Edgar Cayce Readings, 633-5

(Body and enquiring mind, and his request for help - as per his letter which I hold in my hand. [See 9/14/36 ltr. under 633-2 Reports.] You will give him the counsel and guidance needed, answering the questions he has submitted, as I ask them.)

TEXT

EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, [633]; those conditions physically, mentally, materially, as disturb the body in the present.
In giving that as we find that may be helpful in the experience of the body at the present, first know that the mind and the mental forces are the builder; that the ideals, the purposes, the aims, the desires of the body mentally, physically, unless prompted or created in the mental self with a SELFLESS motive, or from the spiritual approach, must eventually come to naught.
That there are in the present the physical, the mental, the material disturbances is apparent. But much of these arise from self-condemnation, or from condemning of the self through the activities or the processes of activities with others.
Hence the body mentally becomes supersensitive. And under such a strain the body-physical gives way for that of condemning as well as for the attempts to justify self, or to produce in the experience the excuses for those condemnings of self from others.
This condition, then, arises from the lack of self-analyses with the ideals that are of the spiritual nature; for these have been given as of old, that first "Seek the Lord while we may be found," and He will GIVE TO thee the desire of thy heart, mentally, materially, physically, if these thy principles, thy ideals, thy purposes, thy aims, will be set as that thyself, thy activities, thy purposes, may be a channel through which the glory of the Lord may be made manifest before others. Not as in precept, not as in fasting or prayer alone, not in longfacedness but rather in the precept of the heart; that ye may know the ways.
Then, how in the present situation, the present surroundings, may this entity, this body, meet these conditions that are apparent, that are confronting self in the present?
As has been given of old, "Take that thou hast in hand." Use same day by day. And as that ye use, as that ye know is applied in those directions, those principles as indicated, in the home, in the daily labors, in the daily associations, social, material and otherwise, then that as is necessary for the next step is given.
For as He hath given as of old, take NOT the thought of the morrow, for TODAY is the sufficient unto those that LOVE the Lord's ways.
Then budget first thy time; that of the home, that of self's own recreational periods; that of the own mental recreation and developments, as to its companionship, as to its home, as to its material relationships, and FIND NOT FAULT with others. For as the Psalmist has said of old, that ye hate, that ye despise, becomes thine own self. For what ye sow must ye reap.
But give thy time to thyself, to thy home, to thy business, to thine associations, to thy recreation, to thy mental and physical development; and ye will find these not as rote. But because others speak lightly of thee or thine abilities, make not that of a quick response by condemnation; for they condemn not thee but thine application of that thou SEEMEST or confesseth to know! and thy weakness, and not thy REAL self!
Then the greater applications of thyself in thy preparations of thyself mentally, physically, materially, to MEET the needs; and see good, see light, see rather understandings in every experience!
And apply self in these directions - PRACTICAL application! Not "I would like to do this, and when I am thus and so will I do this." For he that would save himself loseth all. For that ye give, THAT ONLY ye possess!
In making then these, apply those suggestions, those applications that thou knowest that may be created within thine own body, depending not upon that as may be a stimulant from without OF ANY NATURE. For these become suddenly as demanding of thy strength, and one becomes weak in those very things that had apparently given strength. For as ye in thy mental and daily experience react, so are the fruits thereof. If ye become downhearted because someone has said an unkind word, or someone has spoken lightly, speak THOU rather in its stead gentleness, kindness, lovingness; for these beget those very things themselves. For if ye become overcast, ye have lost your strength and thy hold upon Him who has promised, "If ye will be my children, I will be thy God." And if God be WITH thee, who CAN be against thee? NONE! But if you lose hold, or if you trust in thy own short arms, if ye trust in thy own weak abilities, these soon turn upon thee and make their OWN demands. But rather in the ways as has been indicated will ye find strength, will ye find love, will ye find harmony, will ye find business, will ye find abilities; and make for that life which IS a manifestation of the living God.
Then use each opportunity, each association, each contact, each word, as a manner, as a means, as a way for showing forth to thyself, to thy fellow man, that INDEED thy Redeemer liveth - and the God thou dost worship is indeed a LIVING God!
Let first then thy motto be, "Others may do as they may, but for me - I will serve a living God."
Ready for questions.
(Q) How may conditions in our home be improved?
(A) In the same way and manner as has been indicated. First find thyself and thy relationships to thy Maker, thy ideals. Thy ideal, not another's, but THY ideal of such relationships. And if these are founded in the spirit of truth as is thine interpretation of His manifestations, of thy God in the earth, then live that which would be an ideal. Not CONDEMNING but COMMANDING of SELF to show forth in thy conversation, in thy activity, in thy relationships, that thou KNOWEST His ways; and LIVE them, not by precept, not by commands but by demands and the DEMAND upon SELF.
(Q) What exercises, mental or physical, can I take to make me mentally alert and strong?
(A) As has been indicated in the budgeting of self and self's time, self's abilities. In each of these phases of thy mental self give thyself a task, for the body, for the mind; that it remains, that it stays, that it seeks LIVING things - LIFE and its expression! But these of the spiritual incept and concept and not of self-indulgence, not of self-aggrandizement; depending not upon those of outer influences but of the creating within. For as indeed the soul liveth and manifests in the material body, thus may the expressions of self mentally, the exercises of self for the recreation mentally, materially, for the physical reaction, for the mental reaction, bring strength, manly manliness, lovely loveliness, longsuffering, understanding, forgiveness. For if ye would not forgive, how may ye expect to be forgiven?
(Q) What methods or change can I make in business to help my mental makeup?
(A) In the same way and manner as has been indicated. Set aside thyself tasks for day by day. There have been those groups or those individuals who have in manner or means or ways spoken lightly of thine abilities, spoken lightly of thy manner and mien. SET THYSELF to the task of showing such that thou art not only indeed capable of fulfilling but make thyself and thy service as an indispensable thing in the experience of such individuals. And it gives thee strength, it gives those courage, and it makes for that which has been as a millstone about thyself to become as a stepping-stone to greater things in thy material and thy mental and thy spiritual experiences.
(Q) What has caused this whole mental condition, and give detailed methods to correct same?
(A) These have been given. Thou hast become slack, thou hast become self-condemning, thou hast looked upon others as things that are unnecessary. Thy daily experiences ARE as tests for thy own self. For he that would show himself faithful, can show himself worthy over the few things, may be given the command over the greater. And until thou hast shown thyself, canst thou truly ask of thy Maker, of thy Creator - yea of thy better self - for better things? Conquer first, then, those weaknesses within thyself, and THEN - correcting these - thou may indeed see and KNOW and show thy brother and ASSIST thy brothers in their faltering ways.
Study then to show thyself approved unto thy Creator, thy Maker, yea to thine own better self; for to these, within thine self, must that consciousness come. And ye will find that the ways of life, the material things, the spiritual things, the mental things, take on NEW MEANINGS.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not His benefits!" [Ps. 103:2]
We are through.
Copy to Self
Copy to Ass'n file

BACKGROUND

See 633-2 on 7/26/35 and subsequent Reports.
9/14/36 He submitted questions.

REPORTS

10/14/36 "I know I should have written sooner, to have let you know that I had rec'd my rdg. and your kind letter - but I was so intent on digesting it and putting the suggestions into application that I haven't done any corresponding whatsoever.
"Yes, it is a difficult thing to set up ideals and plans and turn one's mind towards their accomplishment, especially when, as the suggestion points out, one has been lax and careless in thinking and actions. It's a tough fight and the road is difficult and a trying one, but I can see that one can turn out to be a better man for it.
"It does, though, give one a feeling of strength to have control over one's thoughts and actions - it seems I gain more from the readings each time I go over them.
"I am puzzled by your mention or the suggestion of strength in a 'living God.' Now, I'm of an irreligious sort; I can't find my strength or reality in a 'God' unless it be that of human relationships in goodness; and faith in humanity, in spite of its lying, thieving mannerisms which may be found with kindness and courageousness in one and the same man - is this not too incongruous for acceptance as a faith? I am stopped, then, you see, by any mention of 'God' or the goodness or 'I' of he or his doings. Might you help me with this? I would be very happy to enter into a correspondence with you, at your leisure, that you could help me set my spiritual ideas and thinkings on the correct path.
"I have enclosed $5 for the rdg. As I have told [480], to me such wisdom and words are not to have a monetary value set on them. To me they are not to be evaluated by numbers. If we were only able to afford more I assure you we would help for the furtherance of your work and for the good you can offer those who will partake of these rdgs."
10/24/36 Edgar Cayce's letter to [633]: "I was glad to have yours of some days ago. It is, I know, sometimes difficult for us to put our ideals into practical application. But we so often misconstrue ideas with ideals. In speaking of the Creative Forces or Energies or God, as a living God, I believe, [633], we confuse terms with our old ideas of what people have thought and do think of that influence or force which has been called God. Most of us want to personify it or think of it as a personality. But it is a living force, and we can only see its manifestations in kindness, gentleness, patience, longsuffering, in our desire to give good for evil, in our desire to speak a gentle word when someone has been or is angry with us; to be willing to forgive slights and slurs and unkindnesses. To my mind these are the manifestations, and I think the information in the readings has borne this out as being a true conception of what the living God is. In other words, those influences manifested in such terms as stated above are LIVING forces, and therefore to the finite mind are the concept of a true and living God.
"Now, when we put these things into practice they do become very practical, everyday things. It's not easy and it's not a selfish motive. If we do it for the glorifying or satisfying of our own selves we let ourselves be blinded by our own egotism. But if we do it and still speak gently when others laugh at us about it, when others misuse us and mistreat us, then we are doing it that He may be glorified and not us - that living force, that God. And it's only in doing that, that the promises as were made to the patriarchs or any of those become a portion of our own selves. And if we remember He is not a respecter of persons, and that they are just as true to us as to anyone else, then they become very personal and very practical things to us.
"So, until we can personally make direct application of such influences, He does not become - or that influence does not become a personal thing to us. And that's how He becomes a personal God, and not a personality or a person.
"I hope I am not confusing. If I can discuss this in a way and manner that will be helpful to us both, I'll be mighty glad to do it. It's often harder to put things into words or to write them than to say them, because terms often are confusing. And I am sure Moses was right when he said there's many things we must think but mustn't say out loud, because immediately when we do we set up a barrier.
"Thanks for your contribution. Please give our love and regards to [480] and the rest of the family. Let us hear from you whenever you find the opportunity. I suppose we will be going to N.Y. about the first of November.
"Know that we are always glad and happy to hear from you. All send our love and kindest regards."
1/21/37 See Ck. Physical 633-7 indicating his cough is from anxiety, a nervous reaction, etc., and subsequently wife [480] indicates he is too "soft" with his mother, who bothers him all the time.
6/15/37 Wife [480]'s ltr.: "Mother [601] is certainly the best agent I know of for your work, barring none. I'm a very lucky girl to have such parents. And [633], too, has been such a help during this period (of my pregnancy) to keep me 'up.' Such a relationship as exists between the four of us, I'm sure, is blessed."
3/01/41 See 633-12.