My Work with the Association by Edgar Cayce -
My Work with the Association written by Edgar Cayce - Listen to the Article
The following article included in the report document for reading
254-87 was based on a lecture given by Edgar Cayce on June 27, 1935 at the
Southland Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia at the opening meeting of the Fourth Annual
Congress of A.R.E.
Many have asked me, "Why do you have an Association?; What is its value?
What does it have to do with your work?"
The Association has nothing whatsoever to do with my work, save making it
possible for the individual to have the information which comes through me as a
channel. How? Through cooperation! Those who have studied the lessons prepared
by our Norfolk Group No. 1, know what cooperation means. Cooperation! When
individuals work together towards something worth while, we have strength.
I feel that my work in relation to the Association can be compared to a
portion of the history in the Old Testament. When the children of Israel
organized themselves under the direction of their leader, with individuals who
were to act as the interpreters, two individuals--Nadab and Abihu--did not
cooperate. They were destroyed. It is the same with a work of this nature. Unless the application is in sincerity it will destroy the individual tampering
with it.
The Association may honestly correlate the individual
findings which have been good and present them to others; thus assisting the
individuals who seek through this source not only to aid themselves but to aid
others in gaining an understanding for themselves.
Do not get the idea that the Association is trying to revolutionize the
world; or that it is entirely different from or better than that which anyone
else has. As I understand the purpose of the Association, it is like this: If one individual during the past year has been aided in finding his relationship
to God, then indeed the Association has been a marvelous success. On the other
hand, if this has not been done, then, it has been a failure - no matter how
many members it may have or how great an outward show it may make.
The Association stands on the results individuals receive. The results speak
for themselves, and also for the Association.
Last month I sent out a letter to each member of the Association, asking the
question, "Has the Association meant anything to you during the past year? If
it has, say so. If it has not, say so." We received a great many answers. One
of them reads something like this: "I received some literature from the
Association when I was ready to destroy myself. The help that has come through
you and the Association, not only for myself but for my little girl, has meant
everything to me. And most of all I have again found my God".
That is my affiliation with the Association. My mission, if I know it at
all, is to help individuals find their relationship to the Creator. If it is
necessary for some to find Him through the cure of physical ills, then we must
work towards that. For, as the Great Teacher said, "Whether it is easier to say
to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take
up thy bed, and walk?"
The cause of illness is sin. Anything which separates us from that within
which makes us alive is sin. So, all forms of healing--whether through
physicians of the various schools, or through spiritual healing direct from the
One Source--are to enable us to find our relationship to Life itself; that is,
God.
One individual in seeking information through a reading sometime ago was
given something like this: "To help you to physical strength without enabling
you to find yourself would, with your frame of mind, cause you to be worse off
than you now are; because you have cursed your God, because you do swear against
everything that is holy." So, unless we can get to the seat of the matter and
help an individual to change his mental attitude towards his One Source of
supply, little aid may come--regardless of what channel he uses.
For, "Many will say in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye
that work iniquity." What does He mean?
Unless we are sincere with ourselves, with our associates, we are building
such a barrier in our consciousness as to keep us trotting back to this earth
plane for ages and ages to come!
Then, my connection with the Association is to enable me to cooperate with
those who sincerely seek to find the best that is within themselves, and their
relationship to the Creative Forces that are alive within and about us
everywhere.
That is our whole purpose, aim and desire. You who are members of this
organization, and who have read the article on our Ideal and Purposes, are
finding this true.
Not to the hordes and masses do we present this work; it never has been so
with a work of this nature and never will be - only to those who seek. Here a
little, there a little; line upon line, precept upon precept - it is the only
way.
Let us not worry about what others are doing, apparently in opposition to our
purpose; but let us look rather to what we ourselves are doing in relation to
our purpose. If we fulfil our purpose to the best of our ability, then others -
seeing - will take hope also.
Life in abundance is ours; if we will only take hold on it.