This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home on Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 19th day of January, 1941, in accordance with request made by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Hugh Lynn Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Florence Edmonds, Hannah Miller, Esther Wynne, Frances Y. Morrow and Marsden Godfrey.

TEXT

1. HLC: You will have before you the Norfolk Study Group #1, members of which are present in this room, and their work and study of the lesson RIGHTEOUSNESS VERSUS SIN. You will continue with the discourse on this subject.
2. EC: Yes, we have the group as gathered here, - as a group and as individuals, also their work and study on the lessons.
3. In continuing with the discussion of the subject Righteousness Versus Sin, - we have here the individual considerations.
4. As has been indicated through these channels, it becomes an individual matter, - dependent upon or relative to, first, the ideals of the individual, and as to what constitutes a deviation from the ideal; and as to what ideals are in relation to moral, spiritual and mental standards.
5. For, righteousness and sin - as in the minds of most individuals - are the extremes of an awareness in the consciousness of an individual. Thus it becomes a personal condition to be reckoned with by the individual.
6. Not that there are not laws, nor that there are not metes and bounds about either of the terms intended to be expressed in the very words righteousness and sin. Yet, as we have given, what may be righteousness to one may be sin to another; or what is sin to one might not be considered at all by another as a deviation from a righteous path.
7. What then (ye may ask) is the awareness or the consciousness that makes for the producing of that as may be called righteous in the experience of the individual? To be in an at-onement - in purpose, in will, in desire - with the ideal is to the individual a righteous state. Then to be conscious of deviating from that ideal, whether consciously or unconsciously, is a sin to the entity.
8. Make note of the variation here as to the premise from which the inference is drawn. For, each soul, each entity, each conscious awareness of an individual, is the combination or the composite of all the entity has thought or done in consciousness of every sphere or phase of activity. So are those things that would tend to lead an individual towards the abuse or misuse of privilege or opportunity in its experience. So are the confusions that arise oft in the experiences of those who are ACTIVE in their thought as to righteous or sinful activity.
9. To be sure, many are active as illustrated in that pronouncement of Paul, "I did in all good consciousness persecute the church." This to him was sin, yet - according to the consciousness - righteous sinning; for when he was aware of his error, through the call to service, he became as active in the defense of that AS he had persecuted in all good consciousness.
10. Then, one's consciousness - by the activity in those influences arising in the experiences - may sear, alter, make for those choices by the individual of that which to another would be considered, or would be, sin.
11. To be sure, this is an approach only from the individual standpoint, the individual's activity; but considered in the light of those influences of statements which we have made here, - that one had best be active and in error than not doing anything at all.
12. For, as may be drawn from the experiences of those who have been, who are, or who may be called into service, - if there is the sincerity towards the ideal, they as individuals will be shown, will perceive, will be awakened, will be aware of God's purposes with them.
13. Then, in illustrating this - for this should be in the mind of each one here considered and meditated upon, and applied in the daily life - let each be sincere, be direct, in that calling. For, ye each are chosen - as ye choose to serve Him in a definite manner - to be a messenger, a director - by word, by example to others - to point the way to the glorifying of the Christ Consciousness in a material world.
14. When there had been fulfilled that preparation, or a part preparation of material knowledge of Moses, he set about to put into activity that purpose for which he had come into the earth. Yet materially he chose an error, a sin, in establishing the righteousness of his fellow men. Thus a full period was required - as of earthly righteousness or earthly knowledge - to undo or to coordinate that as was to be a working principle of righteousness versus sin. THEN he was CALLED; as was Paul in his persecution of the church, conscious of a purpose but ACTIVE, DOING something TOWARD an activity which by education to him (physically) was correct, yet sin.
15. He, too, was called and directed.
16. So, too, may each individual be active in principle, in purpose, being sincere, being direct. Thus may the individual gain the greater working knowledge of that which is righteous, versus that which is sin.
17. Then, let each be not slothful, not putting off, not unmindful that ye must be up and doing; working, BUSY at that which is to thee, NOW, TODAY, that as thy conscience directs thee to do; in sincere, direct manner. And ye may be sure He counts that try as righteousness; and the sin that may appear to self or to others is but upon the reverse - which is righteousness.
18. We are through for the present.

BACKGROUND

1. Subject of Reading 262-126 - "Norfolk Study Group #1."

REPORTS

1. 4/23/41 See 262-127 re publishing SFG Book I.

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