Reincarnation & Karma. Edgar Cayce
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.
Text of Reading 5749-14
This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 14th day of May, 1941, in accordance with request made by the self—Mr. Thomas Sugrue, Active Member of the Ass’n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc.
PRESENT
Edgar Cayce; Hugh Lynn Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Thomas Sugrue and Gertrude Cayce.
READING
Time of Reading 4:10 to 4:35 P.M. Eastern Standard Time.
HLC: You will have before you the enquiring mind of the entity, Thomas Sugrue, present in this room, and certain of the problems which confront him in composing the manuscript of There Is a River.
The entity is now ready to describe the philosophical concepts, which have been given through this source, and wishes to parallel and align them with known religious tenets, especially those of Christian theology.
The entity does not wish to set forth a system of thought, nor imply that all questions of a philosophical nature can be answered through this source—the limitations of the finite mind prevent this.
But the entity wishes to answer those questions, which will naturally arise in the mind of the reader, and many of the questions, which are being asked by all people in the world today.
Therefore the entity presents certain problems and questions, which you will answer as befits the entity’s understanding and the task of interpretation before him.
EC: Yes, we have the enquiring mind, Thomas Sugrue, and those problems, those questions that arise in the mind of the entity at this period. Ready for questions.
Q: The first problem concerns the reason for creation. Should this be given as God’s desire to experience Himself, God’s desire for companionship, God’s desire for expression, or in some other way?
A: God’s desire for companionship and expression.
Q: The second problem concerns that which is variously called evil, darkness, negation, sin. Should it be said that this condition existed as a necessary element of creation, and the soul, given free will, found itself with the power to indulge in it, or lose itself in it? Or should it be said that this is a condition created by the activity of the soul itself? Should it be described, in either case, as a state of consciousness, a gradual lack of awareness of self and self’s relation to God?
A: It is the free will and it’s losing itself in its relationship to God.
Q: The third problem has to do with the fall of man. Should this be described as something, which was inevitable in the destiny of souls, or something which God did not desire, but which He did not prevent once He had given free will? The problem here is to reconcile the omniscience of God and His knowledge of all things with the free will of the soul and the soul’s fall from grace.
A: He did not prevent, once having given free will. For, He made the individual entities or souls in the beginning. For, the beginnings of sin, of course, were in seeking expression of themselves outside of the plan or the way in which God had expressed same. Thus it was the individual, see?
Having given free will, then—though having the foreknowledge, though being omnipotent and omnipresent—it is only when the soul that is a portion of God chooses that God knows the end thereof.
Q: The fourth problem concerns man’s tenancy on earth. Was it originally intended that souls remain out of earthly forms, and were the races originated as a necessity resulting from error?
A: The earth and its manifestations were only the expression of God and not necessarily as a place of tenancy for the souls of men, until man was created—to meet the needs of existing conditions.
Q: The fifth problem concerns an explanation of the Life Readings. From a study of these it seems that there is a trend downward, from early incarnations, toward greater earthliness and less mentality. Then there is a swing upward, accompanied by suffering, patience, and understanding. Is this the normal pattern, which results in virtue and oneness with God obtained by free will and mind?
A: This is correct. It is the pattern as it is set in Him.
Q: The sixth problem concerns interplanetary and inter-system dwelling, between earthly lives. It was given through this source that the entity Edgar Cayce, after the experience as Uhjltd, went to the system of Arcturus, and then returned to earth. Does this indicate a usual or an unusual step in soul evolution?