Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) and the ARE: The Association for Research and Enlightenment, Virginia Beach, VA

"Understanding the Purpose of Life"
The key concept in the Edgar Cayce readings on understanding the purpose of life is that there is, indeed, a purpose in all of life. There is no such thing as chance or accident, but rather all experiences in life come to us for good reason. And although we often do not see the ultimate good in our circumstances, we can learn to recognize it more frequently and thus adopt a more positive, constructive attitude toward life. This excerpt from the ARE files gives us a clear concept of the rationale behind life and of the awesome control we hold over our own destinies.

Our purpose in life is inseparably linked to our true nature as spiritual beings. For, if the Edgar Cayce readings are correct, we were created by God as spiritual beings, part of Himself: "Hence, as He moved, souls -- portions of Himself -- came into being." "In the beginning, when there was the creating, or the calling of individual entities into being, we were made to be the companions with the Father-God." Each of us was created before the advent of the material world to be God's friend! The Edgar Cayce readings describe this role as nothing less than to be "co-creators" with God, individual souls granted the dignity of peership with the Creator Himself.

We are so often fixed in our concepts of ourselves as bodies occupying material space that it may be difficult to grasp the full import of this statement on our nature and origin. For it is saying that our true individual identity rests not in our bodies nor in our personality, but in our eternal souls, which have existed "before the beginning" of time. But if our true purpose is to be companions to God, why is that awareness so far from our consciousness? And if our ultimate nature is spiritual, why do we find ourselves existing in, and identifying with, physical bodies and the material world?

According to the Cayce material, we can understand the human condition in terms of choices we have made. Intrinsic to our nature as sons and daughters of God is the ability to choose. As companions and co-creators with God, we were bestowed with the free will which makes us responsible beings. A true companion must be one by choice, and so from the start, we were allowed the freedom to choose union or separation from God:
"For as was given of old, there is each day set before us life and death, good and evil. We choose because of our natures. If our will were broken, if we were commanded to do this or that, or to become as an automaton, our individuality then would be lost and we would only be as in Him without conscience -- CONSCIENCE -- consciousness of being one with Him; with the abilities to choose for self! For we CAN, as God, say Yea to this, Nay to that; we CAN order this or the other in our experience.... For we are indeed as laborers, co-laborers in the vineyard of the Lord."
The account given in the Cayce readings goes on to point out the obvious: We chose the way of separation from God rather than the way of union with Him. Apparently we found self-preoccupation so alluring that we were unwilling to keep the awareness of our relationship with God.
It was once we had separated ourselves from God in consciousness that He, in His infinite love and patience, provided physical life for us as a way to learn proper use of our free will. It is in the experiences of day-to-day life that we have the opportunity to grow to our full stature as co-creators with God. It is in the material world, with its cause-and-effect laws, that we have the opportunity to use our will and learn, through first-hand experience, the consequences (both positive and negative) of our choices. Thus we are spiritual beings who have been given not just one, but countless lifetimes in which to grow and to learn.
"Know that each sojourn or indwelling (lifetime) may be compared to that as ye have in your mental experience as a lesson, as a schooling for the purposes for which each soul-entity enters an earth experience."
In other words, each experience in life has the ultimate purpose of bringing us closer to God. Once we have reached our spiritual adulthood, we may return in consciousness to the Father in our role of companion and peer.
"Remember, ever, that where shortcomings have existed and do exist in the experience, those that are wise use same as stepping-stones to the real development; for less and less of self, more and more that the body, the mind, may be used as a channel for the glorifying of a unified Father in the earth.... That the earth has been given as a schooling for those who in the beginnings erred in self-indulgences, self-aggrandizement, self-glorification, is indeed a merciful experience then, even to those that find turmoils, strife and antagonism and disturbing forces in their experience. If they will but empty themselves of themselves, they become channels through which a glorified Father in the Son may be manifested."
It is important that we never think that a situation is "beyond repair". Many individuals were told by Cayce that at any moment they could choose to turn their problems into growth opportunities, simply by changing their attitude toward them. What attitudes are important?
"Keep the correct mental attitude; that is, not holding grudges, being kind, being affectionate, long-suffering, manifesting patience.... But keep creative ever in the activities. This, too...be GLAD you have the opportunity to be alive at this time."
Perhaps the crux of the attitudinal issue is that we accept responsibility for our circumstances, whatever they may be. We should not blame others or "fate", but know that we are constantly experiencing the consequences of our choices. If we accept responsibility for the painful consequences we are experiencing, then it becomes possible to take control of our lives and make different kinds of choices:
"For each soul, each entity, constantly meets self. And if each soul would but understand, those hardships which are accredited much to others are caused most by self. Know that in those you are meeting thyself!"
Finally, if we have the patience to see beyond the here-and-now, we can place each
experience in the context of our origin and destiny. From this vantage point we can see individual experiences and circumstances as part of a much larger whole, remembering that life is continuous and that no effort is ever lost:
"Yet the entity should -- and does at times -- realize that it isn't all of life to live, in one experience. For life is continued, life itself is a consciousness, a gift of an infinite influence we may call God."

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