. . for in suffering strength is gained, even as the wind bloweth where it listeth--one heareth the sound thereof and knoweth not whither it cometh nor whence it goeth, yet that is as of the thought and intent in the individual characterization of self--that out of those forces comes that same in an individual or entity's being . . .

Edgar Cayce Reading 5528-1

Meditate, oft. Separate thyself for a season from the cares of the world. Get close to nature and learn from the lowliest of that which manifests in nature, in the earth; in the birds, in the trees, in the grass, in the flowers, in the bees; that the life of each is a manifesting, is a song of glory to its Maker. And do thou likewise!

Edgar Cayce Reading 1089-3

. . in love all life is given, in love all things move. In giving one attains. In giving one acquires. In giving love comes as the fulfillment of desire, guided, directed, in the ways that bring the more perfect knowledge of application of self as related to the universal, all powerful, all guiding, all divine influence in life--or it is life.

Edgar Cayce Reading 345-1

Ye, too, oft doubt; ye, too, oft fear. Yet He is surely with thee. And when ye at this glad season rededicate thy life, thy body, thy mind to His service, ye--too--may know, as they, that He lives--and is at the right hand of God to make intercession for you--if ye will believe; if ye will believe that He is, ye may experience. For as many as have named the name, and that do unto their brethren the deeds that bring to them (to you) that closeness, oneness of purpose with Him, may know--ye, too--in body, in mind, that He lives today, and will come and receive you unto Himself, that where He is there ye may be also.

Edgar Cayce Reading 5749-6

Study to know thyself in relationship to that ye choose as thy ideal. And let that ideal be set in Him, who is the way, the truth and the light.
This does not mean becoming good-goody, no--far from it! Be able to look everyman in the face and tell him to go to hell--but live as He did, the lowly Nazarene!

Edgar Cayce Reading 2869-1

Then, we would give that not only must the body-mind turn to the spiritual promises that are a part of its mental and spiritual self, but the environment must be changed; so that the spiritual promises may be put to active service and work to replace the habits with the habits of doing good, doing right, doing justice, being merciful.

Edgar Cayce Reading 1427-1

Show due consideration as to how much ye owe the world, rather than as to how much the world owes you!
The world owes every individual only an opportunity to express itself and its ideal of the Creative Forces--which will find expression in the manner we treat our fellow men.

Edgar Cayce Reading 2172-1

Try in thine own experience, each; that ye speak not for one whole day unkindly of any; that ye say not a harsh word to any, about any; and see what [such] a day would bring to you . . .

Edgar Cayce Reading 262-106

Then we say, when our loved ones, our heart's desires are taken from us, in what are we to believe?
This we find is only answered in that which has been given as His promise, that God hath not willed that any soul should perish but hath with every temptation, every trial, every disappointment made a way of escape or for correcting same. It is not a way of justification only, as by faith, but a way to know, to realize that in these disappointments, separations, there comes the assurance that He cares!

Edgar Cayce Reading 1567-2

They who would gain the greater will suffer the more. Those who would attain to a more perfect understanding of the true relationships of an individual to creative forces and using of same constructively, recognize the unfoldment of the mind through the experiences.

Edgar Cayce Reading 5242-1

And O that all would realize, come to the consciousness that what we are--in any given experience, or time--is the combined results of what we have done about the ideals that we have set!

Edgar Cayce Reading 1549-1

Hence again might that injunction be given the entity not to be too easily discouraged. Brace up! Know in what ye have believed and do believe, but know who is also the author of such. For life is real, life is earnest, and the grave is not the goal!

Edgar Cayce Reading 1792-2

Each entrance of an entity into a material experience is that it may better fit itself, through the application of an ideal in its experience, for a sojourn with that which is Creative--that influence or force in which all move and have their consciousness, their being.

Edgar Cayce Reading 1759-1

Then, keep that. For, none may tell another how to be beautiful. It must be the reflection of that entertained in the heart and mind of the individual. And as He is beauty, He is friendship, He is love, the more and the nearer individuals reflect that in their conversation, in their dealings with their fellow man, the greater the glory to Him.

Edgar Cayce Reading 2574-1

For the mind is both spiritual and physical in its attributes to the human body, and if ye feed thy body-mind upon worldly things, ye become worldly. If ye feed thy mind upon those things that are His, ye become His indeed.

Edgar Cayce Reading 1299-1

If the experiences are ever used for self-indulgence, self-aggrandizement, self-exaltation, each entity does so to its own undoing, or creates for self that as has been termed or called karma--and must be met. And in meeting every error, in meeting every trial, in meeting every temptation--whether these be mental or really physical experiences--the manner and purpose and approach to same should be ever in that attitude, "Not my will but Thine, O God, be done in and through me."

Edgar Cayce Reading 1224-1

Learn the lesson well of the spiritual truth: Criticize not unless ye wish to be criticized. For, with what measure ye mete it is measured to thee again. It may not be in the same way, but ye cannot even think bad of another without it affecting thee in a manner of a destructive nature. Think well of others, and if ye cannot speak well of them don't speak! but don't think it either!

Edgar Cayce Reading 2936-2

For Life and its expressions are one. Each soul or entity will and does return, or cycle, as does nature in its manifestations about man; thus leaving, making or presenting--as it were--those infallible, indelible truths that it--Life--is continuous. And though there may be a few short years in this or that experience, they are one; the soul, the inner self being purified, being lifted up, that it may be one with that first cause, that first purpose for its coming into existence.

Edgar Cayce Reading 938-1

Know, self is the only excuse. Self is the only sin; that is, selfishness--and all the others are just a modification of that expression of the ego. But so close is the ego, the I Am, to the Great I Am, That I Am, that the confusions of duty and privilege and opportunity become so enmeshed in the experience of the entity.
And so great are the abilities of the entity to make of this experience a glory for the living God, that to fail would be indeed calamitous in the experience of this soul!

Edgar Cayce Reading 1362-1

Know ye this, each of you: The law of the Lord is perfect, ye cannot get around it. Ye may for the moment submerge it, but thy conscience will smite thee.

Edgar Cayce Reading 2811-3

Yea, thy Lord, thy God, showeth thee this day by day in His dealings with thy fellow man, to show those promises that have been made sure in the experiences of those that seek. For He giveth good and evil unto all, and ye choose through the will thy relationships--as to whether they shall be for self-exaltation, self-glorification, self-indulgence, self-gratification, or for the love of life, of truth, of hope, of honor, of virtue, of patience, of brotherly love. Ye yourselves show forth these in the manners, the ways ye deal with thy fellow man!

Edgar Cayce Reading 254-91

For, know that each soul constantly meets its own self. No problem may be run away from. Meet it now!

Edgar Cayce Reading 1204-3

Know the first principles: There is good in all that is alive.

Edgar Cayce Reading 2537-1

If you would have friends, be friendly. If you would even have fun, make fun for someone else.
Read the comic papers; not as to become sarcastic, no--but remember, ever, even thy Master, Jesus, could laugh in the face of the Cross. Can ye find a better example?

Edgar Cayce Reading 3440-2

There has been and is ever the promise to every soul that He, thy Father, thy God, will meet thee in thy holy temple. Then accept same. Prepare self. Dedicate self; making those necessary activities for insuring self of that influence, that activity on the part of self, and there needs be little fear--ever--to enter. For he that does so doubting already invites that which would bring corruption, dissension. But he that does so in the assurance that the promises are true, the promises are thine own, in insuring self and making secure.

Edgar Cayce Reading 877-2

Depend more upon the intuitive forces from within and not harken so much to that of outside influences--but learn to listen to that still small voice from within, remembering as the lesson as was given, not in the storm, the lightning, nor in any of the loud noises as are made to attract man, but rather in the still small voice from within does the impelling influence come to life in an individual that gives for that which must be the basis of human endeavor; for without the ability to constantly hold before self the ideal as is attempted to be accomplished, man becomes one as adrift, pulled hither and yon by the various calls and cries of those who would give of this world's pleasure in fame, fortune, or what not. Let these be the outcome of a life spent in listening to the divine from within, and not the purpose of the life.

Edgar Cayce Reading 239-1

Thus ye may find in thy mental and spiritual self, ye can make thyself just as happy or just as miserable as ye like. How miserable do ye want to be?

Edgar Cayce Reading 2995-3

Happiness, then, is not a thing set apart from self, but the conditions with which one approaches that in hand to be done! for when one considers that the position of self is hard to bear, is not as is desired, the desire of the heart often maketh one afraid--unless that desire is ever in that attitude of "Use me, O God, as I am," for the I AM is ready, willing, to make my will one with Thy will--"Though He slay me, though He bruise me in mine own selfish or unseen ways; yet will I trust Him day by day," and He will not forsake thee; neither will He allow thee to be afraid; for He will raise thee up, and He understands all the hardships, the little things, the separations, the variations in the surroundings--but trust Him!

Edgar Cayce Reading 5563-1

First--know as to what are the purposes, the desires, the hopes. There are in the present the problems that are a part of the experience, but take things, conditions and circumstances where they are--not merely where you wishfully think, hope or desire that they are!
Meet the problems first, though, in the spiritual; then the mental and the material results will become more satisfactory.
As the law has been and is a portion of the hopes--as the associations are still many of the problems of the moment--find the solution in the choices as in keeping with these:
Thou hast seen the way of the Lord. Thou knowest it to be good. Depart not from same for the satisfying or the gratifying of material wishes or material desires. For, the law of the Lord is perfect; and they that seek to follow in His way shall not find themselves among those disturbed, nor among the children of want.

Edgar Cayce Reading 459-12

Take counsel in self. Give unto self that worthy, acceptable period of service, for in service to others is lending to that Creative Energy that makes or destroys lives. Lives are as worlds, for each is of that material of which the universe is and was created--for in the life of the entity enters many of those conditions that may be made into miracles or crimes.

Edgar Cayce Reading 2497-3