An Outline of Esoteric Science

Rudolf Steiner

SteinerBooks, 1997 - Religion - 435 pages

Written in 1909 (CW 13)

"Esoteric science is the science of what takes place esoterically, in the sense that it is perceived not outside in nature but where one's soul turns when it directs its inner being toward the spirit. Esoteric science is the opposite and counterpart of natural science."
--Rudolf Steiner

This masterwork of esotericism places humankind at the very heart of the vast, invisible processes of cosmic evolution. When we use the term "natural science," don't we mean that we are dealing with human knowledge of nature?

Steiner worked and reworked his Rosicrucian cosmology to make it increasingly precise and accurate. An Outline of Esoteric Science is as vital and relevant now as it was when first published in 1910 and remains the most comprehensive and effective presentation of a spiritual alternative to contemporary, materialistic cosmologies and a strict Darwinian view of human nature and evolution.

In this foundational work of spiritual science, we see how the creation and evolution of humanity is embedded at the heart of the vast, invisible web of interacting cosmic beings, through whom the alchemical processes of cosmic evolution continue to evolve. Included are descriptions of the physical-spiritual makeup of the human being; the relationships of the different "bodies" of the human being to sleep and death; and a detailed, practical guide to methods and exercises, including the "Rose Cross Meditation," through which we can attain knowledge of the spiritual worlds.

The most remarkable and revolutionary aspect of this work is the central function that Steiner attributes to the Christ and his involvement in human and earthly evolution through the Mystery of Golgotha.

Contents:

• Introduction by Clopper Almon
• Preface by Rudolf Steiner
• The Character of Esoteric Science
• The Makeup of the Human Being
• Sleep and Death
• Cosmic Evolution and the Human Being
• Knowledge of Higher Worlds--Initiation
• Cosmic and Human Evolution--Now and in the Future
• Details from the Field of Spiritual Science
• Appendix: Rudolf Steiner's Early Introductions
• Further Reading

This is essential reading for all serious students of esoteric spirituality.

Previous translations: An Outline of Occult Science and Occult Science: An Outline.
An Outline of Esoteric Science is a translation of Die Geheimwissenschaft im Umriss (GA 13).

Contents

• Preface: 1
• The Character of Esoteric Science: 11
• The Makeup of the Human Being: 30
• Sleep and Death: 59
• Cosmic Evolution and the Human Being: 117
• An Overview of Planetary Incarnations: 125
• Saturn: 135
• Moon: 165
• Earth: 197
• Atlantis: 239
• The End of Atlantis: 247
• Ancient Indian Civilization: 252
• Ancient Persian Civilization: 258
• EgyptoChaldean Civilization: 263
• GrecoLatin Civilization: 266
• The Coming of the Christian Era: 268
• Knowledge of Higher WorldsInitiation: 281
• Cosmic and Human Evolution Now and in the Future: 376
• Details from the Field of Spiritual Science: 399
• The Astral World: 402
• Human Life after Death: 403
• The Course of a Human Life: 406
• The Higher Domains of the Spiritual World: 408
• The Aspects of Our Human Makeup: 409
• The Dream State: 410
• Acquiring Supersensible Knowledge: 411
• Observing Specific Beings and Events in the Spiritual World: 412
• Rudolf Steiners Early Introductions to An Outline of Esoteric Science: 415
• Further Reading: 433

Popular passages

Page vii - We and the world around us evolve. This evolution is nowhere more marked than in our own consciousness. When we try to enter into the religious texts of the ancient Egyptians, we have to admit that they are total enigmas to us. Our science would almost certainly be equally incomprehensible to them. They were, for example, obvious masters of what...

About the author

Austrian-born Rudolf Steiner was a noted Goethe (see Vol. 2) scholar and private student of the occult who became involved with Theosophy in Germany in 1902, when he met Annie Besant (1847--1933), a devoted follower of Madame Helena P. Blavatsky (1831--1891). In 1912 he broke with the Theosophists because of what he regarded as their oriental bias and established a system of his own, which he called Anthroposophy (anthro meaning "man"; sophia sophia meaning "wisdom"), a "spiritual science" he hoped would restore humanism to a materialistic world. In 1923 he set up headquarters for the Society of Anthroposophy in New York City. Steiner believed that human beings had evolved to the point where material existence had obscured spiritual capacities and that Christ had come to reverse that trend and to inaugurate an age of spiritual reintegration. He advocated that education, art, agriculture, and science be based on spiritual principles and infused with the psychic powers he believed were latent in everyone. The world center of the Anhthroposophical Society today is in Dornach, Switzerland, in a building designed by Steiner. The nonproselytizing society is noted for its schools.

Bibliographic information

• Title: An Outline of Esoteric Science; Classics in anthroposophy
• Author: Rudolf Steiner
• Translated by: Catherine E. Creeger
• Publisher: SteinerBooks, 1997
• ISBN: 0880104090, 9780880104098
• Length: 435 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Theosophy