Selflessness in Giving for Soul Development - Part 2

 Posted on Facebook by Samoa Lualima

Selflessness is an important part of soul development. The soul grows not by focusing only on itself, but by learning how to give, care, and serve others. When a person acts only for personal gain, growth becomes limited and often leads to unrest. But when thoughts, choices, and actions are guided by love, patience, and concern for others, the soul becomes stronger and more balanced. By letting go of pride and selfish desire, a person opens the way for deeper understanding and inner peace. True progress comes when the self steps back and the heart is willing to help, forgive, and uplift. In this way, selflessness becomes the path through which the soul learns, matures, and moves closer to its higher purpose.

FROM THE EDGAR CAYCE READINGS (All Paraphrased)

One may be firm and determined in seeking truth, in expressing ideas, or in bringing intentions into action. Yet it is essential to examine what within the self is prompting that drive, and to be certain it does not arise from selfish motive. For selfishness remains humanity’s most persistent weakness.

True happiness is born from tolerance, faith, and patience. These qualities are widely desired, yet few are willing to pay their true cost. That cost is the daily practice of patience, tolerance, and above all, selflessness—in relationships with others, in shared responsibilities, and in every activity of life.

852-12 Paraphrased

Let the soul come to understand that the self must be set aside if the spiritual is to be expressed in the material world. Resisting this truth only leads to inner conflict and self-judgment, for every thought, action, and deed must ultimately be faced and accounted for.

Therefore, with mind, body, and soul, one must honor and uplift the Giver of all good and perfect gifts. By surrendering personal will and bringing it into harmony with the divine will—following the example of the One who became the Light, the Truth, and the Way—the soul may draw nearer to the heavenly presence.

538-9 Paraphrased

The soul once lived in a region now known as Persia, extending toward Tibet, during a time of great change in the thinking of those who held power. Leaders were being moved to consider that human beings might hold within themselves a direct relationship to a Creative Force.

In that period, the soul was closely associated with the plea made to authority: “Let my people go.” The entity lived as Esther beside Ahasuerus, participating in events that shifted devotion away from personalities and toward higher purposes—those inspired through a man of God, Mordecai. From this, the soul learned that true leadership serves divine purpose rather than personal glory.

Yet the soul did not experience the outward fulfillment of those changes—the rebuilding of the temple or the rituals of peace and inner communion. This absence planted deep longings and inner unrest that echo into the present life: a desire to express spiritual truth not merely for a nation, but for individuals—while still serving a broader human good.

That impulse now seeks expression through writing and communication, just as before—through appeals for freedom of conscience and the right of each soul to worship according to inner conviction. In those experiences, the soul learned one of the rarest virtues on earth: tolerance.

And true tolerance is born of selflessness. For whenever the self seeks to exalt itself, tolerance fades—and the soul must beware.

1298-1 Paraphrased

When one finds ways to express hope, faith, love, and charity toward those who are seeking truth, these very actions become the source of harmony and renewal within the self. True peace arises not from self-focus, but from loving others without condition.

Let the self fade into the background through love in action. In doing so, the soul may awaken to a vision of unity—a consciousness aligned with the Creative Forces themselves.

Life is not ending, but being used. Let it become a bridge for those who have lost their way, so that hope may be restored and the promise of renewal still be seen alive in the world.

Through even the smallest acts of giving, the light may shine in many hearts. By helping others discover their own capacity to give, the soul becomes a channel through which divine light flows onward.

For only that which is freely given in love is carried forward into eternity.

1438-1 Paraphrased

The soul was present on earth during the time of the American Revolution, actively involved in the forces that shaped its course. It lived in the same region as it does now, during a period when crucial decisions were being made about leadership, laws, and the formation of a united people—not merely for individual colonies, but for a collective future.

In that lifetime, the soul gave voice to principles meant to guide and influence those entrusted with representing the people. At times, this outspokenness was viewed as overstepping bounds. Yet many of the era’s leading figures—such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, John Hancock, and Henry Lee—were close associates. They sought counsel together, sharing ideas that helped shape the ideals and actions of that pivotal time.

Known then as Florence DuVeal, the soul gained deeply from the experience. Personal ambition steadily gave way to a greater understanding of collective responsibility. There grew an appreciation for unity, cooperation, and the necessity of setting aside self-interest for the common good.

Above all, the soul learned the meaning of liberty—not merely political freedom, but the freedom of individuals and communities to think, believe, and worship according to the dictates of their own conscience. This love of liberty, rooted in selflessness rather than self-advancement, became a defining lesson carried forward from that life.

1648-1 Paraphrased

The soul once lived in the land now called Egypt, during a time following great upheaval and conflict, when new settlements were forming through the combined efforts of Atlantean groups and native peoples. The soul was among those who aligned with native leaders involved in an uprising in part of that region.

Rather than seeking power or prominence, the soul chose a quieter but enduring role—that of a recorder and preserver of history. It became a keeper of records, documenting the lives and works of individuals chosen by the people to serve in various capacities.

This was a period when organized roles and trades were taking shape—teachers, spiritual leaders, healers, legal guides, and others serving the needs of the community. The soul insisted that accurate records be kept for the sake of collective growth and future understanding, working under the name Ax-Eltio.

Through this experience, the soul gained much, for its motives were centered not on personal gain but on service to others. Its desires and actions were directed toward the advancement of the whole rather than the elevation of the self. From this selfless purpose came an inner adaptability and balance—abilities that remain available now, if the soul looks deeply within itself.

1731-1 Paraphrased

In the lifetime preceding the one just described, the soul was again in the land now called Egypt, during a time when peoples were invading from the North. Known then as Raai, the soul belonged to those who were overrun by these incoming groups.

In that era, the soul was among the first to introduce teachings about humanity’s relationship to the Creative Energy. It sought to gather people together around this spiritual understanding, emphasizing inner alignment with the divine rather than reliance on force or power. When others called upon the soul to lead resistance against the invading forces, it chose instead a path that avoided bloodshed.

Rather than fighting extensively, the soul accepted personal suffering and misunderstanding. This choice brought condemnation—both from outsiders and from its own people—for seeming to fail in defending them. Yet through this sacrifice, the soul gained more than in any other experience of that period.

This was not passive submission, but a conscious stand for principle. The spiritual truths expressed during that lifetime later became foundational to teachings associated with peace and reconciliation. Even the schools established by those who overtook the land carried forward elements of these ideals.

In the present life, the soul will feel a strong inner call arising from that experience. The influence of spiritual forces now felt most deeply is rooted in that lifetime, where selflessness, restraint, and devotion to higher principle outweighed personal reputation or immediate victory.

1734-3 Paraphrased

Selflessness in Giving for Soul Development - Part 1

 Posted on Facebook by Samoa Lualima

What many find difficult to grasp is this truth: the soul grows through development, yet it can only truly develop when its actions are selfless. Growth does not come from focusing on the self, even though the self is being refined.

Consider the physical body as an illustration. When change or healing occurs, it shows how self-development works best when self-centered motives are set aside. This lesson applies not only to this individual, but to all who seek growth without falling into self-absorption.

As the great Teacher taught, no one acts by personal power alone; the works are accomplished through the divine force working within. When a person relies solely on personal ability or seeks to magnify their own mental or physical qualities, they draw only from themselves. This is self-centeredness, and it neglects the creative, renewing source within. But when mind, body, and spirit give themselves in service—offering help, hope, and upliftment to another—they draw instead from the divine source, allowing higher power to work through them.

In the soul’s development, there exists a deep desire to be used by the Creative Forces—to become a channel through which others may awaken to the spiritual life within themselves. This calling is not about personal identity or recognition, but about helping others discover their own purpose, responsibility, and relationship with the divine. This intention is already written within the soul and safeguarded by higher guidance, so that the path may unfold without stumbling.

To become a clearer channel, one must turn inward—renewing the inner life so that outer actions may align with divine purpose. This requires trust, and a conscious awareness of the divine presence within the heart and soul. When this awareness awakens, every part of the being—mind, body, and spirit—becomes attuned to higher activity and renewal from within.

There is already the ability to give to others. Enter the inner sanctuary of the heart, cleansing it and consecrating its desires to the divine will. As what is given flows outward in service, unity forms between human intention and divine purpose. Through patience and surrender, the soul becomes aware of its oneness with higher guidance.

In this awareness, one knows that divine life moves through every thought and action. The soul joins in mercy, grace, peace, and light—becoming an instrument of healing and intercession for others. Through selfless activity, others may recognize the spiritual seal within, and know that love, redemption, and truth are made real through a life given in service.

275-39 Paraphrased

Offer your energy and efforts freely, guided by the higher law, understanding that the source of all good and perfect gifts is always available to those who seek it—not for themselves alone, but through giving themselves in service to higher purposes.

182-2 Paraphrased

(Q) What teachings were studied during my time in the Temple Beautiful that helped me come into greater harmony with the development of a refined body?

(A) The central teaching was that true purification of matter comes from spiritual fire—the inner force that burns away selfish and purely physical impulses. When the body and soul are guided by no concern for personal gain or physical form, but are instead filled with divine love and devotion to the Creative Source, that love transforms everything it touches. In such self-forgetfulness, the mind, body, and soul are purified, and even the physical condition and surrounding influences are elevated within the material world.

(Q) Do I possess an ability to write in a way that helps others?

(A) When one communicates what has been found meaningful within oneself—not for personal recognition, but to honor the higher motivating force—such expression becomes a gift to others. When writing arises from service rather than self-satisfaction, it carries real power. In this way, this soul has a great capacity to give through writing.

264-45 Paraphrased

Each soul enters earthly experience with a purpose: to express itself in the material world within certain surroundings, conditions, and inherited tendencies shaped by both environment and soul history. These influences form the setting—but not the outcome—of the soul’s growth.

What determines whether an experience leads to growth or delay is not the experience itself, but how the soul responds to what it knows of the Creative Forces at work in life. What a person does with that knowledge reveals what the soul truly honors as its ideal.

If the ideal is alignment with the Christ-consciousness, growth follows. If the ideal is personal gain, self-glorification, or indulgence in purely physical ambitions, then the soul must experience the consequences of those choices. Life continually places before each soul the choice between higher and lower paths—between selflessness and self-centeredness—and the soul’s development depends upon what it chooses through its own will.

Environmental and hereditary influences often appear as challenges or stumbling blocks, yet they merely reveal where growth is needed. What a soul accomplishes each day depends on whether its ideal is elevated or diminished, and whether its faith expresses itself through selfless living.

The assurance given by the Creator is this: through the Son, divine strength is always available to meet every need, crisis, and trial. This truth is continually demonstrated in human experience. Yet many become stumbling blocks to others when their outward behavior contradicts the faith they profess with words alone. Such inconsistency hinders rather than helps.

For this reason, impersonality and selflessness must become guiding principles. Growth comes through love, faith, hope, and charity—not as concepts, but as lived expressions. Where these qualities are active, the spirit of the Master works through the individual.

When fear, doubt, greed, or selfish desire dominate, the soul distances itself from truth and life. Every experience contains both light and shadow, yet the soul may overcome all conditions by trusting that the Christ stands ready to meet them on its behalf—if faith and hope in the divine promise are held above all else.

The central teaching remains unchanged: love the Divine with the whole being—heart, mind, body, and soul—and express that love through love of others. What was once a teaching became a living example through the life of Christ. To follow Him is not merely to speak His name, but to let thoughts and actions reflect His presence within the conscience.

This is the way of fulfillment. The promise is sure: those who live in this spirit are never alone. Judgment of others only returns as unrest within oneself; therefore, let love guide all action.

Make truth known not through speech alone, but through kind, selfless activity of mind and body. In this way, the soul develops. Remain patient through difficulties, faithful in daily responsibilities, and confident that all entrusted to the Divine is safely kept.

Do not fear. The Presence walks with you.

288-36 Paraphrased