Overcoming Death

Posted on Facebook by Samoa Lualima

In the Edgar Cayce readings, the idea of “overcoming death” does not mean simply avoiding physical death, but understanding that death itself is not truly the end of life. Cayce explains that there is, in reality, no death in the ultimate sense—only a change or transition from one state of being to another. Life comes from God, and because of this, life continues beyond the physical body. To “overcome death” therefore means to move beyond the fear, limitation, and separation that death seems to represent, and to come into a deeper awareness that life is continuous and spiritual in nature. Cayce teaches that only Jesus Christ has fully demonstrated this, because He not only died but consciously passed through death and returned, showing that death has no final power. For this reason, Jesus is seen as the pattern or example for humanity. People do not overcome death by their own strength alone, but by aligning themselves with Him—living in such a way that their thoughts, actions, and inner life become one with His spirit.

This overcoming is not just a belief but a transformation of the whole person. Cayce describes it as something that happens when the body, mind, and spirit are “quickened,” meaning brought into a higher state of life and awareness. It involves developing a deep connection with God through daily living—through love, service, patience, and surrender of self-will. When a person begins to say, and truly live, “not my will, but God’s will be done,” they begin to shift from a self-centered life to a God-centered life. In this state, the person is no longer controlled by fear, including the fear of death, because they are rooted in something greater than the physical world. Overcoming death also means overcoming the sense of separation from God, since death in a deeper sense represents that separation. As a person grows in unity with God, they begin to experience life as continuous and secure, rather than temporary and fragile.

Cayce also suggests that there are levels to this understanding. For most people, overcoming death means becoming spiritually aware that life continues beyond the body and living without fear. However, in rare cases, it may also include overcoming death in a more physical sense, as demonstrated by Jesus, though this requires complete and total alignment with divine life. The main focus, however, is not on physical immortality but on spiritual transformation. This transformation happens through consistent inner work—through prayer, meditation, right thinking, and especially through love for others. Cayce emphasizes that the same power that overcame death in Christ can work in individuals as they open themselves to that divine presence. In simple terms, to overcome death is to live so closely connected to God, who is Life itself, that death no longer has power over one’s consciousness, identity, or sense of being.

SELECTED READINGS ON OVERCOMING DEATH

(Q) Will I overcome death in this incarnation?

(A) There is no death. Death is only overcome by Him, who has overcome death. It is our promise, and when ye abide in Him sufficient to that, ye with Him, as the resurrection, may indeed overcome death in a material sense.

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(Q) Will you please give more information on the resurrection of the Body?

(A) This is seen in that ye have as thine instructions as to how He, thy pattern, resurrected the body, QUICKENED the body. So within thine own self must come that which through Him may overcome death, overcome that transition, overcome that which is the change - save the conscious change of being in ALL matters, ALL phases, ALL experiences, one with Him.

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Who hath overcome death?

WHO hath entered into the Holy of Holies for man, save He as THOU hast seen come IN into death, even He Whom ye saw enter into the glory of glories!

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...the entity may remind others of the needs to live that life which was wholly, truly exemplified in the life of the man Jesus, who became the Christ through the things which He suffered, and through demonstrating in the earth the abilities to overcome DEATH, the law of death.

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(Q) [993]: Please give us more information concerning the law of vibrations during meditation, and how we can understand and use that which we experience.

(A) As has been given, and as experienced by many, in opening self to the unseen forces about us, yet warred ever by those influences save when in the presence of His influence, then as the forces are raised in self KNOW - without doubt - there ARE His protecting influences, able, willing, capable, and WILL aid in that direction in which such vibrations, such influences, are raised to those individuals to whom they be directed, even by the spoken word; for, as is seen, as is understood by many, by most, that the UNSEEN forces are the ACTIVE forces, the ACTIVE principles. That which BECOMES as a manifestation is that which has been acted UPON BY those unseen forces and influences. What produces same? These are the VIBRATIONS to which a body has raised by its attunement of its whole being, its whole inner self, of a consciousness of that divine force that emanates in Life itself in this material plane. In sending such forces out, then, be mindful that there is no doubt that these will bring that as HE sees fit, "Not my will, O Father, but Thine be done!" What did THIS bring to Him? The cross, the burdens, the crown of thorns - yet in its essence it brought those abilities to overcome death, hell and the grave. So, as in our raising ourselves to that understanding that His presence is guiding and directing those influences about those to whom we would direct His cause (for they have called on us), then KNOW His will IS BEING done in the manner as THOU hast sent same to that individual!

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Let the body keep those attitudes of constructive forces in its experience, knowing as it enters into these activities, it is not for self but that others may know that freedom which comes with a greater knowledge of the Prince of Peace, of the Son, of the Father-God who gave the expression of self in the earth in such measures that He brought sight to the blind, the ability to restore the lame, even overcome death itself.

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(Q) What is the lesson that may be drawn from my entrance into the present plane?

(A) That purpose for which the soul entered in, under those circumstances and conditions in the earth's experience in the present, that the soul might meet in this experience that which will make for the more sureness in Him. For, the earth is His and the fullness thereof. For, as given, God and the Christ Spirit is Life itself; and the motivating force of the soul is either for that companionship, that association, that development which will make such a soul-body as a fit companion for that Creative Influence manifested in the earth in Him, or it is for separating self from Him. For, in the Beginning was the Word, and that Spirit, that Christ Spirit WAS the Word. That Word was made flesh, even as each soul that manifests in the earth is made flesh. That soul, that spirit, DWELT among men, and that soul made itself of no estate; yet the Creator, the Maker, the Giver of the life itself; that man, that each soul, that this soul, might know that it has an advocate WITH the Father through Him that gave Himself as a ransom. How? For, as the impulses in self arise, know those impulses have arisen in Him; yet through the ability to overcome death in the material world is His presence able to abide with thee, dost thou trust in Him and not in self. Or, as He gave, in Him who IS the Maker and the Creator is life alone, and they that put their trust in anything else climb up some other way. But they that put their trust in Him are His, and He calleth them by name, and He abideth with them. When ye call on Him He is very near.

KNOW, then, that in this experience thou mayest come to know Him as thine daily companion in whatsoever thou doest; for, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." What are His commandments? A new commandment He gave, that ye love one another, even as He hast loved thee.

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Believe ye His words?

Just as experienced by those who stood about the grave of him, the brother of those whom the Lord loved, - when He spoke, death itself gave up that it had claimed, even though the sister had warned that there had not been the embalming as had been the purposes of many. Instantly the activity brought life. For He IS life. He IS health, He IS beauty, He IS - not was, not will be, but IS! For He having overcome death, hell and the grave, He is justified before God in giving to him who believes, who is in accord; that "If ye ask in my name, believing," doing, being that ye ask for, that shall be done unto thee.

Yet with the breaking of the bonds of death, the breaking of the material bonds - the binding about the head - must needs be done by others.

There is ever, then - in thy material associations, in thy seeking for help, love, health, understanding for thy brother - SOMETHING, some effort on their part as well as THINE. But "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them."

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