Spirituality as a Living Awareness
Taken from The Edgar Cayce Readings
Although religion often deals with form, spirituality generally deals with an individual's application of his or her individual knowledge or awareness.
Since our natural state is spirit, reawakening to full spiritual awareness is one of the purposes we all have in common.
In fact, in one reading (3357-2), Cayce stated that "Soul development should take precedence over all things." From the readings' perspective, this development is not achieved through some great deed or act; instead, it is a gradual accomplishment which is attained "line upon line, precept upon precept."
What appears to be most important in terms of soul development is an individual's application of the things of the Spirit in their interactions with others: love, kindness, gentleness, patience, persistence, and consistency.
Since the purpose of life is to bring the spirituality of the Creator into the earth, attunement and application are at the heart of spiritual growth.
Attunement is the process of reawakening to an awareness of our spiritual nature and our true relationship with God.
As mentioned previously, the most frequently recommended tools for achieving this attunement are the regular practice of prayer and meditation.
Both prayer and meditation are invaluable at re-establishing a conscious awareness of our spiritual source while inviting God's will to work through us as a "channel of His blessings" in service to others.
Repeatedly, a core concept from the Edgar Cayce material has been stated: Spirit is the life, mind is the builder, and the physical is the result. In terms of oneness, essentially what this means is that the one force, Spirit,constantly flows through us.
However, it is acted upon by the properties of the mind and then channeled into our
lives in accordance with our free will.
Regardless of whether or not an individual even believes in God, everything about that person is given life through the properties of the one activating Spirit.
What he or she does with that Spirit is a matter of choice, and "crimes or miracles" may be the result.
This ability of personal creation, whether through thought, experience or activity, caused the readings to identify the human soul as a co-creator with God.
Because of this gift of co-creation, Cayce continually advised individuals that one of the most important things they could do was to establish an appropriate spiritual motivation (or ideal) for their lives, thereby directing personal choice into positive directions.
From Cayce's perspective, too often, we are out of touch with the intentionality (the why) behind our everyday actions.
By consciously establishing a spiritual motivation, such as service, compassion, love, or Jesus, as our pattern and then trying to make that motivation a greater part of our lives, real personal transformation and soul development can result.
The soul, then, must return-will return-to its Maker. It is a portion of the Creative Force, which is energized into activity even in materiality, in the flesh...
Then, just being kind, just being patient, just showing love for thy fellow man; that is the manner in which an individual works at becoming aware of the consciousness or the Christ Spirit. Reading 272-9
Just like in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), we were with God in the beginning and, through choice and experience, found ourselves cut off from a complete awareness of Him.
In one respect, the fall of humankind was really our descent in consciousness from the realms of infinity to those of time and space. However, this was not necessarily a "bad" thing or an erroneous choice.
Just as a child learns through experience, choice, and making mistakes along the way, our own experiences through choice and will embody a maturation process that will enable us to come into our full heritage and an awareness of our true spiritual nature.
In time, as we bring the spirituality of God into the earth, we will awaken to our own spiritual Source, eventually finding our way back to the Creator.
Not only is spiritual transformation our goal, but it is our birthright as well.
With the proper spiritual motivation, we will be brought into alignment with this perfect pattern by working with attunement, appropriate mental attitudes, and a desire to bring our spiritual ideal into physical application.
Source: www.EdgarCayce.org
Replies