Posted on Facebook by Samoa Lualima
The Edgar Cayce readings teach that the soul develops through experience. Every part of life—success, failure, happiness, difficulty, relationships and service—can help the soul grow. Even painful experiences need not be wasted. The past should not be viewed only as a collection of mistakes, but as “stepping-stones for the future” (165-21). What matters is whether we learn from those experiences and use what we have learned to live more wisely and lovingly.
Experience is essential because spiritual truths cannot be fully understood through words alone. One reading states that “EXPERIENCE is the only REAL teacher” (421-5). We may read about patience, forgiveness and love, but the soul truly learns these qualities only when it tries to practise them. Another reading says, “only through experience does an entity or being develop” (302-3). Life is therefore a school for the soul. Each situation gives us an opportunity to discover what is within us and decide how we will respond.
Soul development happens gradually. It is not enough to say that we believe in kindness, patience or tolerance. These qualities must become part of our daily conduct. The readings describe this as “little by little, here a line, there a line, the LIVING, the MANIFESTING” of spiritual qualities (165-21). Small acts of understanding, honesty, patience and helpfulness may appear unimportant, but they slowly shape the soul.
The way we treat other people is one of the greatest tests of spiritual growth. Soul development is not measured mainly by what we claim to believe, but by the influence we have upon others. True growth comes through “that which is LIVED, expressed, given to others as a helpful, hopeful influence in their experience day by day” (165-21). Every relationship gives us an opportunity to express compassion, encouragement and understanding.
The readings connect this service to the teaching of Christ: “As ye do it unto these, the least of these my children, ye do it unto me” (165-21). This means that our treatment of another person is also an expression of our relationship with God. Helping someone, carrying another person’s burden or showing patience in a difficult situation is not merely good behaviour. It becomes part of the soul’s spiritual development.
The soul also learns through the law of cause and effect: “as one sows so shall one reap” (165-21). Our thoughts, choices and actions create influences that return to us. “Whatsoever is sown in righteous spirit, whatsoever is thought and done becomes a portion of the experience for the development of any individual, any soul” (165-21). This is not presented simply as punishment or reward. It is a process through which the soul comes to understand the results of what it has chosen.
Every experience becomes part of the soul. The readings say, “that which has been the experience of the soul is a part and parcel of same” (341-45). Experiences do not simply happen and disappear. They leave impressions within us, affecting our habits, attitudes and future choices. What we repeatedly think and do gradually becomes part of our character.
However, the soul is not trapped by its past. At every moment, we still possess the power of choice. The question is always, “Whom then WILL ye serve?” (341-45). Life continually places before us “good, evil; life and death; love and hate” (341-45). No one else can make the deepest spiritual choices for us. Other people may advise or influence us, but “NO ONE may make the choice for anyone” (341-45).
Our past experiences may influence a present decision, but they do not remove our free will. When a choice is made, the qualities already developed within us may strengthen that choice. The reading explains that “with the choice, then comes the helpful or impelling influence from that BUILDED within self” (341-45). If we have repeatedly practised kindness, it becomes easier to choose kindness again. If we have encouraged resentment, resentment may become our automatic response. Soul development therefore involves consciously building the qualities we wish to express.
The highest goal is to develop the individuality and personality of the Christ within us. The reading says, “That ye would build is the individuality and the personality of thy Christ” (341-45). This does not mean losing our individual identity. It means allowing love, mercy, truth, patience and service to become the guiding qualities of that identity.
The readings also teach that true spiritual growth begins within. Outward religious language or impressive actions have little value if they are performed only to be noticed. “For the KINGDOM is within. Contentment, peace, harmony, glory, love, beauty, is from WITHIN” (165-21). Outer circumstances may give us opportunities, but the real transformation takes place in our motives, desires and attitudes.
This inner growth requires honest self-examination. One reading warns that “resentments of any nature bring their fruit in the physical” (288-37). Resentment does not only affect our relationship with another person; it also disturbs our own inner peace and may eventually affect the body. Difficult relationships can therefore reveal the parts of ourselves that still need healing, forgiveness and understanding.
Dreams may also become experiences through which the soul communicates with the conscious mind. The readings describe dreams as experiences of “the mind of the soul (or the subconscious)” (302-3). Dreams may combine spiritual impressions with physical and mental conditions, often presenting their meaning through symbols. Their value is found in applying their message, so “the experience may be applied in the daily life” (302-3). A dream is not spiritually useful merely because it is unusual; it must help us live more wisely.
Some experiences develop the soul quietly and may not produce outward recognition. A person may appear ordinary or unimportant while undergoing deep inner development. Experiences are sometimes necessary because “the growth might be in the inner man” (315-4). The soul may be learning humility, patience, faithfulness or understanding even when the outer life seems unsuccessful.
The readings caution us not to worship unusual events, spiritual powers or impressive experiences. We should seek the purpose behind them. Otherwise, “the event, the happening” may be “worshipped rather than the purpose for which the event” occurred (315-4). A spiritual experience is valuable when it brings greater love, understanding and service—not when it makes a person feel important.
Physical and mental activities may also contribute to soul development when used properly. One reading explains that experiences involving the body and mind may become beneficial “in the physical and in the mental, and in the spiritual—for that builded in the inner man is the development of the soul” (391-1). The spiritual life is therefore not separate from ordinary living. Work, exercise, relationships, study and responsibility can all become instruments of growth.
A developed soul often uses its experience to help others. Such a person may become someone “upon whom many have depended—for counsel, for advice, for the lightening of the burdens” of others (445-1). Wisdom is not gained merely for personal benefit. As the soul grows, it becomes more capable of bringing peace, understanding and encouragement into the lives of other people.
Love must remain the directing influence. Knowledge of human nature or spiritual matters can be useful, but it has its greatest value when guided by love. The readings speak of “the purely love influence that directs the life of the entity” and says that it “may be made to mean much in the experience of others” (489-1). By helping others through love, the individual also continues developing their own soul.
Ultimately, each soul’s experiences are intended to lead it toward greater unity with the Creative Forces. The experiences of every soul within its surroundings are “necessary for making the union with the Creative influences in every soul’s experience” (489-1). This union is not reached by escaping ordinary life. It is approached by meeting life faithfully and allowing every experience to produce greater love, wisdom, patience and service.
The central prayer of soul development is therefore one of willingness: “I am Thine, O Lord; use Thou me more and more as a channel of blessing to my fellow man; in THY way, O Lord, NOT my way!” (165-21). This expresses the main teaching of these readings. The soul grows when it learns from experience, chooses the good, develops spiritual qualities from within and uses its life to become a blessing to others.
EDGAR CAYCE READINGS
In giving that as might be helpful to this body in the present experience, the present environments, as we find, the entity should look upon those experiences - through which the entity has passed in many of the mental and the material aspects - rather as a growth of opportunity. And while these would not be in the future as builded upon the ashes of failures, those experiences in the past should be rather as stepping-stones for the future associations in this material plane.
As is known by the entity, as is the portion of the entity's own inner self, as one sows so shall one reap. It is not sufficient, however, for any to live by mere trite sayings or to announce to be tolerant or to be patient or to be any of those attributes of the spiritual forces that may manifest themselves through the activities of an entity. Rather must there be little by little, here a line, there a line, the LIVING, the MANIFESTING, of all of these attributes in the experiences of an individual. For as it is meted to those of the fellow man, so will the returns come in the experience of the entity in its associations in the new activities or in those that are a portion of the entity's experience in the present.
For it is not by might nor by power, not by that which may be used to enable one through fame or fortune - or through even the associations of the past - to become as a power, but that which is LIVED, expressed, given to others as a helpful, hopeful influence in their experience day by day. Thus applying self in the experiences in the present may we find that coming into the experience of the entity which, in body, in mind, may give the greater expression of development for self, for those that are in the material world dependent upon the activities of the entity. So may the entity make for itself that advancement.
For as has been given oft, "As ye do it unto these, the least of these my children, ye do it unto me." He, the Father-God, is not mocked; whatsoever is sown in righteous spirit, whatsoever is thought and done becomes a portion of the experience for the development of any individual, any soul. It is not those that cry, "Lord, Lord," only; but those in their dealings with their fellow man. As ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
In this age, in this period when there are the doubts, the fears, those seekings for expression in all the many and varied ways, it will be found to keep the balance; that it has ever kept the balance in the activity of an individual, and it may keep the balance in this entity's activities in the present for making the greater advancement, for making of a sureness of self in its daily efforts. While the activities that come about in a general association may be very much in line with those influences that have been given in all the beauties of a life, an experience of service to the fellow man, in the INDIVIDUAL it must become as an individual and as a personal or definite service done day by day. For we grow in grace, in knowledge, in understanding FROM WITHIN. And even though there are the words of the mouth, even the activities of the body, if they are done, if they are MEDITATED upon to be seen, to be feeling, to be making only an outward show, these must eventually come to naught. For the KINGDOM is within. Contentment, peace, harmony, glory, love, beauty, is from WITHIN; and is as a growth that makes for that activity, that expression, that which will bring the growth, the understanding, the environments, the necessary influences. For with all the labors, the efforts, with all the application of beauty, of strength, of power, of might, ONLY God may give the increase.
Then, let thy purpose be, let thy prayer, thy meditation, be more and more, "I am Thine, O Lord; use Thou me more and more as a channel of blessing to my fellow man; in THY way, O Lord, NOT my way!"
165-21
(Q) Is it best for me to assume an impersonal attitude toward all material conditions around me (as it was told me in regard to the Cayce Hospital), [See 294-53, Par. 5-A, 8-A; also 294-54, Par. 5-A, 9-A] or should I take definite stands?
(A) In the light of that just given, judge ye. For when definite stands of a material way conflict with definite stands of other individuals in THEIR material way, conflicts ensue. But let thy desires, thy purposes, thy aims, be as one with that which is shown thee through the meditations from within.
For to all: Ye may meet thy Maker in thine own self. Hence it is necessary that what we hate in ourselves or our associates BECOME that we see in the experiences of life, which will make for each an understanding. For resentments of any nature bring their fruit in the physical. Not that there should be wholly that of passive resistance, but: THY WILL, O LORD, BE DONE IN AND THROUGH ME AS THOU SEEST I HAVE NEED OF FOR MY SOUL DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT I MAY THROUGH THIS DEVELOPMENT BE THE GREATER CHANNEL OF BLESSING TO MY FELLOW MAN.
288-37
EC: Dreams (for this body has many) come through the various channels as we have given respecting dreams. Dreams or visions are the subconscious forces of an entity while the conscious forces are subjugated, and the experience for the mind of the soul (or the subconscious) is often tempered by the physical or mental experiences of the body, and when such is the case these then are presented often in emblematical ways and manners. Dreams are as other mental conditions of the threefold nature, experiences of correlation of conditions in the mental body, or correlation of experiences of the mental or physical body, with the experiences of the subconscious forces of the body, or the reaction from physical conditions existent in the body. One should, then, in interpreting dreams, be aware of that causing such conditions, through same make the differentiation, that the experience may be applied in the daily life; for only through experience does an entity or being develop; for little may be learned save by experience of the mental or a phase of the mental forces of a body, or through same.
Ready for dream.
(Q) Morning of December 21, 1927. I was sitting talking to Mr. [900] in my living room. He leaned back against the iron gate. The door bell rang and as my servant was not home I answered myself. Mr. Richard Simon (of Simon & Schuster) came in. He admired the window decorations,the window seat, and in particular the stuff the seat was made of. Then he turned to [900] and said, "Everything is going to be alright!" so saying he continued admiring the windows, holding the little lead glass as he tried to measure with his fingers by comparison. Then Max Schuster came in and just then I was awakened and called out, "Alright Mr. Schuster."
(A) This we find a correlation of physical experiences with the mental developments and abilities of the body through the various experiences of the subconscious forces in the earth's plane, and in this particular reference using the experience of the present to bring to the entity that understanding of how self may apply self in that development for the innermost self in this present experience. For in experiencing each individual finds that necessary for that to be applied in the life to meet that necessary for the development of the entity towards its own at-oneness with the whole creative energy. And, as has been interpreted through that of the one seen, so this may be applied in the life that the experience may bring bigger, better conditions in the life of each. Apply then that seen in the life, in the manner as the experience is seen of the one in the dream or vision, that the life of each may be made bigger, better, and each gives that necessary for the better development of the inner self in this present experience. DO that.
302-3
That in the present sojourn there appears to be an entity, a body that may be termed in mediocre position, or such an obscure individual that had - or has at an advent into the earth - brought so much to others, is evidence that there needs be that experience oft for the giving out - giving out; for experiences are oft necessary where the growth might be in the inner man. And this very experience will bring into the awareness of this soul, this entity, a work, an experience, well done; in that UNDERSTANDING is coming into the experience of the entity, of the soul. And the awareness that, in whatever may be the experience of the body, that God is in His holy temple and that the earth and its beings must keep silent when He speaks or shows Himself in His glory to the sons of men, lest - as has oft been the experience of man in the earth - the event, the happening, be worshipped rather than the purpose for which the event, the advent of a manifested power came into being.
315-4
For that which has been the experience of the soul is a part and parcel of same.
Hence again, or ever - not just again but EVER, is there, then, the exercising in the conscious experience of the entity of the will; in that, "Whom then WILL ye serve?" Today, now, EVER, there is set before thee good, evil; life and death; love and hate. All of these are in the experience.
Now with the choice, then comes the helpful or impelling influence from that BUILDED within self - as to whatever choice is made.
NO ONE may make the choice for anyone. There has been the promise, "Abide in me, as I in thee; that as I and the Father are one, I in thee may be one with the Father."
These are promises, but are ever in the way of the choice being made today; for today is before thee - the self and all of those influences and forces that may impel, with all of their helpful influences - whether it's choosing wrong or right! The influence is to INCREASE the activity, by that EXPERIENCED by a soul entity!
And this ye call the building of personality or individuality. That ye would build is the individuality and the personality of thy Christ.
341-45
In the one before this we find in that period when the Grecians (then called) were in the way of giving to the people's that manner of gaining the better body in the MATERIAL manner, and the entity then was a director of the games that were used as the means of developing the physical prowess of the men and women of the day. [4/16/32 See sister's rdg. 288-29, Par. 14-A indicating that this Grecian sojourn coincided with her sojourn in the pre-historical period of the leader Uhjltd in Persia or Arabia.] Then the entity was in the name Uylessi, and the entity gained through that experience, and in the application of the lessons as were experienced, both in the mental and the physical. Hence we find the particular urge in the present through that of the sports, and the manner in which same may be turned into the way of being both beneficial in the physical and in the mental, and in the spiritual - for that builded in the inner man is the development of the soul.
391-1
In Uranus we find that influence as makes for the interest in the unusual, the unusual experience in association, unusual experience in reading, in every phase of human experience; for, as has been oft given - and as the ENTITY innately sensed - EXPERIENCE is the only REAL teacher. Then USE, but do NOT abuse. KNOW in whom thou hast believed, knowing He is able to keep that as is committed into His keeping. Trust not in the arms nor the hands of men; rather in HIS voice, His understanding, and thy yeas WILL be yea, and thy nays WILL be nay.
421-5
Hence a highly developed soul that has measured or meted to many that of the counsel in such measures as to have become one to whom many have come - and upon whom many have depended - for counsel, for advice, for the lightening of the burdens of themselves, in the school of experience of the entity.
445-1
These influences, then, are rather passing - Jupiter and Mars; yet ever do they appear. Hence the will of the entity only has kept many a flare from causing disturbing forces. Hence in entity, in MATERIAL abilities of the application of same, may be said to be the abilities to be an excellent peacemaker, provided time FOR SELF to analyze situations between individuals or groups is given. Yet in the broadness of vision, that comes from the sojourn in the Jupiterian influence, there are the abilities to see, to know, to comprehend all phases of human qualities that act or influence their experience, as well as the insight that is natural from the psychic or soul development of the entity to be a WONDERFUL analyst of human emotions, and in its present experience the greater joy, the greater good that may be accomplished is not only in the analyses of others in their emotions from the psychic but from the purely love influence that directs the life of the entity, may be made to mean much in the experience of others, and make for self through such application a development that may carry on the unactive forces active in materiality. For, while the experiences of each soul in its environs are those necessary for making the union with the Creative influences in every soul's experience, the entity may become the teacher in the realms of those influences where those souls in their transition may gain much from the experiences from that gained by THIS soul in its development for its OWN soul as respecting the truth, the life, the light that is shed in material world.
489-1
