What is Anthroposophy?: Three Perspectives on Self-knowledge

Rudolf Steiner

SteinerBooks, 2002 - Philosophy - 90 pages

3 selected lectures by Rudolf Steiner

This is one of those books that can change your life. Radical, thought-provoking, and indeed mind-boggling, it leads to a completely new way of looking at what it means to be human--a spiritual being in a universe that itself is not just physical, but psychic and spiritual as well.

These three previously untranslated lectures are a masterly introduction to what Rudolf Steiner means by "Anthroposophy." They explain why Steiner describes this path--which means literally "the wisdom of the human being"--as one that "unites what is spiritual in the human being with what is spiritual in the universe."

Steiner begins by describing what happens when we die. He shows the relationship between our physical life on Earth and the etheric, astral, and spiritual life of the cosmos. He also explains how physical lives are completely interwoven with cosmic existence, and how the "miss-ing links" in evolution are spiritual in nature.

Steiner then demonstrates what he calls the "dilettantism" and "soullessness" of mainstream psychology. He points out that, since the second half of the nineteenth century, the idea of the soul has been lost and that, consequently, understanding of our inner lives is without a sure foundation. A very different view emerges, however, from a truly spiritual perspective.

In the third lec-ture, Steiner takes as his guide our three states of being--waking, dreaming, and sleeping. He describes in detail what happens in these three states and how each is bound up with our lives as physical, psychic, and spiritual beings.

With the profound insights in this book, the world becomes a much larger, richer, and more exciting place to live.

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• THE PHYSICAL PERSPECTIVE: 33
• THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE: 49
• THE SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE: 67
• Notes: 83

Popular passages

Page 21 - Separating itself And to selfhood's guilt — Incurred through others. Experienced in the Daily Bread Wherein the will of heaven Does not reign, Because humanity Has separated itself From Your kingdom And forgot your names Ye Fathers in the Heavens. The‎

Page 29 - from the divine. Spirits hear this in the East, West, North, South. May human beings hear it. Human soul! You live in the beat of heart and lung Which leads you through the rhythm of time Into the‎

Page 5 - occurred shortly before the turn of the century. This experience culminated in my standing in the spiritual presence of the Mystery of Golgotha in a most profound and solemn festival of knowledge.‎

Page 30 - the West Be kindled from the East, Saying: In Christ death becomes life. Spirits hear this in East, West, North, South. May human beings hear it! Human soul! You live in the silence of the head Where from eternal foundations Cosmic thoughts unveil before you: Practice‎

Page 30 - spirit's cosmic thinking. Spirits hear this in East, West, North, South. May human beings hear it. At the turn of time Cosmic‎

Page 15 - I gained complete understanding of the concept of time. This knowledge was in no way connected with my studies and was guided totally by the spiritual life. I understood that there is a regressing,‎

Page 10 - Anthroposophia Theomagica: A Discourse on the Nature of Man and His State after Death.‎

Page 5 - within me. Around the turn of the century, this knowledge grew deeper. The inner test‎

Page 22 - Gospel of Knowledge," he told how the young Jesus came to understand that the bath-kol, the mysterious prophetic voice of inspiration issuing from the spirit of Yahweh himself, had grown weak. It could no longer inspire humanity as it‎

Page 22 - misery and affliction. The priests had left. The sacrifices no longer worked. Recognizing in Jesus the expression of infinite love, the people impelled him toward the altar. Immediately, his soul was transported into the spiritual realms. He gazed into the depths of the human soul where all the suffering and grief of humanity was concentrated. As he did so, he felt himself‎

About the author

Rudolf Steiner (b. Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner, 1861-1925) was born in the small village of Kraljevec, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Croatia), where he grew up. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work with Goethe's scientific writings. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he began to develop his early philosophical principles into an approach to systematic research into psychological and spiritual phenomena. Formally beginning his spiritual teaching career under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, Steiner came to use the term Anthroposophy (and spiritual science) for his philosophy, spiritual research, and findings. The influence of Steiner's multifaceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, various therapies, philosophy, religious renewal, Waldorf education, education for special needs, threefold economics, biodynamic agriculture, Goethean science, architecture, and the arts of drama, speech, and eurythmy. In 1924, Rudolf Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world. He died in Dornach, Switzerland.

Bibliographic information

• Title: What is Anthroposophy?: Three Perspectives on Self-knowledge
• Author: Rudolf Steiner
• Editor: Christopher Bamford
• Contributor: Christopher Bamford
• Publisher: SteinerBooks, 2002
• ISBN: 0880105062, 9780880105064
• Length: 90 pages
• Subjects: Philosophy / General; Psychology / General; Religion / General; Religion / Philosophy