HLC: You will have before you the enquiring mind of the
entity, Thomas Sugrue, present in this room, and certain of
the problems which confront him in composing the manuscript
of THERE IS A RIVER.
The entity is now ready to describe the philosophical
concepts which have been given through this source, and
wishes to parallel and align them with known religious
tenets, especially those of Christian theology.
The entity does not wish to set forth a system of thought,
nor imply that all questions of a philosophical nature can be
answered through this source - the limitations of the finite
mind prevent this.
But the entity wishes to answer those questions which will
naturally arise in the mind of the reader, and many of the
questions which are being asked by all people in the world
today.
Therefore the entity presents certain problems and questions,
which you will answer as befits the entity's understanding
and the task of interpretation before him.
EC: Yes, we have the enquiring mind, Thomas Sugrue, and
those problems, those questions that arise in the mind of
the entity at this period. Ready for questions.
(Q) The first problem concerns the reason for creation.
Should this be given as God's desire to experience Himself,
God's desire for companionship, God's desire for expression,
or in some other way?
(A) God's desire for companionship and expression.
(Q) The second problem concerns that which is variously
called evil, darkness, negation, sin. Should it be said that
this condition existed as a necessary element of creation,
and the soul, given free will, found itself with the power
to indulge in it, or lose itself in it? Or should it be said
that this is a condition created by the activity of the soul
itself? Should it be described, in either case, as a state
of consciousness, a gradual lack of awareness of self and
self's relation to God?
(A) It is the free will and its losing itself in its
relationship to God.
(Q) The third problem has to do with the fall of man.
Should this be described as something which was inevitable in
the destiny of souls, or something which God did not desire,
but which He did not prevent once He had given free will?
The problem here is to reconcile the omniscience of God and
His knowledge of all things with the free will of the soul
and the soul's fall from grace.
(A) He did not prevent, once having given free will. For,
He made the individual entities or souls in the beginning.
For, the beginnings of sin, of course, were in seeking
expression of themselves outside of the plan or the way in
which God had expressed same. Thus it was the individual,
see?
Having given free will, then, - though having the
foreknowledge, though being omnipotent and omnipresent, - it
is only when the soul that is a portion of God CHOOSES that
God knows the end thereof.
(Q) The fourth problem concerns man's tenancy on earth.
Was it originally intended that souls remain out of earthly
forms, and were the races originated as a necessity resulting
from error?
(A) The earth and its manifestations were only the
expression of God and not necessarily as a place of tenancy
for the souls of men, until man was created - to meet the
needs of existing conditions.
(Q) The fifth problem concerns an explanation of the
Life Readings. From a study of these it seems that there
is a trend downward, from early incarnations, toward
greater earthliness and less mentality. Then there is
a swing upward, accompanied by suffering, patience, and
understanding. Is this the normal pattern, which results in
virtue and oneness with God obtained by free will and mind?
(A) This is correct. It is the pattern as it is set in Him.
(Q) The sixth problem concerns interplanetary and
inter-system dwelling, between earthly lives. It was given
through this source that the entity Edgar Cayce, after the
experience as Uhjltd, went to the system of Arcturus, and
then returned to earth. Does this indicate a usual or an
unusual step in soul evolution?
(A) As indicated, or as has been indicated in other sources
besides this as respecting this very problem, - Arcturus is
that which may be called the center of this universe, through
which individuals pass and at which period there comes the
choice of the individual as to whether it is to return to
complete there - that is, in this planetary system, our sun,
the earth sun and its planetary system - or to pass on to
others. This was an unusual step, and yet a usual one.
(Q) The seventh problem concerns implications from the sixth
problem. Is it necessary to finish the solar system cycle
before going to other systems?
(A) Necessary to finish the solar cycle.
(Q) Can oneness be attained - or the finish of evolution
reached - on any system, or must it be in a particular one?
(A) Depending upon what system the entity has entered, to be
sure. It may be completed in any of the many systems.
(Q) Must the solar cycle be finished on earth, or can it be
completed on another planet, or does each planet have a cycle
of its own which must be finished?
(A) If it is begun on the earth it must be finished on the
earth. The solar system of which the earth is a part is only
a portion of the whole. For, as indicated in the number of
planets about the earth, they are of one and the same - and
they are relative one to another. It is the cycle of the
whole system that is finished, see?
(Q) The eighth problem concerns the pattern made by parents
at conception. Should it be said that this pattern attracts
a certain soul because it approximates conditions which that
soul wishes to work with?
(A) It approximates conditions. It does not set. For, the
individual entity or soul, given the opportunity, has its own
free will to work in or out of those problems as presented by
that very union. Yet the very union, of course, attracts or
brings a channel or an opportunity for the expression of an
individual entity.
(Q) Does the incoming soul take on of necessity some of the
parents' karma?
(A) Because of its relative relationship to same, yes.
Otherwise, no.
(Q) Does the soul itself have an earthly pattern which fits
back into the one created by the parents?
(A) Just as indicated, it is relative - as one related to
another; and because of the union of activities they are
brought in the pattern. For in such there is the explanation
of universal or divine laws, which are ever one and the same;
as indicated in the expression that God moved within Himself
and then He didn't change, though did bring to Himself that
of His own being made crucified even in the flesh.
(Q) Are there several patterns which a soul might take on,
depending on what phase of development it wished to work
upon - i.e., could a soul choose to be one of several
personalities, any of which would fit its individuality?
(A) Correct.
(Q) Is the average fulfillment of the soul's expectation
more or less than fifty percent?
(A) It's a continuous advancement, so it is more than fifty
percent.
(Q) Are hereditary, environment and will equal factors in
aiding or retarding the entity's development?
(A) Will is the greater factor, for it may overcome any or
all of the others; provided that will is made one with the
pattern, see? For, no influence of heredity, environment or
what not, surpasses the will; else why would there have been
that pattern shown in which the individual soul, no matter
how far astray it may have gone, may enter with Him into the
holy of holies?
(Q) The ninth problem concerns the proper symbols, or
similes, for the Master, the Christ. Should Jesus be
described as the soul who first went through the cycle of
earthly lives to attain perfection, including perfection in
the planetary lives also?
(A) He should be. This is as the man, see?
(Q) Should this be described as a voluntary mission One
Who was already perfected and returned to God, having
accomplished His Oneness in other planes and systems?
(A) Correct.
(Q) Should the Christ-Consciousness be described as the
awareness within each soul, imprinted in pattern on the mind
and waiting to be awakened by the will, of the soul's oneness
with God?
(A) Correct. That's the idea exactly!
(Q) Please list the names of the incarnations of the Christ,
and of Jesus, indicating where the development of the man
Jesus began.
(A) First, in the beginning, of course; and then as Enoch,
Melchizedek, in the perfection. Then in the earth of Joseph,
Joshua, Jeshua, Jesus.
(Q) The tenth problem concerns the factors of soul
evolution. Should mind, the builder, be described as the
last development because it should not unfold until it has
a firm foundation of emotional virtues?
(A) This might be answered Yes and No, both. But if it is
presented in that there is kept, willfully, see, that desire
to be in the at-onement, then it is necessary for that
attainment before it recognizes mind as the way.
(Q) The eleventh problem concerns a parallel with
Christianity. Is Gnosticism the closest type of
Christianity to that which is given through this source?
(A) This is a parallel, and was the commonly accepted
one until there began to be set rules in which there were
the attempts to take short cuts. And there are none in
Christianity!
(Q) What action of the early church, or council, can be
mentioned as that which ruled reincarnation from Christian
theology?
(A) Just as indicated, - the attempts of individuals to
accept or take advantage of, because of this knowledge, see?
(Q) Do souls become entangled in other systems as they did
in this system?
(A) In other systems that represent the same as the earth
does in this system, yes.
(Q) Is there any other advice which may be given to this
entity at this time in the preparation of these chapters?
(A) Hold fast to that ideal, and using Him ever as the
Ideal. And hold up that NECESSITY for each to meet the same
problems. And DO NOT attempt to shed or to surpass or go
around the Cross. THIS is that upon which each and every
soul MUST look and know it is to be borne in self WITH Him.
We are through for the present.
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Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation