Edgar Cayce Readings, 262-36

Time: 4:00 to 4:30 P. M.

TEXT

GC: You will have before you the group gathered here, and their work on the lesson of The Cross and the Crown. As the questions suggested in the last reading have been answered, will you please continue the counsel as "Why the Crown", giving that which will be strengthening and helpful to each in their daily life. You will answer the questions as I ask them.
EC: Yes, we have the group as gathered here, as a group, as individuals, and the work of each that have contributed to this present understanding.
In the study, in the thought, this is found to be experienced by all - that there was the necessity, for man's understanding, for the entering in of the Son of man, and that the Cross becomes the emblem of Him who offered himself, of himself. For that cause, for that purpose came He into the world, that He himself - in overcoming the world - might gain the Crown.
So, each in their respective lives, their own experiences, find their cross overcoming the world, overcoming those things, those conditions, those experiences, that would not only enable them to meet the issues of life but to become heirs with Him of the Crown of Glory.
What, then, is this Crown of Glory? Does this bespeak only of those things, those conditions, that have to do with the spiritual life? Did the overcoming give the authority? Did the overcoming make this Son of man the Lord, the Glory, the Crown of Life?
So He, as the pattern for each, makes the way clear, the way open that each soul - as it meets the crosses, endures the temptations and overcomes them - may become an heir, JOINT heir with Him to the Crown of Glory; with power temporal, power mental, power spiritual to become the Sons and Daughters of God, as many as are called - and all that fulfil that purpose for which they, as individuals, are called - and carry on in that manner, overcoming, meeting, bearing within themselves. Not in sorrow, not in wailing, but in the JOY of the Lord.
Then, the first of the signs that may be given - to as many as have met the cross, as have endured, is given that which enables them - in whatsoever state they find themselves in meeting their crosses - to do so in the JOY of the Lord. Happiness and joy go hand in hand.
He that overcomes, then, is joyous in the knowledge that power to meet, power to use, power to overcome is given in his understanding.
With joy, then, do such individuals enter into the service that may be their part, their portion, as the channels, the ways in which they may serve in the making known to others the Way of the Cross and the Crown of Glory that comes with the same, in the knowledge of the life being spent in a way that He would have one go; for His presence then abides ever. The door is open. The virtue and understanding finds activity. The faith is renewed day by day, for self is understood in the relationships of each and every condition that arises - either from the mental, the material or the spiritual forces; for the access of the Father is held as a cooperative force in whatsoever sphere of activity an individual is engaged in this service.
Then, let each know that in enduring the cross, the patience that makes for the awareness of the soul - finds its kinship with the Father in the manner of service that may be rendered day by day.
As He has given, and as has been presented again and again, not in times nor seasons, not in new moons nor in any place, but EVERY day, EVERY hour we show forth His love in a manner that makes for the knowledge of all contacting us that He walks with us, that He is our friend.
With the cross comes the crown to those that are faithful in the few things, and their joys shall be many in the service that each are called to do; for His ways are made known to those that seek. As He has given, he that seeks shall find, to him that knocks shall it be opened.
Ye shall enter into the joys of thy Lord, ENJOYING that crown that brings joy, happiness, harmony, peace; for HE is the Prince of Peace.
Ready for questions.
(Q) The paper, "Present World Conditions" which we sent to the Argosy Publishing House, Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C., has been returned to us, unclaimed. Is there any further advice to us concerning this address or the paper? [See 3976-11 Reports.]
(A) That is the address, that is the building. If these are rejected, then send on to the others.
(Q) Upon what is His glory in the Crown conditioned?
(A) Faith-ful-ness.
(Q) Please explain, "He with the cross, represents something in the experience of every entity in their activities through the earth and has led in all the experiences of thought in any of the presented forms of truth in the earth and comes at last to the cross."
(A) As we have given, and as was given by Him, in the beginning He was the Son - MADE the Son - those of the Sons that went astray; and through the varying activities overcame the world through the EXPERIENCES, BEARING the cross in each and every experience, reaching the FINAL cross with ALL power, ALL knowledge in having overcome the world - and of Himself ACCEPTED the Cross. Hence doing away with that often termed karma, that must be met by all. The immutable law of cause and effect is, as evidenced in the world today, in the material, the mental and the spiritual world; but He - in overcoming the world, the law - became the Law. The law, then, becomes as the schoolmaster, or the school of training - and we who have NAMED the Name, then, are no longer UNDER the law as law, but under mercy as in Him; for in Him - and with the desires - may there be made the COORDINATION of all things.
Remember the pattern in the mount, in self, in the physical body, in the mental body, in the spiritual body. THAT is the mount! So long as there is perfect coordination in the mount, all things work together for the GOOD of the mount. When there is the rebellion in the mount, then there is disconnection, destruction, disconcerted effort, and the coordination - the cooperation of activity - is made awry. Hence death in the physical ensues, by the disintegration, through the disconcerted action, through the INCOORDINATED action and this mental, and physical, and spiritual.
So, in overcoming all He set that as the Throne, or the mercy seat, that is within the temple, as the pattern, as in the mount - and in the mount, "I WILL arise and go to my Father, in Him, through Him. I WILL! I WILL!
(Q) What is to be understood by the definite stand we all must now take?
(A) As the reason, MATERIALLY, that the Cross - rather than the mental, or any other phase of experience - is accepted as the Ideal.
We are through for the present.

BACKGROUND

Subject of Reading 262-36 is - "Study Group #1".

REPORTS

NORFOLK STUDY GROUP NO. 1 -
On Monday night, February 6th, the Norfolk Study Group No. 1 will hold an open meeting to which each member will have the privilege of inviting one other person. Mr. C. A. Barrett will preside, Mr. Edgar Cayce will speak on "What is a Reading?", and Miss Esther Wynne, Compiler, will survey the past year's work and explain the ideal and purpose of the group. These open meetings will be held from time to time in order to acquaint others with the fundamentals of the group's work.
The Norfolk Group is now working on its tenth lesson, THE CROSS AND THE CROWN. These lessons, compiled from readings, and contributions from each member of the group as a result of daily meditation and study, are being prepared for the purpose of assisting other groups and individuals in their study of psychic (soul) forces. The group is working toward the completion of one lesson each month. The finished lessons are being distributed singly to individuals in various portions of the country who are studying them with the view of organizing other groups. The lessons are priced at the nominal fee of twenty-five cents each, the subjects being as follows, COOPERATION, KNOW THYSELF, WHAT IS MY IDEAL?, FAITH, VIRTUE AND UNDERSTANDING, FELLOWSHIP, PATIENCE, THE OPEN DOOR, and IN HIS PRESENCE. These may be ordered direct from: MISS ESTHER WYNNE, 2709 LAFAYETTE BLVD., NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. [Page 4 item of the February, 1933 - ASSOCIATION BULLETIN - edited by Hugh Lynn Cayce.]
5/09/60 GDT's comments on SFG - Cross and Crown -
THE CROSS AND THE CROWN Lesson X - A Search for God, Book I pp. 107 - 108
Comments by Gladys Davis Turner - 5/09/60 on tape for Study Groups:
(Q) Why did He come into the world as a man that He might bear a cross?
(A) For me, the answer to why He came is found in the Edgar Cayce readings' explanation of the incarnations of the soul who became Jesus.
First, as Amilius, He led - or projected - souls into the earth as thought forms.
Then He came as Adam, the first physical man, who "fell" in the flesh and thus it became necessary for him to eventually come as the last Adam to show us the way.
Thirdly He came as Enoch, who walked with God and was not because God took him. Then He came as Melchizedek, the prince of Salem, without father, without mother, without days; he was not born and he did not die. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek. Many parallels can be found here with the life of Jesus. According to the readings Melchizedek, as I understand it, had attained the state of mastership such as we find in the so-called Eastern masters. In order to save the souls who had become involved in the earth because of his example, he then realized he would have to start all over in the earth and really go through all the trials and tribulations just as every other soul. [As Melchizedek he wrote the Book of Job. See 5719-14, Par. 9-A; 262-55, Par. 14-A; and 3744-4, Par. 37-A.]
He came then as Joseph. We see many parallels here with Jesus.
Then He came as Joshua, the medium through which Moses obtained the laws on the mount.
Next He came as Jeshua, the scribe, who compiled and rewrote the Biblical record as we have it to that date.
Then He came into the earth as Zend [San - Zan?], father of the first Zoroaster, who wrote - the readings say - the Zend Avesta, sacred writings of the Persians.
Finally He came as Jesus, the last Adam, in whom we all may be made alive - or at one with our Creator.
Until He started over again as Joseph, he had not actually taken on the trials and tribulations of man. He chose, as Melchizedek, to come down into the depths of materiality, and He moved step by step back to the father. Having chosen to do this, it was not possible then for him to get out of the flesh without perfecting himself in the flesh.
Nothing is said in the story of the prodigal son about how long it took him to return to his father after he had decided he would return.
Gradually, life after life, here a little, there a little, the soul perfected itself in the earth and, as Jesus, took his spiritualized body back to God, becoming the Christ. According to the Edgar Cayce readings each of us must do the same.
Edgar Cayce readings on which Gladys Davis Turner based the preceding comments on THE CROSS AND THE CROWN, Lesson X - A Search for God, Book 1 pp. 107--108: 281-10, Par. R1 in re Egyptian incarnation as Hermes; 1158-9, Par. 41-A; 1035-1, in re Asaph, David, etc.; 262-55, Par. 14-A; 364-8 and entire series; 2072-4; 2072-5; 2072-6; 2072-7; 2072-8; 3054-4; 3342-1, Par. 4, 23-A; 5023-1; 5322-1; [5749] series especially 5749-5, Par. 13; 5749-6, Par. 6, 21; 5749-8, Par. 13-A--15-A; 5749-10, Par. 26-A, 27-A; 5749-14, Par. 18-A--21-A, 5-A. Also [991]'s Persian incarnation re Zoroaster, and 991-1, Par. 59-A.