayce reading # 5753-1 (June 16, 1933)
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