This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at the Edmonds' home, 611 Pennsylvania Ave., Norfolk, Va., this 13th day of September, 1936, in accordance with request made by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Esther Wynne, Hannah Miller, Florence & Edith Edmonds, Frances Y. Morrow, Hugh Lynn Cayce, Helen Storey and Ruth LeNoir.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the Study Group Work of the Ass'n for Research & Enlightenment, Inc. You will consider the outlines and plans for Group work as prepared and presented by Esther Wynne and Hugh Lynn Cayce, present in this room, and as each idea or plan is read you will comment and give advice regarding it.
2. EC: Yes, we have the work of the Association for Research & Enlightenment, Incorporated, and that phase of same as may be presented through the Study Group Work, with those as individuals and as a group as gathered here.
3. In considering first the selection of teachers, leaders, helpers, aiders, in the Study Group work, make haste slowly. For it is not by might nor by power but by "My Spirit" saith the Lord of hosts.
4. As has been given oft in considering the work of the Association, and this applies to each phase of its activity, first to the individual. As each individual in the Group that has added to those preparations for a study group course HAS allied and does apply those truths in his or her OWN life, so may that individual or any individual - whether it be two or ten that would select or choose or pray for or pray with others that were seeking some manner, some way of expression - HOPE to attain to that which will be as the lessons have purported and do purport to be - living truths in the minds, the hearts, the lives, the DAILY life of individuals seeking - through the study of themselves and their relationship to their Creator and their fellow man - to make for those conditions, those manners in which same may be presented.
5. Hence the burden of the preparation, then, lies with those that HAVE prepared, do prepare, the study group lessons.
6. As for that manner of seeking a selective group or individual members of the Association in various spheres, various walks of activity, do not choose; let THEM choose! Invite each individual who is, who has been a member of the Association to become a part of such a group as would prepare themselves to be channels of blessings for others in their finding THEIR relationship to their Creator, their fellow man, in their respective spheres.
7. This as we would find would be well then:
8. Outline, from the Manual, Lessons, that which is to be presented. And this is the burden of the whole outline: Those that would seek to know better their relationships to the Creative Forces that manifest in and through them from spiritual (not spirit, but SPIRITUAL) sources, and their relationships to their fellow man. That would be well for a beginning.
9. (Q) Each prospective teacher would be asked to study the following: 1. Teacher's Manual. 2. Selected Bible readings as suggested through this channel from time to time. 3. Lessons (1st Series). 4. Oneness of All Force, Meditation - (simple and complete forms) - Atlantis. 5. Selected books recommended in Manual - Hudson, James, and others. 6. Correspondence with Esther Wynne. Comment on this program and make suggestions if needed. [See 262-100, Par. R1.]
   (A) This as has been outlined, as has just been given, is well; but do not SELECT your group! Let THEM select THEMSELVES and let it be a letter to each and every member that has been and is, of ANY nature and character!
10. (Q) Any other suggestions for preparing teachers and leaders for group work?
    (A) You'll have your hands full if you'll do this; not as individuals but as a group AND as individuals!
    Then let there be selected, given a period, a definite period 15th of October - when all must be IN that would choose to become a part of a group for preparations, see, for the study. THEN have the week, two weeks, month or six months of prayer.
11. (Q) Give suggestions for additions, changes or corrections in Teacher's Manual, a copy of which I hold in my hand. [See 262-100, Par. R1.]
    (A) This is too big a job to correct all of this! This should be edited first, then corrections made.
12. (Q) Any suggestions for additional subjects?
    (A) Enlarging upon those that have been set here would be preferable to making additional ones in the present. For let this be ever: Know that the activities of the Association are - as to the work or service of each individual - a growth; as truth, as knowledge, as wisdom, as love IS in the experience of those that seek to know the way.
    So should be those activities. But DO NOT allow these to become other than supplementary aids to individuals in their preparation for service in their OWN selected manner; that is, do not become a cism, an ism, laying down laws as to the morals or as to any set rules. For those as have been set have ONE - the Christ! Let those, those manners be, then, so that - whether these be the Parthenians, the Jews, the Catholics, the Protestants, the atheists or the agnostics - all will be seekers for truth, and seeking to know the INDIVIDUAL relationship to Father-God and the relationship to the fellow man. These should be the burdens and these then find only those activities that correlate denominations, correlate the cisms, correlate the thoughts for a greater service for the fellow man; for in same, as has been the theme throughout the lessons, "As ye do it unto the least of thy brethren, ye do it unto thy Maker."
13. (Q) Parallel material for study group work.
    (A) The Bible is the best parallel, especially the admonition by Moses after he had finished all of his own egotism and had come to realize that there was not to be the experience in self for the enjoying of that as had been builded, owing to that weakness of selfishness. Also the great leader. That's the last chapters of Deuteronomy, of 30th on. Also the study of Joshua, not only as the soldier but rather as the leader, as the commander that would give as few, "Let others do as they may, but for me and my house we will serve a living God." Then the Psalms, especially the 1st, the 2nd, the 24th, the 91st, the 23rd, the 67th, the 150th. All of these become as portions of THIS part of parallel work. Then all of those that are NOW being prepared for presentation each Sunday upon the radio. Also James [William James], Hudson [Thomson J. Hudson], the research upon Palladino [Eusapia Palladino] also the findings of various individuals as have studied into individual interpretations; these should be part of parallel work. Do not leave out those, to be sure, of the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th chapters of John, of 3rd John, of Jude, of Revelations.
14. (Q) Preparation of a simplified paper on meditation which will be studied for six months by a new student. Comment on this.
    (A) This is very well, but this is a natural procedure. If you will pray with - which you will have some 16 or 18 in the group - for 6 mos. the meditation will be there, in the experience of those 16!
15. (Q) Comment and give suggestions on studies of meditation now being made by Norfolk Group.
    (A) These are very good but add to same six months every day a given period for one hour, and it will be there! Many will seek and know. Do not seek to know the experience other than thy relationship to thy Maker, thy relationship to thy brother.
16. (Q) What is the best time for that hour?
    (A) Either 11 to 12 in the day or 11 to 12 in the evening, or the best time is 2 to 3 in the morning! [See 601-11, Par. R9, R10 in re group joining to pray at 2 A.M. for six months.]
17. (Q) Expansion of present paper on meditation; especially by additions of examples and experiences. Comment.
    (A) This as has been given. Let's leave this until the experience of these has PREPARED individuals. As has been given, make haste slowly!
18. (Q) A study of the phenomena as manifest through Edgar Cayce.
    (A) These are very well, as it should be in others. Study that rather as manifested through the Christ. Study what happened when the water turned to wine, what happened when He took her by the hand and lifted her up, what happened when He walked to His disciples upon the sea, what happened when He called Lazarus, what happened in the garden when His disciples - even His closest friends - slept while He fought with self; what happened on the Cross when He commended His mother to John, what happened when He spoke to Mary Magdalene; what happened when He spoke to Thomas, to the other disciples; what happened when He arose, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel." What was that gospel? Not much that is being given so oft over and over. For He combined it all into one, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, thy mind, thy soul; thy neighbor as thyself." For this is the WHOLE law the WHOLE law. Hence ye would study to show thyself approved unto thy concept of thy God. What IS thy God? Let each answer that within self. What IS thy God? Where is He, what is He? Then ye may find yourselves lacking in much. How personal is He? Not as Moses painted a God of wrath; not as David painted a God that would fight thine enemies; but as the Christ - the Father of love, of mercy, of justice. And man meets it in himself! How CAN it be then that ye do not understand God loves you, why do you suffer? It is mercy, it is justice to thy soul! For those things that are cares of the flesh and of the earth cannot inherit eternal life. Hence life alters, life changes in the experiences of individuals through their sojourns in the earth, and thus ye learn thy lessons, even as He; for though He were the Son, though ye are His sons and daughters, yet must YE learn obedience through the things that YE suffer. For ye having partaken of SIN, not IN Adam but AS Adam must as the new Adam learn that God is merciful, is love, is justice, is patience, is long-suffering, is brotherly love; for these are the law, not OF the law but THE law. And the law is love and the law is God. The law is not individual; YE make individual application of same in that ye are His sons, His daughters, ye are seeking the way. Then that ye give to others, that ye have; that ye have spent ye never have; that ye would save you have already lost.
19. We are through.

BACKGROUND

1. See preceding [262] series, including especially 262-61 on 5/05/34 with Reports.

REPORTS

1. See Source File Key #262 for all current reports, supplements and professional commentaries including A.R.E. Study Group Manual for teachers, study group leaders, etc., re 262-100.

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