Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Back from Egypt and Ancient Mysteries Conference
I've been so busy I haven't been able to read and post since June. I have read some of your new postings and questions and will get to them over the next two weeks. I have also been evaluating how this blog works and reading your problems with it. I have also checked out some other blogging sites, but didn't find any that seemed much better than this. If any of you come across one, email me at john@johnvanauken.com
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Gave a talk last night to the 78th A.R.E. Congress
The 78th Congress of Members of the A.R.E. asked me to give a talk on meditation and "The Kingdom Within." It was like preaching to the choir, for most all of them had years and years of seeking with prayer and meditation. But we all enjoyed reviewing the great teachings from Scripture and Edgar Cayce's discourses on the nature and pathway to the Kingdom Within.
When you think about it, this concept is very difficult for physical being to grasp: somewhere within us is the Kingdom of God?? We've completely explored the human body and brain, so where is it?? But as most of us knew last night, it is within our heart (not the pump) and mind. Here are some of the Cayce readings we shared:
“All that you may learn of the Father God is already within self. For your body is indeed the temple of the living God, and as you meet Him there you may gain in your own consciousness the satisfaction of walking and talking with Him. When these consciousnesses are yours and you are one with Him, then indeed may you see that the kingdom of heaven dwells within.” (EC 5155-1)
“Know that your body is the temple of the living God; there you may seek communion. There you may seek counsel as to the choices to be made, the directions to be taken.” (EC 622-6)
“This is a promise to you, to each soul; yet each soul must of itself find that answer within self. For indeed the body is the temple of the living God. There He has promised to meet you; there He does. And as your body, your mind, your soul is attuned to that divine that answers within, so may you indeed be quickened to know His purpose; and you may fill that purpose for which you entered this experience.” (622-6)
“He has promised. 'If you will but open the door of your consciousness, of your heart, I will enter and abide with you.' This is not a fancy; this is not hearsay. You may experience such. For it is the law, it is the way, it is LIFE itself!” (EC 1632-2)
“Seek and you shall find. Not without but from within. For in thine own temple He has promised to meet you.” (EC 2677-1)
When you think about it, this concept is very difficult for physical being to grasp: somewhere within us is the Kingdom of God?? We've completely explored the human body and brain, so where is it?? But as most of us knew last night, it is within our heart (not the pump) and mind. Here are some of the Cayce readings we shared:
“All that you may learn of the Father God is already within self. For your body is indeed the temple of the living God, and as you meet Him there you may gain in your own consciousness the satisfaction of walking and talking with Him. When these consciousnesses are yours and you are one with Him, then indeed may you see that the kingdom of heaven dwells within.” (EC 5155-1)
“Know that your body is the temple of the living God; there you may seek communion. There you may seek counsel as to the choices to be made, the directions to be taken.” (EC 622-6)
“This is a promise to you, to each soul; yet each soul must of itself find that answer within self. For indeed the body is the temple of the living God. There He has promised to meet you; there He does. And as your body, your mind, your soul is attuned to that divine that answers within, so may you indeed be quickened to know His purpose; and you may fill that purpose for which you entered this experience.” (622-6)
“He has promised. 'If you will but open the door of your consciousness, of your heart, I will enter and abide with you.' This is not a fancy; this is not hearsay. You may experience such. For it is the law, it is the way, it is LIFE itself!” (EC 1632-2)
“Seek and you shall find. Not without but from within. For in thine own temple He has promised to meet you.” (EC 2677-1)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
40 Years and Still Experiencing New Levels and Phenomena
Not that phenomena is a goal or a measurement of successful meditation, but perception is, and as perception expands and changes, it expands consciousness and awareness. As Cayce would occasionally say upon contacting the deeper mind of a person getting a reading from him, "Ah, a fourth-dimensional mind, how refreshing!" So an expanding awareness indicates some degree of progress with meditation. Paradoxically, it cannot be a goal that overshadows stillness and a silent mind! How can these two conditions coexist? One is the condition of the lower inner self and the other is an awakened condition of the higher inner self and its contact with the Universal Consciousness and the Community of Saints or Seekers (as Cayce named them).
With this established, let me share my main point in this posting: over my forty years of meditating, using many different techniques, I am still reaching new plateaus and then breaking through these plateaus to even newer levels. Recently, in the midst of many physical-life challenges, I awoke in the wee hours of the night to find my body in a state of high vibration and my mind filled with a dream of being at a healing place in the heavens with many other souls, receiving a much-needed healing and recharge (like the ancient Atlanteans used to get from time to time, according to Cayce). The next morning in my normal meditation, I experienced a totally new phenomenon of imagery and vibrations. It's got me so excited that I'm fired up for another 40 years of meditating. I am happy to share that meditation keeps growing and expanding if we just keep on with the practice and striving to have our outer life reflect what we are seeking and experiencing in our inner life. Practice with expectation, yet with contented patience, and the breakthroughs will come and those little phenomena benefits will reward your endurance.
With this established, let me share my main point in this posting: over my forty years of meditating, using many different techniques, I am still reaching new plateaus and then breaking through these plateaus to even newer levels. Recently, in the midst of many physical-life challenges, I awoke in the wee hours of the night to find my body in a state of high vibration and my mind filled with a dream of being at a healing place in the heavens with many other souls, receiving a much-needed healing and recharge (like the ancient Atlanteans used to get from time to time, according to Cayce). The next morning in my normal meditation, I experienced a totally new phenomenon of imagery and vibrations. It's got me so excited that I'm fired up for another 40 years of meditating. I am happy to share that meditation keeps growing and expanding if we just keep on with the practice and striving to have our outer life reflect what we are seeking and experiencing in our inner life. Practice with expectation, yet with contented patience, and the breakthroughs will come and those little phenomena benefits will reward your endurance.
Friday, June 12, 2009
A New View, A New Concept
It is difficult to accept that inner, unseen influences have more of an impact and role in our life than outer influences. Yet, Cayce’s discourses affirm over and over that the unseen forces are more powerful than the seen.
It is difficult to accept that outer events and relationships begin within, and are only a result, a manifestation of inner dynamics, of inner forces. Yet, Cayce’s readings affirm over and over that life events and relationships begin in the spirit (the motivating force), move into the deeper mind (forming of thoughts), and only then manifest in the outer physical life. In fact, Cayce says that nothing occurs in our physical life that was not first foreshadowed in our dream life!
From the perspective of our material self, outer life appears to feed inner life. But from Cayce’s deep attunement to the Infinite Consciousness, it is the other way around. Our deep inner life feeds our outer life. This why he often said to “set your heart and mind,” to “set an ideal first.” It was because these inner dynamics are magnetic forces that attract people and events in our outer life.
Once we accept this concept, even tentatively, then we can see how important meditation and dreams are. They help us get in touch with the inner influences that are shaping our lives and relationships.
This arrangement is true because of a oneness that we don’t often see. To us life appears to be a multifarious array of people and activities. Everyone appears to be separate individuals. Every event appears to be different from another. Life is a “manyness,” not a oneness. Yet, from Cayce’s deep attunement, all these seemingly separate minds are connected at a deep level in one, infinite, collective consciousness. Thoughts of one affected another. Seemingly new events flowed from a pattern. Though it appears new when our little boat turns at that next bend in the river of life to see what's new, a bird high above of the river of life saw where we were going long before we got to the bend. This bird is like our higher mind, which can rise above the daily activity and people on our river. This level of our consciousness can see as we cannot. And past experiences that occurred far beyond the last visible bend in the flow of this life, are knowable. Cayce could read the book of our soul life as if it was happening now, even if it were in Atlantis or Lemuria. And those experiences are influencing us today, in this life, in these relationships.
As Jesus taught, “the spirit of truth, the comforter, will bring all things to your remembrance.” This inner resource is available to us through meditation and dreams.
Approaching daily life and relationships with a sense of how these outer dynamics are influenced by inner, unseen forces brings enlightenment and creative power to us. We become aware of the motivating influences behind our actions and reactions. We become aware of patterns in our way of thinking that shape our views, and the views of others. Add to this the power of meditation and prayer to change patterns and adjust motivations, and you and I have a new and powerful way to make life better, to move karma to grace, to heal and enliven.
Meditation and dreams are two excellent ways to get in touch with the oneness of consciousness and life.
It is difficult to accept that outer events and relationships begin within, and are only a result, a manifestation of inner dynamics, of inner forces. Yet, Cayce’s readings affirm over and over that life events and relationships begin in the spirit (the motivating force), move into the deeper mind (forming of thoughts), and only then manifest in the outer physical life. In fact, Cayce says that nothing occurs in our physical life that was not first foreshadowed in our dream life!
From the perspective of our material self, outer life appears to feed inner life. But from Cayce’s deep attunement to the Infinite Consciousness, it is the other way around. Our deep inner life feeds our outer life. This why he often said to “set your heart and mind,” to “set an ideal first.” It was because these inner dynamics are magnetic forces that attract people and events in our outer life.
Once we accept this concept, even tentatively, then we can see how important meditation and dreams are. They help us get in touch with the inner influences that are shaping our lives and relationships.
This arrangement is true because of a oneness that we don’t often see. To us life appears to be a multifarious array of people and activities. Everyone appears to be separate individuals. Every event appears to be different from another. Life is a “manyness,” not a oneness. Yet, from Cayce’s deep attunement, all these seemingly separate minds are connected at a deep level in one, infinite, collective consciousness. Thoughts of one affected another. Seemingly new events flowed from a pattern. Though it appears new when our little boat turns at that next bend in the river of life to see what's new, a bird high above of the river of life saw where we were going long before we got to the bend. This bird is like our higher mind, which can rise above the daily activity and people on our river. This level of our consciousness can see as we cannot. And past experiences that occurred far beyond the last visible bend in the flow of this life, are knowable. Cayce could read the book of our soul life as if it was happening now, even if it were in Atlantis or Lemuria. And those experiences are influencing us today, in this life, in these relationships.
As Jesus taught, “the spirit of truth, the comforter, will bring all things to your remembrance.” This inner resource is available to us through meditation and dreams.
Approaching daily life and relationships with a sense of how these outer dynamics are influenced by inner, unseen forces brings enlightenment and creative power to us. We become aware of the motivating influences behind our actions and reactions. We become aware of patterns in our way of thinking that shape our views, and the views of others. Add to this the power of meditation and prayer to change patterns and adjust motivations, and you and I have a new and powerful way to make life better, to move karma to grace, to heal and enliven.
Meditation and dreams are two excellent ways to get in touch with the oneness of consciousness and life.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
A Major Cayce Teaching on Prayer and Meditation
There are 1013 mentions of the word “meditation” in 636 Cayce readings. It is an important part of his visions. Let’s take a look at one of his key readings on prayer and meditation, 281-13:
“It would be well to analyze that difference (that is not always understood) between meditation and prayer.
“As it has been defined or given in an illustrated manner by the Great Teacher, prayer is the MAKING of one's conscious self more in attune with the spiritual forces that may manifest in a material world, and is ORDINARILY given as a COOPERATIVE experience of MANY individuals when all are asked to come in one accord and one mind.”
Cayce identified prayer as a means of lifting one’s conscious self more in tune with the spiritual forces. It is also a process for helping many individuals come together in one accord, one mind.
He now moves on to define meditation:
“Meditation, then, is prayer, but is prayer from WITHIN the INNER self, and partakes not only of the physical inner man but the soul that is aroused by the spirit of man from within.”
This is a key Cayce point: our physical self’s effort to arouse the spiritual forces, arouses our soul self! Our soul feels our physical self’s efforts and desires, and responds.
Cayce continues:
“As has been given, there are DEFINITE conditions that arise from within the inner man when an individual enters into true or deep meditation. A physical condition happens, a physical activity takes place!”
I don’t think we consciously grasp this teaching from Cayce: there is REAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE WITHIN US when we enter into meditation.
Cayce continues:
“Acting through what? Through that man has chosen to call the imaginative or the impulsive, and the sources of impulse are aroused by the shutting out of thought pertaining to activities or attributes of the carnal forces of man. Then, changes naturally take place when there is the arousing of that stimuli WITHIN the individual that has within it the seat of the soul's dwelling, within the individual body of the entity or man, and then this partakes of the individuality rather than the personality.”
Here it is important that understand that Cayce uses the term “individuality” to indicate our deeper, soul self, whereas the personality is our outer, physical self.
Also, our meditations will improve if we comprehend Cayce’s tip on “the imaginative or the impulsive” forces of our inner, deeper selves. These forces are released when we shut out thoughts pertaining to activities and attributes of the carnal forces – those that pertain to living in a flesh body in a physical dimension of egocentric expression. By moving away from our self-consciousness and earthly life and personality, we free the powers of imagination and impulse (impulse in the sense of motivative force), and this lifts our awareness into our higher mind and higher vibrations.
Cayce continues:
“If there has been set the mark (mark meaning here the image that is raised by the individual in its imaginative and impulse force) such that it takes the form of the ideal the individual is holding as its standard to be raised to…”
What a mind-boggling mouth full this Cayce teaching is. If we read it carefully and over a few times, we see that Cayce is saying that “the mark,” a term used to indicate either a good person or evil one (as in “the mark of the beast” in the Revelation), indicates the motivative force deep within us. Cayce warns that using the same technique, one may become a Frankenstein or a god, depending upon what ideal we are holding. Are we seeking an exalted self with a brilliant mind, dynamic aura, and superpowers? Or, are we truly seeking reunion with our Creator – seeking higher consciousness and vibrations to be more compatible to our Creator’s consciousness and vibrations? This marks us as we enter into the temple within. This mark is also an attractive force, like magnetic energy attracting a complementary response.
Cayce continues:
“…within the individual as well as to all forces and powers that are magnified or to be magnified in the world from without…”
Cayce has always taught that our outer actions and words must reflect our inner beliefs, thoughts, and desires, or we create a conflict.
Cayce continues:
“THEN the individual (or the image) bears the mark of the Lamb, or the Christ, or the Holy One, or the Son, or any of the names we may have given to that which ENABLES the individual to enter THROUGH IT into the very presence of that which is the creative force from within itself - see?” (281-13)
The mark that gets us through is not one of power, might, or glory, but of a lamb of God, a son or daughter of the Most High. Also notice what we arrive at is “the creative force from within” us. The very forces of life and creativity are reached through a meditative process. Once we reach this holy of holies within, the life forces begin to flow more fully through our bodies, minds, and souls.
What a powerful reading from Edgar Cayce, so filled with potent insights and information. Now all we have to do is apply these in our meditative process – patiently and persistently. There is no surer way of realizing these promises than to keep on trying. I would add, that evoking God’s help in this process is a wise addition.
“It would be well to analyze that difference (that is not always understood) between meditation and prayer.
“As it has been defined or given in an illustrated manner by the Great Teacher, prayer is the MAKING of one's conscious self more in attune with the spiritual forces that may manifest in a material world, and is ORDINARILY given as a COOPERATIVE experience of MANY individuals when all are asked to come in one accord and one mind.”
Cayce identified prayer as a means of lifting one’s conscious self more in tune with the spiritual forces. It is also a process for helping many individuals come together in one accord, one mind.
He now moves on to define meditation:
“Meditation, then, is prayer, but is prayer from WITHIN the INNER self, and partakes not only of the physical inner man but the soul that is aroused by the spirit of man from within.”
This is a key Cayce point: our physical self’s effort to arouse the spiritual forces, arouses our soul self! Our soul feels our physical self’s efforts and desires, and responds.
Cayce continues:
“As has been given, there are DEFINITE conditions that arise from within the inner man when an individual enters into true or deep meditation. A physical condition happens, a physical activity takes place!”
I don’t think we consciously grasp this teaching from Cayce: there is REAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE WITHIN US when we enter into meditation.
Cayce continues:
“Acting through what? Through that man has chosen to call the imaginative or the impulsive, and the sources of impulse are aroused by the shutting out of thought pertaining to activities or attributes of the carnal forces of man. Then, changes naturally take place when there is the arousing of that stimuli WITHIN the individual that has within it the seat of the soul's dwelling, within the individual body of the entity or man, and then this partakes of the individuality rather than the personality.”
Here it is important that understand that Cayce uses the term “individuality” to indicate our deeper, soul self, whereas the personality is our outer, physical self.
Also, our meditations will improve if we comprehend Cayce’s tip on “the imaginative or the impulsive” forces of our inner, deeper selves. These forces are released when we shut out thoughts pertaining to activities and attributes of the carnal forces – those that pertain to living in a flesh body in a physical dimension of egocentric expression. By moving away from our self-consciousness and earthly life and personality, we free the powers of imagination and impulse (impulse in the sense of motivative force), and this lifts our awareness into our higher mind and higher vibrations.
Cayce continues:
“If there has been set the mark (mark meaning here the image that is raised by the individual in its imaginative and impulse force) such that it takes the form of the ideal the individual is holding as its standard to be raised to…”
What a mind-boggling mouth full this Cayce teaching is. If we read it carefully and over a few times, we see that Cayce is saying that “the mark,” a term used to indicate either a good person or evil one (as in “the mark of the beast” in the Revelation), indicates the motivative force deep within us. Cayce warns that using the same technique, one may become a Frankenstein or a god, depending upon what ideal we are holding. Are we seeking an exalted self with a brilliant mind, dynamic aura, and superpowers? Or, are we truly seeking reunion with our Creator – seeking higher consciousness and vibrations to be more compatible to our Creator’s consciousness and vibrations? This marks us as we enter into the temple within. This mark is also an attractive force, like magnetic energy attracting a complementary response.
Cayce continues:
“…within the individual as well as to all forces and powers that are magnified or to be magnified in the world from without…”
Cayce has always taught that our outer actions and words must reflect our inner beliefs, thoughts, and desires, or we create a conflict.
Cayce continues:
“THEN the individual (or the image) bears the mark of the Lamb, or the Christ, or the Holy One, or the Son, or any of the names we may have given to that which ENABLES the individual to enter THROUGH IT into the very presence of that which is the creative force from within itself - see?” (281-13)
The mark that gets us through is not one of power, might, or glory, but of a lamb of God, a son or daughter of the Most High. Also notice what we arrive at is “the creative force from within” us. The very forces of life and creativity are reached through a meditative process. Once we reach this holy of holies within, the life forces begin to flow more fully through our bodies, minds, and souls.
What a powerful reading from Edgar Cayce, so filled with potent insights and information. Now all we have to do is apply these in our meditative process – patiently and persistently. There is no surer way of realizing these promises than to keep on trying. I would add, that evoking God’s help in this process is a wise addition.
Another Tip for Working with this Blog
Look to your right and slight down, you'll see in light blue "2009" and the current month, "June". You may click on these and all the posting in the blog will come up, either for the entire year or just the current month. It's a handy link when you get a bit lost, as I have occasionally. But people tell me that this Blogger.com site is one of the easiest blogs to use, so I hope you find it so after a little practice.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Tips on Working with this Blog
Here's what I've been able to determine: First, you need to join the blog, which creates a profile. Once you've signed in as a member, then you click on the title of a posting to make comments about the post, share your experiences, and so on. Others will be able to see it and make comments. The little envelope icon is for sending the post to a friend via email. You cannot make posts, only I can, but you can make comments to any of my postings.
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