Chapter 9

PROGRESSIONS, BALANCE AND COUNTERBALANCE

"So in the soul mind is that which weighs, as it were, the benefits as well as sorrows, also what the entity has gained by soul experience". Edgar Cayce Reading 5125-1

This chapter introduces The Eternals' ideas of progression, balance, and counterbalance. "Progressions" and "balance and counterbalance" are two distinct concepts. As I understand it, "progressions" is used to mean that we progress from one lifetime to the next and the next.

I had never known a single word to explain this concept before. Edgar Cayce and Kahlil Gibran (who lived and died within a few years of each other) both used the words "continuity of life." That was the best and most poetic expression I had heard until The Eternals said, "Down through the shadows of millions of yesterdays flow the waters of a life everlasting." With progressions, The Eternals gave us a single, succinct word to explain a major concept. "Reincarnation" is the word generally used, but many people think that reincarnation means returning as an animal also. The Eternals make it very clear that we do not return as animals. So the word may confuse as well as help.

Balance and counterbalance was another new term. I understand this phrase to mean the weighing of our actions. I picture in my mind a big scale with our deeds - both good and bad - placed on one side. On the other side we put new actions and deeds. The good deeds are like credits or interest in an invisible bankbook. The bad deeds need to be erased by better actions. In Eastern philosophy the word to explain this is karma, meaning "action and reaction." The Christian and Jewish traditions explain the same ideas as "an eye for an eye" and "as you sow, so shall you reap."

Daniel's Doubts

Daniel, who came from a Christian background, had a hard time accepting the information that was coming through him about lifetimes as steps in soul evolution. Edgar Cayce stumbled at this very same spot on his own path. Neither he, nor later Daniel, could see how the concept of soul evolution fit their beliefs, for modern Christian orthodoxy rejects the idea of reincarnation. As The Eternals observed, Daniel "does not want to accept that life can be a continual thing, not destroyed." However, first Cayce and then Daniel came to accept soul evolution as enhancing and expanding their understanding of Christianity. Cayce objected so strongly to the multiple life information channeled through him that he stopped giving readings when the past lives concept was first mentioned. It took a long time for friends and family to convince him that the readings that contained past life material benefited people.
Daniel also had serious doubts about continuing our work. But he was willing to learn and willing to look at new ideas. He delved into Cayce's story and saw that Cayce had resolved the conflict.

One of the books that helped him was a biography of Cayce, 'There Is a River', by Thomas Sugrue. Also, Daniel says, "Believe it or not, my study of the Bible helped. The Bible and `religion' do not say the same thing on all issues. Also, the visions and dreams I had changed my outlook on life. Seeing people helped and healed was positive, and the Bible does say, in Exodus, that only God heals. Last but not least, once you break through and feel the oneness of the universe life changes profoundly. It's a feeling beyond all words or description, but it is unforgettable."
Gradually, he became able to accept the statements of The Eternals. "You're getting me," he said once, "more and more to the possibility that there could be something to this." Daniel also wondered why he was doing the work in the first place. Granted, he had asked to do it. But the readings and Teachings took a great deal of time away from his wife and three little boys. Both he and I, we were told, were doing this work to balance the scales of earlier lifetimes, when we could have helped humanity but did not. In Daniel's case, The Eternals said, the circumstances of his upbringing - five of the 10 men in his grandfather's generation were ministers of the Gospel - brought about a condition ...where the person was constantly seeking, and seeking again, for the truth, much of which was not to be found where expected, and much of which has not been found. But it brought up the condition of searching... And with the searching and the accepting of the faults [i.e., self-acceptance], then they can look into themselves. And this is what has been accomplished, although it is not what can be admitted [by Daniel].
You see, if it could be admitted, this [the channeling] could be done at all times, and not just in this state, which is Theta [a very deep hypnotic state]. Now the process of growth can be instantaneous. Because we say that it took time in this Vessel, do not feel that it must always be instant, or that it must always be time consuming. In the progressions past, this Vessel lived in a monastery - not the Vessel itself, but the energy force - in the China area. And he was studying in the arts of defense and aggressiveness. At the same time, they studied the recesses of their minds. Then, at birth, there was chosen a point where the continual study might be accepted and progressed upon. And this study has been progressed and progressed to the point that this one has believed dreams that have come through, and has accepted many things in the waking.... And by this being done, just the sheer acceptance is what has allowed it. As we have said, everyone here sits on that threshold. It is the divine right, the privilege, and the heritage of everyone.

From the Teachings Progression

Some people in the group had no knowledge or experience of the psychic field. But one person had a previous interest. (He was especially curious about ancient Egypt and the pyramids.) It was because of his questions that we first discussed the question of reincarnation. The Eternals called reincarnation "progression," and people questioned and probed to understand the concept. As you progress in this life, you shall certainly progress from here and the way you die. How do you progress afterwards? Birth and rebirth, and birth and birth again.

Yet you do not have to have a body to progress. For the body itself is merely physical, and you are more. You are God. You are a spiritual being. You are eternal, and you do not need this body; but you would progress in exactly the same way. The consciousness progresses. There is no better way to describe it, for it cannot be in the physical itself. It must be seen and felt.
As people, entities, move through progressions, progression upon progression, do they ever move away from truth and knowledge? In other words, are there downward progressions as well as upward progressions? A blunt answer would be yes. However, a football player on the field must often take several steps backwards to avoid being tackled, and yet he proceeds toward the goal. You must realize that often a step down is simply gaining a sturdier base to step up on. If you see a ladder has a weak rung, you will step down and size the situation up before you step forward two rungs.

There is really no such thing as failure, for failure does not exist. You simply are moving about, obtaining that which you obtain, in your own way; which is your way, your good way. Do not fear being set back, because being set back is actually a move forward also. You can perceive this in your own senses of perceiving reality.... There is no such thing except for what you make for yourself. And who would make an evil reality for their own self?

One questioner had read that everyone on earth had to pass through seven rings of soul evolution or seven progressions. He asked, "In respect to the seven progressions, where are you now?" The Eternals asked, "Who?" He responded, "Whoever is doing the Teachings now. Whoever is coming through you." You're asking a series of questions. First, we are all one. And I, and you, and we are the same. Now, you speak of seven rings, or progressions, but that is not correct. Seven is a very small number. You do not progress, so to speak, through set floors or levels, or rings, or through seven worlds separate. Your progression is an infinitesimal and minute thing. It continues individually, and yet it continues together. You are the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that shall be placed back together. You have fallen apart. You have been taken away from your original and individual state, your holiness, the one vibration which you were originally. And yet it shall come again, and it shall be many more times apart and together. For there is the creation and the re-creation, and the re-creation, and the re-creation, and always the re-creation.

And at another time: We can speak through the Vessel. We can speak and speak. We can speak until one is blue in the face. And yet, we cannot force you to accept a thing. You must learn on your own. Everyone must learn on his own. That is of your own choosing. Now you speak of where everyone here is in their progressions. We shall speak of the Vessel, for that is allowed, and we shall speak of you, for you have brought the question forward. We shall not speak of anyone else, for it is improper for us to do this, or to reveal their inner thoughts. Now, in progression, or in life, there is a circle which is traveled. When you reach the end you have, in essence, reached the beginning. And you must simply start over again.We are not telling you that you are going to pick up this same body again at some later date, and have to travel with it again, and with its same infirmities. This is not what we're saying. We're saying your life ends and starts, ends and starts, and you shall constantly travel this cycle.

And again, in another session: Don't look so much to see where another sits, or where you yourself sit. For it has been written that in my Father's house are many mansions. In life, there are many levels of consciousness. It is your choosing, where that you look. Whether you look through the eyes of the physical, or whether you feel with the mind, or look through the eyes of the spiritual. It is of your choosing. And this, in essence, determines where you are, or at what part of your progression you are. You can, relatively well, right now, skip the rest of your progressive cycle and be in the last stages of the final cycle... or you could set yourself back.You do this by accepting a reality other than that which you have now accepted.

Doesn't that just speed you around to the end and then back to the beginning again? Yes. If that's the way you want to look at it, yes. Without life, there is no purpose. It does place you back to where you start again, but you will start at a higher level each time. How do we raise our present vibration to a fuller, more positive, spiritual vibration? [Author's note: "Vibration" means "level of energy flow," "level of consciousness," or "awareness."] In order to bring about a raising of the frequency, or an attunement to, the greater vibration, look deeper into yourself. You must forgive yourself or, as we say, cancel all debts, so that there is no balance nor counterbalance to be imposed on yourself. [Author's note: "Imposed" is an odd word. I think the idea is that no outside force (God) is imposing a punishment, nor is there any inner self-judgment.] Look deep into the recess of your mind - for within you are all things. You are all that exists and all that exists is within you. You are God and God is you. Therefore, if you will search, and really accept and believe in your own self, then you have all power at your hands.

When a child is conceived and comes into the physical being, how does the vibratory force of a previous progression come to be in that special child? Between three months after conception, and one month after birth, a force, so to speak, vibratory, can enter in any empty vessel. A vessel is formed out of need or desire, either on the part of a vibratory force, or on the part or desire of those who create or carry the life, that they might have creation. For there are two ways to create. It can be created externally or internally. You [pointing] can create life, or these sitting over here [pointing] can create the same life within you, if they desire it to be so.

Is there a significance in the matching [of vessel and vibratory force]? Balance and counterbalance. That sums it all up. That puts it in a whole. That gives it in a nutshell. Balance, balance, balance and counterbalance. This is set by what your balance is and what the balance is around you, and how that one may counterbalance it, that what that force has done in the past and what must be counterbalanced. And by what the heavenly bodies, themselves, say must come about. And yet, they are of the least influence. For the balance and the counterbalance, and that which is within, the soul drive, that spirit essence, is more powerful.

Could you clarify the idea that we progress up to a point and then return to the bottom, yet enter at a higher plane. And also, when we have finished our progressions do we join you as Eternals, or is that something separate? The point of confusion lies in the symbolism that was used. It was not to be explained all at once. Let us explain in full. It was a cycle, as was said before, that you go around and then you come back to the point at which you begin, for your first estate was that estate which was with the force of God, or was with the creative force, and you left that estate, or you left that place of perfection, and you worked again back to that place. Now, this being the case, it would be a cycle, as was said, and each time that cycle is completed, you go higher and higher. But this was not all. You see, this was all that could be absorbed by those that were present. Now it was also mentioned in passing, inasmuch as could be said, that you returned to the one creative force that you have left. Now it was said that this cycle was repeated again and again, and one asks does that mean we simply return to have to repeat the cycle, and the answer given was "yes." And this is true, and this was all that that one who inquired could absorb, but there is yet more. Yes, it is true that you're only going through a cycle, and it is true that you are eternal; but if you were in a perfect state once for a time, then it is possible that you will be in that estate again, even for a time eternal. Therefore, there can be an end to this cycle. When you reach that state of consciousness which is known by some as Christ, or by some as Krishna, or by some as the supersoul or oversoul; when you reach that state, then you are at the level where you may actually stay, seeing all and knowing all. It is a cycle, but that cycle can be broken; and you enter the creative force, for you are of the same force we are of.
All things in the beginning were of the same force. You break away, yet you are still the same force. Let us put is like this: If you were a tree, if you were hit by lightning and splintered, the wood that came from that tree, sum total, would still make the same tree; and yet, it is not the tree so you are not the original creative force. But if you bring all of these splinters back together, it is still the original tree.

Is the earth the only place for progressions to take place? I think your question is more, "Must you depend only on the solid, that which we are in now?" No. But if your question is, "Should we depend on other worlds such as Mars, for example, or Neptune?" That answer also is no. Extraterrestrial life ... is science fiction, is the best way to put it; is an unreal fantasy, a fairy tale. However, all worlds are not solid. And there is world on top of world here. You may work within the energy flow, so to speak. The next body that is around this body can also do the same toward progression. This seems to have brought more confusion than light.

I suppose what I'm wondering is, is the earth the only place where progressions take place; or are there other places in the universe where there are people progressing? Don't look to other places in the universe. It is here, but there is more than one plane of progression. It is here. It is in this same area that you call earth solid, terra firma, solid land. And yet in this same area are sources of energy which exist in what you would consider a non-solid state. When a person's body dies, the energy does not always die. The source does not always return. They can stay and work as they wish to progress. There are others that are progressed to the state already, to the state beyond solid. And from there they work. And yet there are even states that are less solid to that. For they perceive - should we say,... those in what you would perceive as a non-solid state - perceive life as a solid to themselves. And yet, they know there is another state higher, which they perceive to be non-solid. And again in turn is so, and again after that.

The Astral Plane

Is it true that the progressions above physical reality is called the astral plane? [Author's note: This is a wonderful example of The Eternals answering a question literally. The questioner was asking if a dimension outside our physical world was on an "astral plane" (these were words he had read in a book). Because he did not state his question clearly, he was asking what this other dimension was called. In other words, the question should read, "Is the progression above physical reality the astral plane?" and that is the question The Eternals answer.] Astral plane, call it what you will, it is really immaterial. If you choose to call it astral plane, then astral plane it is. You're asking what it is called. This is a question to say in the English language. Those who choose to call it the astral plane will do so. Those who choose to call it specters or ghosts will do so. Those who choose to call it an energy plane may do so.

Can living people go back and forth between the spirit plane, or must one be dead? Why do people always want to die to claim their heritage? Look to two of the greatest masters who have lived, to him known as Jesus and to him known as Krishna. (We would say Krishna and Christ, for Jesus and Christ are not interchangeable words.) These two masters had the power, they had the knowledge, the belief, and the faith that they were able to walk through walls. Therefore, death was not death to them. But they were still alive. And therefore they walked on the water. The same is with the prophets of old. It is by this power that they were able to make the iron axes float. It is by this power that they were able to see into the minds of the others... At least part of you must be able to reach out into that other plane. This is not normal, this is your heritage, this is your right. You are a living god. And you have the right to claim all power. You have the right to create. But you say to youself, "I can't do that! I cannot do that because I am human." You can't do it because you don't allow yourself to.

How does one do this? With total belief. But when we say total belief, it must be made clear what belief really is. Belief is powerful, but it must be total; for the least doubt, the least shadow of fear, the least thought of apprehension in the corner of the mind is total disbelief. Therefore, I tell you, we tell you, that the path is straight and narrow and that there is nothing to stop you, but you are stumbling over your own feet. There is nothing in your way. You light a light and you point it in your own eyes and blind yourself.

Are the Akashic Records on the astral or energy plane? This is a more important question. This is a question that has been dealt with fairly often. For the prophets themselves have guarded it, and unscrupulously so, quite frequently. What you are referring to - the permanent records of life, the permanent records that are kept of every act and deed, of all history and of all thought, of all medicine and technology, of all advancements, are kept in your own consciousness. The consciousness of every individual.Therefore, if you look deep within, you will see all that exists, that has existed, and will exist. This is hidden in the recesses of your own mind. You must be willing to accept yourself and to look deep within your own mind, and then you will see and understand and perceive this. Everyone here present is desiring to see, and this group is not brought together by chance; and everyone here is on the threshold and the verge. For it is opening, and opening, and must be opened.

Balance and Counterbalance

Is there more that you can say [on balance and counterbalance]? I understand the concept, but are there more subtleties to it? Is there a deeper significance that we could understand of this phenomenal concept? Life is a giant scale. And anything that is put in to weight one side shall be directly weighted against the other side. Yet this may be done on an individual or national or even a world basis. And what is counterbalanced by one individual, another individual may be and not counterbalance, but counterbalanced by another.

Could you explain the law of karma or balance and counterbalance and how that relates [to the Biblical idea of] the law of grace? You have done the deed and it is weighted. Yet this deed must be un-weighted, or counterbalanced, so that you have balance and counterbalance. If you accept yourself freely and you understand all, and you can look, then you are within the law of grace. For you accept yourself. When you accept yourself, you set yourself above and beyond that which would bind you. And no longer are you bound, but a free being, a free man, freed from all of your past bonds. No need to balance and counterbalance. Looking within, when you accept all that you have done, and hold nothing against yourself, then your conscience does not condemn you. Then you are not condemned. And he who is not condemned is free indeed, for they are free from all and free in all.

So our conscience holds our karma? And you set yourself free when you have a clear conscience. Therefore, if you have freed yourself, and you bring not more evil upon yourself, you are free.

Do people get sick because of ... karma? This concept - not everyone knows the division on reincarnation, so to speak, or birth and rebirth. You are not coming back as an animal. You are not coming back because you did not do well, as an earthworm, to get run over by a choo-choo train. You are energy flow. Now, in essence, a karmic reality, having to do with a cripple, if you have taken the light in an evil in your past progression that has done serious harm to another, or if you have caused serious harm and delighted in it, this could cause a karmic result that must be balanced. Now there are several ways to balance this problem. One, it could be balanced in the same lifetime, either by being maimed or injured much in the same way, or by suffering in some other way related; because of this, you commit a sin and then you suffer in the flesh for it. You commit adultery and you are a male, you suffer mentally, you may suffer physically from venereal disease. This might be the counterbalance. And yet there might be no balance in this lifetime, the balance might be in the next lifetime when you're born crippled, or where you're born deformed. And yet this is again not to say that you are stuck there, for you can progress onward to a better state. And even in one lifetime, you may be healed. All you must do is accept the reality that you are whole. [Author's Note: This question and answer show how a seemingly trivial question can trigger a profound response.] Don`t you choose to come into this world crippled, or whatever? Don't you choose your situation? To choose a road, to choose a traveling way, is to know that that path must be balanced; that that path must be counterbalanced; that you or another must travel the other way. So, in other words, it is not cruel that somebody comes into the world crippled, or we should not feel sorry for someone because they are crippled, because they knew that that was the best way for them to balance their debts. This is possible, but you do not have to be balancing a debt to be born crippled. Or not a debt of your own - you may be a good soul balancing the debt of another fool. That doesn't sound fair. If you are so kind as to accept it, then it is fair.

What power comes to cause one entity to pay for the debts of another entity? Choice and free will. Of which, the suffering entity or the one who escapes the pain? You sound as if suffering is necessarily evil. This is not the case. First, one person may choose to be evil continually and another choose to be good continually. And one may be good and counterbalance it with evil; and evil, and counterbalance it with good; and evil and evil, and then good and evil, and good and good. So long as it is balanced and counterbalanced, there is no problem, there is no worry. One may choose to be evil and another good, in the same light that one may choose to be whole and another crippled.
Now, crippled is not a natural state; full and total health is the natural state. And if you can accept this, and believe in this, then you shall remain in that natural state. You do what you do of your own choosing. If you have a reason to balance or you desire to balance for another soul, should we say another life, or another entity, then you may do so of your own free will; but you are not forced. Yet this is working good for your own growth.

The questioner thought that one might have to pay another's debt. Until this exchange, participants thought karma, or balance and counterbalance, was all and only within oneself. But The Eternals say that someone can choose - by "choice and free will" - to help pay someone else's debt, out of love, or for any other personal reason - depositing money in a friend's checking account, in the spiritual sense.
To use a simple example, suppose a young man gets a speeding ticket. He has a debt against him, but no money. So his father can choose to pay the fine. The exchange continues with the question of who makes the choice, the suffering entity or the one who escapes the pain? The Eternals immediately answered the bigger, unspoken, question of suffering. The young man gets a ticket for speeding; he is thought by others to be suffering a punishment. But it is not necessarily evil that he got the ticket. He could learn from it; it could be looked upon as a blessing. The Eternals then answer the spoken question. Yes, there are countless combinations of how one may balance for another person. Every person can choose to do good or evil - or both. Anyone may have a reason to choose to balance for another, but even this is working for his or her own growth as well.

Personally, I don't think that a person can make me pay his debt. I believe by even trying to force this he would make more debt. Does the vibratory force that is seeking a body choose a crippled or deformed body on purpose for its progression? It can change the body to make it crippled or deformed for its purpose. But in the same light, it can choose one if it has been created that way by the force of the parents, so to speak, who had to balance their own debts. Yet it must be realized that if you can rise above this, and accept yourself and all of your whims, and your errors, and do everything without malice, that you incur no debt. When all is done in purity, even that which comes to evil by accident, it is not held against you. Therefore, you should strive to be pure. You should strive to balance yourself and not worry about how others are balanced. Or what road they have chosen to walk.

What about the idea of helping one another? It is not a question of should I help another. It is a duty to help all those about you whom you can help.

Is it interfering with their karma? No, the balance and the counterbalance would be that you are part of. There is no such thing as interference when realities overlap. You would not even be in their reality if you were not to be there.

The Possibility of Evil

As we look in on ourselves, do we create the risk of opening ourselves to evil forces? If you leave yourself empty, if you cleanse and purify yourself and do not accept the good vibration or what is termed as the Holy Spirit, or do not accept the power of God or the full force to flow back through, then you have an empty vessel and you are in the most dangerous position. You would be better off if you had not started.

Is there anyone here tonight where that is a risk? Everyone runs that risk, because you have the option of not accepting.

Does evil ever become a permanent reality for any entity? If you choose it to be so. But yet, in time, it must be counterbalanced. If not by that entity, then by another entity choosing permanent good. All things are balanced. There is a balance and a counterbalance; nothing exists except it is leveled.

Do people who are extremely evil remain eternally evil or do they eventually come back around and become good entities? ....you may balance your own self by counterbalancing, or it can be overridden. One may choose to be eternally good and one may choose to be eternally evil. And yet there shall come a time when all shall choose to be well and good. For how long would all choose to be evil and bring destruction upon themselves?

Contacting Spirit Friends

When entities are between progressions, are they aware of the people that were in their past progression? Do they keep track of these people, friends and relatives? It can be done, it does not have to be done. But this does not mean you should go out and start trying to contact your spirit friends. More evil can be conjured in this way than good. For there are also those souls upon the Fifth Heaven. Look at the evil ones on the Fifth Heaven, bound in chains - yes, we do speak in allegory - look at those bound in the Fifth Heaven in chains. Would they not love to contact you? Would they not love to own your body and to possess you, mind and spirit? Don't allow the openings for this.

Is that what happens with Satanic groups that do conjurings? Do they bring forth those entities? An entity can be brought forth as real as you are, as strong and as potent as all the power of the universe. Yes.

Do people who have died keep track of their relatives on earth? You are speaking of "Do they keep track of them, do they incarnate with the same people around them again," etc. They can, but they do not have to. They are free will entities. And being spiritual, as they are in nature, you must remember that all are one to start with anyway. If I were a total spiritual being, then I would be with all of you. And being with all of you, I would naturally keep track of you because I would be you, and yet I would still be myself.

Can the dead body be contacted by use of a spirit medium? Beware. You have been warned. We warn you again. It is one thing to contact consciousness, and to look for that which is or has been. Do not seek to contact those who are no longer among you in flesh. For those beings, withered and in chains, those perpetually foul beings would love to take hold of the mind. They would love to find vessels to be within. It has been long since they dwelled upon the earth; even before the days of the deluge. They made the giants and they made those with webs in their fingers. The great men who did great deeds because of their great size - do not unleash these.
Do not give them right, for by this cause comes much insanity - possession, as you could call it, and evil. This you do not desire. Do not hold a seance. Do not go to a spirit medium. Do not invoke a spirit. There are evil beings, if you would choose to use that term, vibratory forces without physical bodies that would find good expression and can take control. That is not needed. Your answer was yes. Do not go through a spirit medium.