THE SLEEPING PROPHET

Whatever the reason, Edgar Cayce became convinced that the life readings were
as helpful as the physical diagnoses.  They seemed to harm no one, so he continued to give them on request.  He came to feel that the life readings were
given to help an individual understand and answer questions and problems about his or her present life and that to obtain a life reading for frivolous reasons was a waste of time.  His readings expressed this view as follows:

"Do not gain knowledge only to thine own undoing.  Remember Adam.  Do not
obtain that which ye cannot make constructive in thine own experience and in the experience of those whom ye contact day by day.  Do not attempt to force, impel
or even try to impress knowledge upon another - in the studies, then know where
ye are going.  To gain knowledge merely for thine own satisfaction is a thing, a
condition, an experience to be commended, if it does not produce in thine experien-
ce a feeling or a manner of expression that ye are better than another on account
of thy knowledge.  This becomes self-evident that it would become then a stumb-
ling block, unless ye know what ye will do with thy knowledge.

...........For to find only that ye lived, died, and were buried under the cherry tree
in grandmother's garden does not make thee one whit a better neighbor, citizen,
mother, or father.  But to know that ye spoke unkindly and suffered for it, and in the present may correct it by being righteous - THAT  is worthwhile.  What is right-
eousness?  Just being kind, just being noble, just being self-sacrificing, just being willing to be the hands for the blind, the feet for the lame - these are constructive
experiences.  Ye may gain knowledge of same, for incarnations are a fact.  How may
ye prove it?  In thy daily living.  (no. 5753-2, June 29, 1937)*


*Each of the Edgar Cayce readings has been assigned a two-part number to provide easy reference.  Each person who received a reading was given an anonymous number; this is the first half of the two part number.  Since many indi-
viduals obtained more than one reading, the second number designates the
number of that reading in the series.  Reading no. 5752-2 was given for a person
who was assigned case number 5753.  This particular reading was the second
one that person obtained from Cayce.