This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his home in Pinewood on Lake Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia, this 15th day of May, 1932, in accordance with request made by those present.
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Minnie and C. A. Barrett, Hannah Miller, Florence and Edith Edmonds, M. L. Black, F. M. Freeman, F. Y. Morrow, C. W. Rosborough, M. L. Rosborough, Hugh Lynn Cayce, L. B. Cayce, Mildred Davis, Helen Storey, Helen Ellington and Ruth LeNoir.
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 4:00 P. M.
1. Introduction
1. GC: You will have before you the group gathered here and their work on the lesson of VIRTUE AND UNDERSTANDING. You will continue the information on this subject which will aid us in continuing our work, and will answer the questions which various individuals will ask.
2. EC: Yes, we have the group as gathered here, as a group, as individuals. In the study of this particular phase of that necessary preparation within individuals that they may know and understand themselves, their relationships to the creative forces, these as lessons are then the preparations for the relationships that are to be studied as respecting their fellow man. Hence the next lesson must be FELLOWSHIP. In the preparations of self virtue and understanding are necessary requisites for the relationships that are to be further studied.
2. Both virtue and understanding essential to right living.
3. Virtue and understanding are spiritual and can be found only in the spiritual way.
3. Ready for questions.
4. The way to virtue and understanding open to all who will: A. Become a channel of blessings to others. B. Thoroughly acquaint self with self. C. Have their ideal set in Him. The one way - the straight and narrow way.
4. (Q) Is the following outline of VIRTUE AND UNDERSTANDING complete and inclusive enough to cover the lesson which we should present on this subject? Please suggest any advisable additions or changes, as I read this to you: VIRTUE AND UNDERSTANDING
5. Faith, the chief cornerstone in acquiring virtue and understanding.
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5. (Q) [993]: Would appreciate a message from the Master that may guide me now in virtue and understanding. (A) As there is set before thee that thou has builded and chosen in thine service, thine work, so WILL the harvest be, if there will be kept that faith in Him who gives that necessary understanding for the comprehension of the varied conditions as present themselves as problems in thine daily experience. There will not be those things that are not understood, if there will be the opening of the heart to that consciousness that comes from the closer walk with Him. Keep the way thou knowest; keep the path thou hast trod in, for He is able to DELIVER thee in every trial, in every way, for unto him that is faithful comes the crown of life.
6. Virtue, a defense; Understanding, a weapon.
6. (Q) [69]: Through what source may I gain a greater understanding? (A) Through prayer and meditation in Him, for He IS the way, He IS the understanding, and the approach to all understanding must come from the proper concept of the relationships of conditions in the physical, the mental and the spiritual phases of an individual's existence. In HIM, then, is understanding. The approach to the Father through Him.
7. The effect of virtue and understanding upon self and others. (A) This is well. Well that this be understood, that virtue and understanding deals primarily with self and self's relationship to the Creative Forces, or God, and that virtue and understanding in self is REFLECTED in self, rather than a JUDGEMENT upon another. Judge self by thine understanding and thine own virtue, NOT another - for these are of the spirit and must be judged by the spirit. "Judge not that ye be not judged."
7. (Q) What is the meaning of the words I got in meditation, "18 carat gold", that was repeated over and over? (A) That as had been the criterion with which the judgement had been passed on those concepts that were in the mental being of self, RATED as such from material standard.
8. (Q) [379]: Is there a message for me regarding virtue and understanding? (A) In making those parallels, or those analyses of what are the requisites for the closer relationships to faith, to knowledge, to self, to cooperation, to the knowing of self, to that of thine ideal, MEASURE these by the spiritual aspects; NOT as man-made, or man's concept from the material viewpoint, and there will come the more perfect understanding. KNOWLEDGE is not ALWAYS understanding; for
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these are as knowledge in the daily experiences that are as miracles, yet they become so often as everyday facts that there is no understanding in the mercies or the glories that are showered upon the sons of men from an All-Wise Creator. Few get understanding that have mere knowledge. Then the fault lying in that which is as the standard of measurements, in judgements; but get the understanding through the closer approach to the throne, for he that has understanding may move mountains.
9. (Q) [404]: Please expand on the statement, "Truth is not learned, it is earned." (A) TRUTH is as experience. Hence IS an earning, through the manners in which a finite mind becomes conscious of what truth is. Hence truth is a growth, and hence an EARNING, a yearning, a growing and is EARNED by he or she that applies that known in the manner that IS in keeping with His will, rather than that there may be the satisfying of self's own desires. Not that man should deny that this or that force exists, to make self believe, but rather that the truth is as that which may be earned through the EXPERIENCING of the knowledge and understanding concerning the laws of truth; for HE is TRUTH!
10. (Q) Please expand on the statement: "Open our hearts to those unseen forces that surround the throne of grace, and beauty and might, throwing about us the protection found in the thought of the Christ." [262-3, Par. 16-A.] (A) These expand by doing it! That's the best expansion!
11. (Q) [2125]: Am I pursuing the right course for my development? (A) As ye sow, so SHALL ye reap. As ye remain in that attitude of seeking, so will there be opened unto thee THAT as is sought. In Him is the light, and no darkness at all. Seek the way, and it will be opened unto thee.
12. (Q) [2124]: Am I still on the straight and narrow path? (A) That must be answered from within, to Him in whom thou hast put thy faith, thy trust, thy hope, thy hereafter. WHO am I to judge thee? "WHO is good?" as He gave, "NONE save the Father", not even the Son of man. Rather in HIM is the way, and "My Spirit", saith He, "beareth witness with thy spirit whether ye be the sons of God or not."
13. (Q) Compilers: We have sent the paper on, "Present World Conditions" [3976-9] to "The Westerner", the Westerner Limited, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, some weeks ago for publication. We have received no reply from our letter in regard to the paper. Should we write to publishers again? (A) It has gone abroad. Wait at least a week.
14. (Q) Any message for the group at this time? (A) Keep in the way as is set before thee, for much may be
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accomplished in that THOU hast undertaken.
15. We are through.