Post by Blu on Dec 14, 2004 14:21:05 GMT -5
www.edgarcayce.org/venture_inward/09102004/the_readings_say.htm
The Soul of a Group
[341]: Please interpret and expand upon, “Cooperation is the soul of any organized group of individuals.”
A. This is a philosophical truth; and in activity must be that the spirit be that that gives life. As the soul is made one in purpose, let the spirit that motivates that purpose be in that channel, that position, that is sure that the harvest is in Him; for man labors – but God giveth the increase. Is the spirit that that has come from Him?
Then the increase must be in Him. As a group gathers to make for cooperative measures in a material plane, so may the soul of that be divided or united in Him, dependent upon the spirit that gives the motivative force to the activities of such a group; for that as may be sounded here, through the activities of these gathered here – as of old, were heard around the world – so may the activities of this group again go through the ages yet unborn, regenerating them to that awakening that makes for the souls of men safe in the knowledge of Him. 262-3
…Know that the spiritual, the soul, the life of any group or individual must be considered. As ye have experienced, as will be pointed out to you, it is only when a corporation or group has a soul that it becomes creative in the experience of others; as they apply it in their relationships one with another. This is true whether it be a partnership between two men, or a state or a nation. 3435-1
…What profit it a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Be sure, then, that the business, as well as self, takes care and is mindful of the soul – for the spirit that maketh alive manifests through that of the individual soul, and a business – a large business, even – may or may not have a soul. A soul meaning that which, in this sense, that lives on in the lives, in the minds and hearts, of those served by that business. Be mindful of that! 5417-2
For, the spirit is the association – or the life itself of the soul, whether in man, in a nation, in a city, in a group, or what. For, the activities that count to every soul are the unseen forces that may not be measured in the crucible nor may they be taped by any meter. As the hart [deer] panteth after the water, so may the soul pant for the garden of the spiritual and spirit influence of its betters. 476-1
Each, then, have their place; each have that position that may not be filled – at the present time – by another. Fail not, then, in the trust that has been put in the hands of each, by arousing differences among selves rather than arousing each officer, each soul – as represented by the group, and the stranger.…
Q. Just what should be our attitude, and how should our efforts be directed, in order to bring about the ideal situation for the work in every way?
A. Let that mind be in each, that “I have my work to do,” and do not be intolerant to the other in their own activity; for, if one cannot show the Christ love to a fellow associate, how may one present it to a waiting world? Be kind, affectionate, one to another; knowing that each has been called. Let thy going in and coming out (this means in meditation, in prayer, in thought, in association as individuals, as close relations, as in the public, as in every way) ever present that ideal of preferring one another, ever bearing in mind, “Thy will, O Lord, be done in me!” 294-160
That group activity is necessary has been indicated to each of you in the study, the purpose, the application of cooperative forces within thine own self, with others, for a unified purpose. That you each approach from your own plane of development is necessary. But let each of you have this as the motivative influence in your activity: The love of the Father, God, as it – the love – manifests itself in the love for the fellow man.
Then, in the group activity there should ever be less and less of self’s own personality and more and more of the individuality of the Christ Consciousness permeating each of the individuals in their meditation, their prayer, their understanding; making the group meditation that which will be true meditation, and realizing that in true meditation must come events from without, but that the true growth of spiritual experience is from within and not from without – by happenings, or events, or whatever there may be. For, as has oft been given, in the earth we find the shadows of the kingdom from within; and the kingdom of the Father is within. Then, that growth which makes for the activities through the purposes – that motivating purpose, the love of the Father as it manifests in the love of the fellow man – will draw those closer in that union. That bond of cooperative forces that makes for less of self and more of the Christ in the words that they speak, the thoughts that they think, their abilities and their activities with their fellow man. 705-2
For know, here and now, the position which each soul occupies in the affairs of a community, a state, a nation or an international influence, is by the grace, the mercy of a living God – and is a part of His way with man. Realize that often. 2545-1
The Soul of a Group
[341]: Please interpret and expand upon, “Cooperation is the soul of any organized group of individuals.”
A. This is a philosophical truth; and in activity must be that the spirit be that that gives life. As the soul is made one in purpose, let the spirit that motivates that purpose be in that channel, that position, that is sure that the harvest is in Him; for man labors – but God giveth the increase. Is the spirit that that has come from Him?
Then the increase must be in Him. As a group gathers to make for cooperative measures in a material plane, so may the soul of that be divided or united in Him, dependent upon the spirit that gives the motivative force to the activities of such a group; for that as may be sounded here, through the activities of these gathered here – as of old, were heard around the world – so may the activities of this group again go through the ages yet unborn, regenerating them to that awakening that makes for the souls of men safe in the knowledge of Him. 262-3
…Know that the spiritual, the soul, the life of any group or individual must be considered. As ye have experienced, as will be pointed out to you, it is only when a corporation or group has a soul that it becomes creative in the experience of others; as they apply it in their relationships one with another. This is true whether it be a partnership between two men, or a state or a nation. 3435-1
…What profit it a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Be sure, then, that the business, as well as self, takes care and is mindful of the soul – for the spirit that maketh alive manifests through that of the individual soul, and a business – a large business, even – may or may not have a soul. A soul meaning that which, in this sense, that lives on in the lives, in the minds and hearts, of those served by that business. Be mindful of that! 5417-2
For, the spirit is the association – or the life itself of the soul, whether in man, in a nation, in a city, in a group, or what. For, the activities that count to every soul are the unseen forces that may not be measured in the crucible nor may they be taped by any meter. As the hart [deer] panteth after the water, so may the soul pant for the garden of the spiritual and spirit influence of its betters. 476-1
Each, then, have their place; each have that position that may not be filled – at the present time – by another. Fail not, then, in the trust that has been put in the hands of each, by arousing differences among selves rather than arousing each officer, each soul – as represented by the group, and the stranger.…
Q. Just what should be our attitude, and how should our efforts be directed, in order to bring about the ideal situation for the work in every way?
A. Let that mind be in each, that “I have my work to do,” and do not be intolerant to the other in their own activity; for, if one cannot show the Christ love to a fellow associate, how may one present it to a waiting world? Be kind, affectionate, one to another; knowing that each has been called. Let thy going in and coming out (this means in meditation, in prayer, in thought, in association as individuals, as close relations, as in the public, as in every way) ever present that ideal of preferring one another, ever bearing in mind, “Thy will, O Lord, be done in me!” 294-160
That group activity is necessary has been indicated to each of you in the study, the purpose, the application of cooperative forces within thine own self, with others, for a unified purpose. That you each approach from your own plane of development is necessary. But let each of you have this as the motivative influence in your activity: The love of the Father, God, as it – the love – manifests itself in the love for the fellow man.
Then, in the group activity there should ever be less and less of self’s own personality and more and more of the individuality of the Christ Consciousness permeating each of the individuals in their meditation, their prayer, their understanding; making the group meditation that which will be true meditation, and realizing that in true meditation must come events from without, but that the true growth of spiritual experience is from within and not from without – by happenings, or events, or whatever there may be. For, as has oft been given, in the earth we find the shadows of the kingdom from within; and the kingdom of the Father is within. Then, that growth which makes for the activities through the purposes – that motivating purpose, the love of the Father as it manifests in the love of the fellow man – will draw those closer in that union. That bond of cooperative forces that makes for less of self and more of the Christ in the words that they speak, the thoughts that they think, their abilities and their activities with their fellow man. 705-2
For know, here and now, the position which each soul occupies in the affairs of a community, a state, a nation or an international influence, is by the grace, the mercy of a living God – and is a part of His way with man. Realize that often. 2545-1