This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 7th day of June, 1936, in accordance with request by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Esther Wynne, Florence & Edith Edmonds, Hannah & Noah Miller, Helen Ellington, Ruth LeNoir, and Hugh Lynn Cayce; also Lillian B. Whitmore.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the Norfolk Study Group #1, members of which are present here, and its work in the preparation of the lesson "Knowledge." You will continue the discourse on this subject and answer the questions which will be presented.
2. EC: Yes, we have the group as gathered here, as a group, as individuals, and their work on the lesson Knowledge.
3. In continuing with what has been given, first let each examine themselves as to whether they as individuals have pondered that which has been presented, and answer within themselves - Has the choice been made within self that ye have as an individual emptied self of those petty malices, those set ideas as to this or that, and are ready to open thy mind, thy heart, to the true Knowledge?
4. For Knowledge is power; and all force, all power, emanates from the one source.
5. Has thy mind been able, then, to be empty and ready for that which may be given each? Thus ye as individuals may be awakened to the influence of the love of the Master that CLEANSES, that makes pure, that brings within thine own experience the Knowledge of the Father as thy God, thy stay, in whom ye may indeed trust.
6. For His promises are sure, and the Knowledge of these promises being thine - not someone else's - may indeed be experienced. Not that thou art the judge of thy brother, of thy neighbor, of any purpose; but that ye as true sons and daughters of the Father are willing, are ready to receive Him as thy guide, thy understanding.
7. For thou art His. Hath He not said, 'Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?' Doth He not give to those that ask? And yet ye in thine little understanding, in the weakness of thy Knowledge of man, of thy brother, of the worldly conditions about thee, trust rather in circumstance, in favors, in this or that in thine experience rather than in the Knowledge that "I am Thine, and Thy Son's promise has been that what I ask in His name, that will be done in my experience; that experience necessary that I be one with Him."
8. This then is TRUE Knowledge. Not that the understanding of what the world terms Knowledge is that cause and effect exist, that there is this or that law in effect, this or that experience that comes into the affairs of individuals that brings this or that effect into the experiences of others. Are not the interpretations of these laws in essence a comprehending of the true Knowledge of the LOVE the Father hath for His children?
9. Those that accredit same to other forces, or of nature, or of this or that influence in the experiences of man and say that these are natural because they follow as the day follows the night, and that these have existed from time immemorial and consequently remain, are becoming much as he whom the Master gave as an example, that he was the simple one, the fool, for "This night thy soul will be required of thee."
10. What then cometh of thy barns, of thy store of riches, of thy power, of thy money, of thy position, of thy exalted place; yea, even of thy good name, lest it be that having been in the true Knowledge thou hast been indeed a channel that hath opened the eyes of those that had been dimmed by the vicissitudes of life that brought fear and distrust; lest thou hast brought to others a Knowledge, an understanding in thy daily life, in thy daily dealings with thy fellow man, that "First seek the Lord while He may be found, and all these things will be added unto thee in their order, in THEIR place, in THEIR time."
11. Because of the worldly knowledge, then, many have become faint, many have fallen away.
12. What saith He to you who have emptied yourselves of traditions, who have emptied yourselves of malice, who have emptied yourselves of hate? Encourage those that are weak, strengthen the fainthearted; in THESE be the true knowledge; in these be the perfect understanding that HIS ways, thy God's ways are not past finding out - if ye will but seek him while He may be found.
13. In the knowledge of the mental life, that this or that experience through thy association or activity has come to thee, does this bring thee peace - or confusion? Doth this bring harmony, or does it bring strife? By its fruit ye shall know whether it be the true Knowledge of God or not. For ye gather not figs from thistles; neither doth there spring living waters from those that are dried or dead within themselves to the true Knowledge of the living water.
14. These be the influences that true Knowledge is that those correct interpretations of experiences, other than thine own, are what hath it wrought in the experience of those that apply same in their dealings with their fellow man day by day? Not whether it has brought riches or fame, or those things that are even well-spoken of by those of the world, but has it made in the experience of the individual a better neighbor, a kindlier friend, a more long suffering one with those that would hinder? Doth it bring patience? Doth it bring love in any manifested form? THIS shows as to whether the true Knowledge is manifested in the experience of any individual.
15. So in applying this in self, if that ye have heard, that ye have seen, that ye have experienced, that ye have pondered in thine heart makes of thee a better father, a better mother, a better friend, a better neighbor, more gentle with those that are cross, more loving to those that are dishonest, more patient with those that storm here or there, then ye are experiencing the true Knowledge of the Father.
16. If it has brought not this, if it brings not in thine own experience the fruits of the Spirit, then it is not of God; neither is it countenanced by thy Brother, thy Savior, who prayed that He might, that ye might, that all men everywhere might be of the one mind IN GOD!
17. What was the confusion? That there was the misinterpreting, the selfish motive, the lack of understanding. These brought confusion, but the true Knowledge is "not of myself but the Father that worketh in me and through me." It is the knowledge that maketh alive, that maketh not afraid, that meeteth each day with the love of the greater opportunities, that maketh for the meeting of each ache, each pain within thine own body with that fortitude that makes for the removal of same through the Knowledge that He is God of the weak, of the great, of the lowly, of those that are in power, of those that are oppressed. And He heareth the voice of those that cry unto Him.
18. What art thou doing about removing the oppressions, about giving an understanding to those that are in power as to the source from whence they obtained same? and as to what is in store for those that forsake His ways day by day?
19. THIS is Knowledge, that ye show THYSELF approved unto that which is set in Him that hath shown thee the pattern, that hath made the way straight; that those who seek Him may not be confused therein, that they who love His coming will just act as those that are in close communion with Him from day to day.
20. THIS is Knowledge, that ye love one another, that ye show forth in thy dealings with thy fellow man day by day that thou carest, thou understandest, thou art willing to take a portion of the burden of those that are so heavily burdened with the cares of life, the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches; that thou art willing to aid those in distress, thou art willing to feed those that are hungry - not just materially. For the world is crying for that Knowledge.
21. It is opened to thee that have made the choice that ye will empty thyselves of those little differences that breed hate, contempt; and those things that HURT and HURT in thy dealings with thy fellow man.
22. Forgive, if ye would be forgiven. THAT is Knowledge. Be friendly, if ye would have friends. THAT is Knowledge. Be lovely, if ye would have the love even of thy Father; for He is love. This indeed be Knowledge.
23. We are through for the present.

BACKGROUND

1. Subject of Reading 262-97 - "Study Group #1."

Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation