knowledge of the higher worlds rudoph steiner

8/4/2019 Knowledge of the Higher Worlds Rudoph Steiner

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KNOWLEDGE OF THE

HIGHER WORLDS

AND ITS ATTAINMENT

A Revised and Enlarged Edition of

'The Way of Initiation' withInitiation and its Results'

ByRUDOLF TEI!ER

RUDOLF TEI!ER "UBLI#I!$ %O&( BLOO)BUR* TREET

LO!DO!+ W&%&,

-A!T#RO"OO"#I% "RE

!EW *OR.,/((


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Authori0ed English translation 1y $& )eta2a

Edited 1y #& %ollison

Revised English Edition+ first 3u1lished August ,/45

Re3rinted )ay ,/46

Re3rinted Fe1& ,/54Re3rinted )ay ,/5(

5rd English Edition Fe1ruary ,/57

Re3rinted 8an& ,/56Re3rinted De9& ,/(4

Re3rinted De9e:1er+ ,/((

This translation has 1een :ade fro: the original of

Rudolf teiner 1y 3er:ission of #& %ollison+ )&A&+ O;o!&+

1y who: all rights are reserved

T#I BOO. I "RODU%ED

%O)"LETE %O!FOR)IT* WIT# T#EAUT#ORI


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EDITORIAL PREFACE

The re9o::endation to have re9ourse to a )aster or Tea9her has 1een :odified 1y theauthor+ and the reasons are given 1y hi: in :any 3la9es+ nota1ly in his own 3refa9e to

the =th edition >e3t& ,/,(? where he writes @ ' In the 3ersonal relationshi3 with the

tea9her one :ight assu:e so:ething is reuired in s3iritual effort :ore essential thanwhat is really intended& But I ho3e that in this new edition I have su99eeded in showing

very distin9tly that for the student in s3iritual training in the sense of :odern s3iritual

9onditions :u9h :ore e:3hasis should 1e laid on the 9o:3lete and i::ediate9onne9tion with the o1Ce9tive s3iritual world than any relation to the 3erson of a tea9her&'

The foundation of a 3iritual 9ien9e and its 9hool and #eaduarters at Dorna9h+

wit0erland+ was :eant 1y Dr& teiner to re3la9e :ore and :ore the individual

9onsultation 1etween 3u3il and tea9her 1y a dire9tly o1Ce9tive 9ourse of dire9t s3iritualtea9hing+ su9h as is given in this 1oo+ and finally referred to on 3& ,6+ in his A33endi2

to the final Edition of ,/,6&


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CONTENTS

PART 1:


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THE WAY OF INITIATION

HOW IS KNOWLEDGE OF THE HIGHER

WORLD ATTAINED?

CONDITIONS

There slu:1er in every hu:an 1eing+ fa9ulties 1y :eans of whi9h he 9an a9uire for

hi:self a nowledge of higher worlds& )ysti9s+ $nosti9s+ Theoso3hists all s3ea of a

world of soul and s3irit+ whi9h for the: is Cust as real as the world we see with our3hysi9al eyes and tou9h with our 3hysi9al hands& At every :o:ent the listener :ay say

to hi:self@ that+ of whi9h they s3ea+ I too 9an learn+ if I develo3 within :yself 9ertain

3owers whi9h today still slu:1er within :e& There re:ains only one uestion how toset to wor to develo3 su9h fa9ulties& For this 3ur3ose+ they only 9an give advi9e who

already 3ossess su9h 3owers& As long as the hu:an ra9e has e2isted there has always

1een a :ethod of training+ in the 9ourse of whi9h+ individuals 3ossessing these higherfa9ulties gave instru9tion to others who were in sear9h of the:& u9h a training is 9alled

o99ult >esoteri9? training+ and the instru9tion there1y re9eived is 9alled o99ult >esoteri9?

tea9hing+ or s3iritual s9ien9e& This designation naturally awaens :isunderstanding& The

listener :ay very easily 1e :isled into the 1elief that this training is the 9on9ern of as3e9ial+ 3rivileged 9lass+ withholding its nowledge ar1itrarily fro: its fellow9reatures&

#e :ay even thin that nothing of real i:3ortan9e lies 1ehind su9h nowledge+ for it if

were a true nowledge he is te:3ted to thin there would 1e no need to :ae a se9retof it it :ight 1e 3u1li9ly i:3arted and its advantages :ade to all& They who have 1een

initiated into the nature of this higher nowledge+ are not in the least sur3rised that the

uninitiated should so thin+ for the se9ret of Initiation 9an only 1e understood 1y those

who have to a 9ertain degree e23erien9ed this Initiation into the higher nowledge ofe2isten9e& The uestion :ay 1e raised@ how+ then+ are the uninitiated+ under these

9ir9u:stan9es+ to develo3 any hu:an interest in this so9alled esoteri9 nowledge #owand why are they to see for so:ething of whose nature they 9an for: no ideaG u9h a

uestion is 1ased u3on an entirely erroneous 9on9e3tion of the real nature of esoteri9

nowledge& There is+ in truth+ no differen9e 1etween esoteri9 nowledge and all the rest

of :anHs nowledge and 3rofi9ien9y& This esoteri9 nowledge is no :ore of a se9ret forthe average hu:an 1eing+ than writing is a se9ret for those who have never learnt& And

Cust as all 9an learn to write+ who 9hoose the 9orre9t :ethod+ so too+ 9an all who see the

right way 1e9o:e esoteri9 students+ and even tea9hers& In one res3e9t only+ do the9onditions here differ fro: those that a33ly to e2ternal nowledge and 3rofi9ien9y& The

3ossi1ility of a9uiring the art of writing :ay 1e withheld fro: so:eone through

3overty+ or through the 9onditions of 9ivilisation into whi9h he is 1orn 1ut for theattain:ent of nowledge and 3rofi9ien9y in the higher worlds+ there is no o1sta9le for

those who earnestly see the:&

)any 1elieve that they :ust dis9over+ at one 3la9e or another+ the )asters of higher

nowledge+ in order to re9eive enlighten:ent fro: the:& footnote@ ee A33endi2 andthe Editorial "refa9e&J !ow in the first 3la9e+ whoever strives earnestly after higher


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nowledge will shun no e2ertion+ and fear no o1sta9le in his sear9h for an Initiate who

9an lead hi: into the higher nowledge of the world& On the other hand+ everyone :ay 1e

9ertain that Initiation will find hi: under all 9ir9u:stan9es+ if he gives 3roof of an earnestand worthy endeavour to attain this nowledge& It is a natural law a:ong all Initiates to

withhold fro: no :an the nowledge that is due to hi: 1ut there is an eually natural

law whi9h lays down that no word of esoteri9 nowledge shall 1e i:3arted to anyone notualified to re9eive it& And the :ore stri9tly he o1serves these laws+ the :ore 3erfe9t is

an Initiate& The 1ond of union e:1ra9ing all Initiates is s3iritual and not e2ternal+ 1ut the

two laws here :entioned+ for:+ as it were+ strong 9las3s+ 1y whi9h the 9o:3onent 3artsof this 1ond are held together& *ou :ay live in inti:ate friendshi3 with an Initiate+ and

yet a ga3 severs you fro: his essential self+ so long as you have not 1e9o:e an Initiate

yourself& *ou :ay enCoy in the fullest sense+ the heart+ the love of an Initiate+ yet he will

only 9onfide his nowledge to you+ when you are ri3e for it& *ou :ay flatter hi: you:ay torture hi: nothing 9an indu9e hi: to 1etray anything to you+ inas:u9h as you+ at

the 3resent stage of your evolution+ are not 9o:3etent to re9eive it into your soul in the

right way&

The :ethods 1y whi9h a student is 3re3ared for the re9e3tion of higher nowledge are

:inutely 3res9ri1ed& The dire9tion he is to tae is tra9ed with unfading+ everlasting letters

in the worlds of the s3irit+ where the Initiates guard the higher se9rets& In an9ient ti:es+

anterior to our history+ the te:3les of the s3irit were also outwardly visi1le today+1e9ause our life has 1e9o:e so uns3iritual+ they are not to 1e found in the world visi1le to

e2ternal sight yet they are 3resent s3iritually everywhere+ and all who see+ :ay find

the:&

Only within his own soul 9an a :an find the :eans to unseal the li3s of an Initiate& #e:ust develo3 within hi:self 9ertain fa9ulties to a definite degree+ and then the highest

treasures of the s3irit 9an 1e9o:e his own&

#e :ust 1egin with a 9ertain funda:ental attitude of the soul& In 3iritual 9ien9e thisfunda:ental attitude is 9alled the 3ath of veneration+ of devotion for truth and

nowledge& Without this attitude no one 9an 1e9o:e a student& The dis3osition shown in

their 9hildhood 1y su1seuent students of higher nowledge+ is well nown to the

e23erien9ed in these :atters& There are 9hildren who loo u3 with religious awe to thosewho: they venerate& For su9h 3eo3le they have a res3e9t whi9h for1ids the:+ even in the

dee3est re9ess of their heart+ to har1our any thought of 9riti9is: or o33osition& u9h

9hildren grow u3 into young :en and wo:en who feel ha33y when they are a1le to loou3 to anything that fills the: with veneration& Fro: the rans of su9h 9hildren are

re9ruited :any students of higher nowledge& #ave you ever 3aused outside the door of

so:e venerated 3erson+ and have you+ on this your first visit+ felt a religious awe as you3ressed on the handle to enter the roo: whi9h for you is a holy 3la9e If so+ a feeling has

1een :anifested within you+ whi9h :ay 1e the ger: of your future adheren9e to the 3ath

of nowledge& It is a 1lessing for every hu:an 1eing in 3ro9ess of develo3:ent+ to have

su9h feelings u3on whi9h to 1uild& Only it :ust not 1e thought that this dis3osition leadsto su1:issiveness and slavery& What was on9e a 9hildish veneration for 3ersons+

1e9o:es+ later+ a veneration for truth and nowledge& E23erien9e tea9hes that they 9an


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1est hold their heads ere9t+ who have learnt to venerate where veneration is due and

veneration is always due when it flows fro: the de3ths of the heart&

If we do not develo3 within ourselves this dee3ly rooted feeling that there is so:ethinghigher than ourselves+ we shall never find the strength to evolve to so:ething higher& The

Initiate has only a9uired the strength to lift his head to the heights of nowledge 1yguiding his heart to the de3ths of veneration and devotion& The heights of the s3irit 9an

only 1e 9li:1ed 1y 3assing through the 3ortals of hu:ility& *ou 9an only a9uire rightnowledge when you have learnt to estee: it& )an has 9ertainly the right to turn his eyes

to the light+ 1ut he :ust first a9uire this right& There are laws in the s3iritual life+ as in

the 3hysi9al life& Ru1 a glass rod with an a33ro3riate :aterial+ and it will 1e9o:e ele9tri9+that is+ it will re9eive the 3ower of attra9ting s:all 1odies& This is in ee3ing with a law

of nature& It is nown to all who have learnt a little 3hysi9s& i:ilarly+ a9uaintan9e with

the first 3rin9i3les of 3iritual 9ien9e shows that every feeling of true devotionhar1oured in the soul+ develo3s a 3ower whi9h :ay+ sooner or later+ lead further on the

3ath of nowledge&

The student who is gifted with this feeling+ or who is fortunate enough to have had it

in9ul9ated in a suita1le edu9ation+ 1rings a great deal along with hi:+ when+ later in life+he sees ad:ittan9e to higher nowledge& Failing su9h 3re3aration+ he will en9ounter

diffi9ulties at the very first ste3+ unless he undertaes+ 1y rigorous selfedu9ation+ to

9reate within hi:self this inner life of devotion& In our ti:e+ it is es3e9ially i:3ortant thatfull attention 1e 3aid to this 3oint& Our 9ivilisation tends :ore towards 9riti9al Cudg:ent+

and 9onde:nation+ than towards devotion and selfless veneration& Our 9hildren already

9riti9i0e far :ore than they worshi3& But every 9riti9is:+ every adverse Cudg:ent 3assed+

dis3erses the 3owers of the soul for the attain:ent of higher nowledge+ in the sa:e:easure that all veneration and reveren9e develo3s the:& In this we do not wish to say

anything against our 9ivili0ation& There is no uestion here of levelling 9riti9is: againstit& To this 9riti9al fa9ulty+ this self9ons9ious hu:an Cudg:ent+ this K3rove all things andhold fast what is 1estH+ we owe the greatness of our 9ivili0ation+ )an 9ould never have

attained to the s9ien9e+ the industry+ the 9o::er9e+ the legal advantages of our ti:e+ had

he not a33lied to all things the standard of his 9riti9al Cudg:ent& But what we havethere1y gained in e2ternal 9ulture+ we have had to 3ay for with a 9orres3onding loss of

higher nowledge of s3iritual life& It :ust 1e e:3hasi0ed that higher nowledge is not

9on9erned with the veneration of 3ersons+ 1ut the veneration of truth and nowledge&

!ow the one thing that everyone :ust at on9e ad:it+ is the diffi9ulty for those involvedin the e2ternal 9ivili0ation of our ti:e to advan9e to the nowledge of the higher worlds&

They 9an only do so if they wor energeti9ally at the:selves& At a ti:e when the

9onditions of :aterial life were si:3ler+ the attain:ent of s3iritual nowledge was alsoeasier& O1Ce9ts of veneration and worshi3 stood out in 1etter relief fro: the ordinary

things of the world& In an e3o9h of 9riti9is:+ ideals are lowered other feelings tae the

3la9e of veneration+ res3e9t+ 3rayer and wonder& Our own age thrusts these feelings

further and further into the 1a9ground+ so that they 9an only 1e 9onveyed to :an+through his everyday life+ in a very s:all degree& Whoever sees higher nowledge+ :ust

9reate it for hi:self& #e :ust instil it into his soul& It 9annot 1e done 1y study it 9an only


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1e done through life& Whoever+ therefore+ wishes to 1e9o:e a student of higher

nowledge+ :ust assiduously 9ultivate this inner life of devotion& Everywhere in his

environ:ent and in his e23erien9es+ he :ust see :otives of ad:iration and ho:age& If I:eet a :an and 1la:e hi: for his weaness+ I ro1 :yself of 3ower to attain higher

nowledge 1ut if I try to enter lovingly into his :erits+ I gather su9h 3ower& The student

:ust 9ontinually 1e intent u3on following this advi9e& The s3iritually e23erien9ed nowhow :u9h they owe to the 9ir9u:stan9e+ that in fa9e of all things+ they ever again turn to

the good+ and withhold adverse Cudg:ent& But this :ust not re:ain an e2ternal rule of

life rather it :ust tae 3ossession of our inner:ost soul& )an has it in his 3ower to3erfe9t hi:self+ and+ in ti:e+ 9o:3letely to transfor: hi:self& But this transfor:ation

:ust tae 3la9e in his inner:ost self+ in his thoughtlife& It is not enough that I show

res3e9t only in :y outward 1earing I :ust have this res3e9t in :y thoughts& The student

:ust 1egin 1y a1sor1ing this devotion into his thoughtlife& #e :ust 1e wary of thoughtsof disres3e9t+ of adverse 9riti9is:+ e2isting in his 9ons9iousness+ and he :ust endeavour

straightaway to 9ultivate thoughts of devotion&

Every :o:ent that we set ourselves to dis9over in our 9ons9iousness+ whatever therere:ains in it of adverse+ dis3araging and 9riti9al Cudg:ent of the world and of life every

su9h :o:ent 1rings us nearer to higher nowledge& And we rise ra3idly when we fill our

9ons9iousness in su9h :o:ents with thoughts evoing in us ad:iration+ res3e9t and

veneration for the world and for life& It is well nown to those e23erien9ed in these:atters+ that+ in every su9h :o:ent+ 3owers are awaened whi9h otherwise re:ain

dor:ant& In this way the s3iritual eyes of :an are o3ened& #e 1egins to see things around

hi: whi9h he 9ould not have seen 1efore& #e 1egins to understand that hitherto he hadonly seen a 3art of the world around hi:& A hu:an 1eing standing 1efore hi:+ now

3resents a new and different as3e9t& Of 9ourse this rule of life alone will not yet ena1le

hi: to see+ for instan9e+ what is des9ri1ed as the hu:an aura+ 1e9ause+ for this 3ur3ose+ a

still higher training is ne9essary& But he 9an rise to this higher training+ if he has3reviously undergone a rigorous training in devotion& footnote@ In the last 9ha3ter of his

1oo+ Theoso3hy+ the author des9ri1es fully this "ath of .nowledge here it is only

intended to give so:e 3ra9ti9al details&J

!oiseless and unnoti9ed 1y the outer world is the treading of the "ath of .nowledge& !o

9hange need 1e noti9ed in the student& #e 3erfor:s his duties as hitherto he attends to

his 1usiness as 1efore& The transfor:ation goes on only in the inner 3art of the soulhidden fro: outward sight& At first his entire inner life is flooded 1y this har:ony of

devotion for everything whi9h is truly venera1le& #is entire soullife finds in this

funda:ental feeling its 3ivot& 8ust as the sunHs rays vivify everything living+ so does

reveren9e+ in the student+ vivify all feelings of the soul&

It is not easy+ at first+ to 1elieve that feelings lie reveren9e and res3e9t have anything to

do with 9ognition& This is due to the fa9t that we are in9lined to set 9ognition aside as a

fa9ulty 1y itself one that stands in no relation to what otherwise trans3ires in the soul& In

so thining+ we do not 1ear in :ind that it is the soul whi9h e2er9ises the fa9ulty of9ognition and feelings are+ for the soul+ what food is for the 1ody& If we give the 1ody

stones in 3la9e of 1read+ its a9tivity will 9ease& It is the sa:e with the soul& eneration+


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ho:age+ devotion are as nutri:ent :aing it healthy and strong+ es3e9ially strong for the

a9tivity of 9ognition& Disres3e9t+ anti3athy+ underesti:ation of what deserves

re9ognition+ e2ert a 3aralysing and withering effe9t on this fa9ulty of 9ognition& For thes3iritually e23erien9ed+ this fa9t is visi1le in the aura& A soul whi9h har1ours feelings of

reveren9e and devotion+ 3rodu9es a 9hange in its aura& %ertain s3iritual 9olourings+ as

they :ay 1e 9alled+ yellowred and 1rownred in tone+ vanish+ and are re3la9ed 1y 1luered tints& There1y the 9ognitional fa9ulty is ri3ened it re9eives intelligen9e of fa9ts in its

environ:ent+ of whi9h it has hitherto no idea& Reveren9e awaens a sy:3atheti9 3ower

through whi9h we attra9t ualities in the 1eings around us+ whi9h would otherwise re:ain9on9ealed& The 3ower o1tained through devotion 9an 1e rendered still :ore effe9tive+

when the life of feeling is enri9hed 1y yet another uality& To a9hieve this the student

learns to give hi:self u3 less and less to i:3ressions of the outer world+ and to develo3

instead a vivid inner life& A 3erson who darts fro: one i:3ression of the outer world toanother+ who 9onstantly sees Kdistra9tionH+ 9annot find the way to higher nowledge&

The student :ust not 1lunt hi:self to the outer world+ 1ut while lending hi:self to its

i:3ressions+ he should 1e dire9ted 1y his ri9h inner life& When 3assing through a

1eautiful :ountain distri9t+ the traveller with de3th of soul and wealth of feeling hasdifferent e23erien9es fro: one who is 3oor in feeling& Only what we e23erien9e within

ourselves unlo9s for us the 1eauties of the outer world& One 3erson sails a9ross theo9ean+ and only a few inward e23erien9es 3ass through his soul another will hear the

eternal language of the 9os:i9 s3irit for hi: are unveiled the :ysterious riddles of

e2isten9e& We :ust learn to re:ain in tou9h with our own feelings and ideas+ if we wishto develo3 any inti:ate relationshi3 with the outer world& The outer world+ with all its

3heno:ena+ is filled with divine s3lendour+ 1ut we :ust have e23erien9ed the divine

within ourselves+ 1efore we 9an ho3e to dis9over it in our environ:ent&

The student is told to set a3art :o:ents in his daily life+ in whi9h to withdraw into

hi:self+ uietly and alone& #e is not to o99u3y hi:self with the affairs of his own Ego+ insu9h :o:ents This would result in the 9ontrary of what is intended& #e should rather let

his e23erien9es and the :essages fro: the outer world+ ree9ho within his own

9o:3letely silent self& Every flower+ every ani:al+ every a9tion will unveil to hi: in su9hsilent :o:ents+ se9rets undrea:ed of& And thus he will 3re3are hi:self to re9eive uite

new i:3ressions of the outer world+ through uite different eyes& For the desire to enCoy

i:3ression after i:3ression :erely 1lunts the fa9ulty of 9ognition the latter+ however+ isnurtured and 9ultivated+ if the enCoy:ent on9e e23erien9ed is allowed to reveal its

:essage& Thus the student :ust a99usto: hi:self not :erely to let the enCoy:ent

rever1erate+ as it were+ 1ut rather to renoun9e any further enCoy:ent+ and wor u3on the3ast e23erien9e& The 3eril here is very great& Instead of woring inwardly+ it is very easy

to fall into the o33osite ha1it of trying to e23loit the enCoy:ent& Let no one undervalue

the fa9t that unforeseen sour9es of error here 9onfront the student& #e :ust 3ass through ahost of te:3ters of his soul& They would all harden his Ego and i:3rison it within itself&

#e should rather o3en it wide for all the world& It is ne9essary that he should see

enCoy:ent+ for only through enCoy:ent 9an the outer world rea9h hi:& If he 1lunts

hi:self to enCoy:ent+ he 1e9o:es as a 3lant whi9h 9annot any longer draw nourish:entfro: its environ:ent& *et if he sto3s short at the enCoy:ent+ he shuts hi:self u3 within

hi:self& #e will only 1e so:ething to hi:self and nothing to the world& #owever :u9h


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he :ay live within hi:self+ however intensely he :ay 9ultivate his Ego the world will

reCe9t hi:& For the world he is dead& The student of higher nowledge 9onsiders

enCoy:ent only as a :eans of enno1ling hi:self for the world& "leasure is to hi: as as9out infor:ing hi: 9on9erning the world 1ut on9e instru9ted 1y 3leasure+ he 3asses on

to wor& #e does not learn in order to a99u:ulate learning as his own treasure+ 1ut not to

o99u3y in order that he :ay devote his learning to the servi9e of the world&

In all 3iritual 9ien9e there is a funda:ental 3rin9i3le whi9h 9annot 1e transgressedwithout sa9rifi9ing su99ess+ and it should 1e i:3ressed on the student in every for: of

esoteri9 training& It runs as follows@ KEvery nowledge 3ursued :erely for the enri9h:ent

of 3ersonal learning and the a99u:ulation of 3ersonal treasure+ leads you away fro: the3ath 1ut all nowledge 3ursued for growth to ri3eness within the 3ro9ess of hu:an

enno1le:ent and 9os:i9 develo3:ent+ 1rings you a ste3 forward&HThis law :ust 1e

rigidly o1served+ and no student is genuine until he has ado3ted it as a guide for hiswhole life& This truth 9an 1e e23ressed in the following short senten9e every idea whi9h

does not 1e9o:e your ideal+ slays a for9e in your soul every idea whi9h 1e9o:es your

ideal+ 9reates within you lifefor9es&

INNER TRANQUILLITY

At the very 1eginning of his 9ourse+ the student is dire9ted to the K"ath of Reveren9eHand

the develo3:ent of the inner life& 3iritual 9ien9e now also gives hi: 3ra9ti9al rules+ 1y

o1serving whi9h+ he :ay tread that 3ath and develo3 that inner life& These 3ra9ti9al ruleshave no ar1itrary origin& They rest u3on an9ient e23erien9e and an9ient wisdo:+ and are

given out in the sa:e :anner+ wheresoever the ways to higher nowledge are indi9ated&

All true tea9hers of the s3iritual life are in agree:ent as to the 9hara9ter of these rules+even though they do not always 9lothe the: in the sa:e words& This differen9e+ whi9h isof a :inor 9hara9ter+ and is :ore a33arent than real+ is due to 9ir9u:stan9es whi9h need

not 1e dwelt u3on here&

!o tea9her of the s3iritual life wishes to esta1lish a :astery over other 3ersons 1y :eans

of su9h rules& #e would not ta:3er with any 3ersonHs inde3enden9e& Indeed+ none res3e9tand 9herish hu:an inde3enden9e :ore than the s3iritually e23erien9ed& It was stated in

the 3re9eding 3ages+ that the 1ond of union e:1ra9ing all Initiates is s3iritual+ and that

two laws for:+ as it were+ 9las3s+ 1y whi9h the 9o:3onent 3arts of this 1ond are heldtogether& Whenever the Initiate leaves his en9losed s3iritual 9ir9uit and ste3s forth 1efore

the world+ he :ust i::ediately tae a third law into a99ount& It is this@ ada3t ea9h one of

your a9tions+ and fra:e ea9h one of your words in su9h a way that you infringe u3on no:anHs freewill&

The re9ognition that all true tea9hers of the s3iritual life are 3er:eated through and

through with this 3rin9i3le+ will 9onvin9e all who follow the 3ra9ti9al rules 3roffered to

the:+ that they need sa9rifi9e none of their inde3enden9e&


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One of the first of these rules 9an 1e e23ressed so:ewhat in the following words of our

language@ K"rovide for yourself :o:ents of inner tranuillity+ and learn+ in these

:o:ents+ to distinguish 1etween the essential and the nonessential&HIt is said advisedly@KE23ressed in the words of our language&HOriginally all rules and tea9hings of 3iritual

9ien9e were e23ressed in a sy:1oli9al signlanguage+ so:e understanding for whi9h

:ust 1e a9uired 1efore its whole :eaning and s9o3e 9an 1e reali0ed& This understandingis de3endent on the first ste3s towards higher nowledge+ and these ste3s result fro: the

e2a9t o1servation of su9h rules as are here given& For all who earnestly will+ the 3ath

stands o3en to tread&

i:3le+ in truth+ is the a1ove rule 9on9erning :o:ents of inner tranuillity euallysi:3le is its o1servation& But it only a9hieves its 3ur3ose when it is o1served in as earnest

and stri9t a :anner+ as it is+ in itself+ si:3le& #ow this rule is to 1e o1served+ will 1e

e23lained+ therefore+ without digression&

The student :ust set aside a s:all 3art of his daily life+ in whi9h to 9on9ern hi:self with

so:ething uite different fro: the o1Ce9ts of his daily o99u3ation& The way+ also+ inwhi9h he o99u3ies hi:self at su9h a ti:e+ :ust differ entirely fro: the way in whi9h he

3erfor:s the rest of his daily duties& But this does not :ean that what he does in the ti:ethus set a3art+ has no 9onne9tion with his daily wor& On the 9ontrary+ he will soon find

that Cust these se9luded :o:ents+ when sought in the right way+ give hi: full 3ower to

3erfor: his daily tas& !or :ust it 1e su33osed that the o1servan9e of this rule will reallyen9roa9h u3on the ti:e needed for the 3erfor:an9e of his duties& hould anyone really

have no :ore ti:e at his dis3osal+ five :inutes a day will suffi9e& It all de3ends on the

:anner in whi9h these five :inutes are s3ent&

At these 3eriods+ the student should wrest hi:self entirely free fro: his woraday life&

#is thoughts and feelings should tae on a different 9olouring& #is Coys and sorrows+ his9ares+ e23erien9es and a9tions :ust 3ass in review 1efore his soul and he :ust ado3t

su9h a 3osition that he :ay regard all his sundry e23erien9es fro: a higher 3oint of view&

We need only 1ear in :ind how+ in ordinary life+ we regard the e23erien9es and a9tionsof others uite differently fro: our own& This 9annot 1e otherwise+ for we are interwoven

with our own a9tions and e23erien9es+ whereas those of others we only 9onte:3late& Our

ai: in these :o:ents of se9lusion+ :ust 1e so to 9onte:3late and Cudge our own a9tionsand e23erien9es+ as though they a33lied not to ourselves 1ut to so:e other 3erson&

u33ose+ for e2a:3le+ a heavy :isfortune 1efalls us& #ow different would 1e our attitude

towards a si:ilar :isfortune+ had it 1efallen our neigh1ourG This attitude 9annot 1e

1la:ed as unCustifia1le it is 3art of hu:an nature+ and a33lies eually to e29e3tional9ir9u:stan9es and to the daily affairs of life& The student :ust see the 3ower of

9onfronting his own self+ at 9ertain ti:es+ as a stranger& #e :ust stand 1efore his own self

with the inner tranuillity of a Cudge& When this is attained+ our own e23erien9es 3resentthe:selves in a new light& As long as we are interwoven with the: and stand+ as it were+

within the:+ we 9ling to the nonessential Cust as :u9h as to the essential& If we attain the

9al: inner survey+ the essential is severed fro: the nonessential& orrow and Coy+ everythought+ every resolve+ a33ear different when we 9onfront ourselves in this way& It is as


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though we had s3ent the whole day in a 3la9e where we saw the s:allest o1Ce9ts at the

sa:e 9lose range as the largest+ and in the evening 9li:1ed a neigh1ouring hill+ and

surveyed the whole s9ene at a glan9e& Then the various 3arts a33ear related to ea9h otherin different 3ro3ortions fro: those they 1ore when seen fro: within& This e2er9ise will

not and need not su99eed with 9urrent 1lows of fate+ 1ut it should 1e atte:3ted 1y the

student in 9onne9tion with :isfortune e23erien9ed in the 3ast& The value of su9h innertranuil self9onte:3lation de3ends far less on what is a9tually 9onte:3lated+ than on our

finding within ourselves the 3ower whi9h su9h inner tranuillity develo3s&

For every hu:an 1eing 1ears within hi:self+ 1esides what we :ay 9all the woraday

:an+ a higher :an& And ea9h individual 9an only hi:self awaen this higher 1eingwithin hi:& As long as this higher 1eing is not awaened+ the higher fa9ulties+ slu:1ering

in every hu:an 1eing+ and leading to su3ersensi1le nowledge+ will re:ain 9on9ealed&

The student :ust resolve to 3ersevere in the stri9t and earnest o1servation of the rule heregiven+ so long as he does not feel within hi:self the fruits of this inner tranuillity& To all

who thus 3ersevere+ the day will 9o:e when s3iritual light will envelo3e the:+ and a new

world will 1e revealed to an organ of sight of whose e2isten9e+ within the:+ they werehitherto unaware&

And no 9hange need tae 3la9e in the outward life of the student in 9onseuen9e of this

new rule& #e 3erfor:s his duties+ and+ at first+ feels the sa:e Coys+ sorrows and

e23erien9es as 1efore& In no way 9an it estrange hi: fro: life he 9an rather devotehi:self the :ore thoroughly to this life+ for the re:ainder of the day+ having gained a

higher life in the :o:ents set a3art& Little 1y little this higher life will :ae its influen9e

felt on his ordinary life& The tranuillity of the :o:ents set a3art will affe9t also

everyday e2isten9e& In his whole 1eing+ he will grow 9al:er+ he will attain fir: assuran9ein all his a9tions+ and will 9ease to 1e 3ut out of 9ountenan9e 1y all :anner of in9idents&

By thus advan9ing he will gradually 1e9o:e :ore and :ore his own guide+ and willallow hi:self+ less and less+ to 1e led 1y 9ir9u:stan9es and e2ternal influen9es& #e willsoon dis9over how great a sour9e of strength is availa1le to hi: in these :o:ents thus set

a3art& #e will 1egin no longer to get angry at things whi9h for:erly angered hi:

9ountless things whi9h he for:erly feared 9ease to alar: hi:& #e a9uires a new outlooon life& For:erly he :ay have a33roa9hed so:e o99u3ation in a fainthearted way& #e

would say@ KOh+ I la9 the 3ower to do this as well as I 9ould wish&H!ow this thought

does not o99ur to hi:+ 1ut rather a uite different thought& #en9eforth he says to hi:self@KI will su::on u3 all :y strength to do :y wor as well as I 3ossi1ly 9an&HAnd he

su33resses the thought whi9h :aes hi: fainthearted for he nows that this very

thought :ight 1e the 9ause of a worse 3erfor:an9e on his 3art+ and that+ in any 9ase+ it

9annot 9ontri1ute to the i:3rove:ent of his wor& And thus thought after thought+ ea9hfraught with advantage to his whole life+ flow into the studentHs outloo& They tae the

3la9e of those that had a ha:3ering+ weaening effe9t& #e 1egins to steer his own shi3 on

a se9ure 9ourse through the waves of life+ whereas it was for:erly 1attered to and fro 1ythese waves&

This 9al: and serenity rea9t on the whole 1eing& They assist the growth of the inner :an+

and with the inner :an+ those fa9ulties also grow whi9h lead to higher nowledge& For it


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is 1y his 3rogress in this dire9tion that the student gradually rea9hes the 3oint+ when he

hi:self deter:ines the :anner in whi9h the i:3ressions of the outer world shall affe9t

hi:& Thus he :ay hear a word s3oen with the o1Ce9t of wounding or ve2ing hi:&For:erly it :ould indeed have wounded or ve2ed hi:+ 1ut now that he treads the 3ath to

higher nowledge+ he is a1le to tae fro: the word the sting whi9h gives it the 3ower to

wound or ve2 1efore it has found its way to his inner self& Tae another e2a:3le& Weeasily 1e9o:e i:3atient when we are e3t waiting+ 1ut if we tread the 3ath to higher

nowledge+ we so stee3 ourselves+ in our :o:ents of 9al:+ with the feeling of the

uselessness of i:3atien9e+ that hen9eforth+ on every o99asion of i:3atien9e+ this feelingis i::ediately 3resent within us& The i:3atien9e that was a1out to :ae itself felt+

vanishes+ and an interval whi9h would otherwise have 1een wasted in e23ressions of

i:3atien9e+ will 1e filled 1y useful o1servation+ whi9h 9an 1e :ade while waiting&

!ow the s9o3e and signifi9an9e of these fa9ts :ust 1e reali0ed& We :ust 1ear in :indthat the higher :an within :an is in 9onstant develo3:ent& But only the state of 9al: and

serenity here des9ri1ed renders an orderly develo3:ent 3ossi1le& The waves of outward

life 3ress in u3on the inner :an fro: all sides+ if+ instead of :astering this outward life+he is :astered 1y it& u9h a :an is lie a 3lant whi9h tries to e23and in a 9left in the ro9+

and is stunted in its growth+ until new s3a9e is given it& !o outward for9es 9an su33ly

s3a9e to the inner :an& It 9an only 1e su33lied 1y the inner 9al: whi9h :an hi:self

gives to his soul& Outward 9ir9u:stan9es 9an only alter the 9ourse of his outward lifethey 9an never awaen the inner s3iritual :an& The student :ust hi:self give 1irth to a

new and higher :an within hi:&

This higher :an now 1e9o:es the inner ruler+ who dire9ts the 9ir9u:stan9es of the outer

:an with sure guidan9e& As long as the outer :an has the u33er hand and 9ontrol+ thisinner :an is his slave+ and therefore 9annot unfold his 3owers& If it de3ends on so:ething

foreign to :yself+ that I should get angry or not+ I a: not :aster of :yself+ or+ to 3ut it1etter+ I have not yet found the ruler within :e& I :ust develo3 the fa9ulty of letting thei:3ressions of the outer world a33roa9h :e only in the way in whi9h I :yself deter:ine

then only do I 1e9o:e in the real sense a student& And only in so far as the student

earnestly sees this 3ower+ 9an he rea9h the goal& It is of no i:3ortan9e how far anyone9an get in a given ti:e the 3oint is that he should earnestly see& )any have striven for

years without noti9ing any a33re9ia1le 3rogress 1ut :any of those who did not des3air+

1ut re:ained unshaen+ have then+ uite suddenly a9hieved the Kinner vi9toryH&

!o dou1t a great effort is reuired+ in :any stations of life+ to 3rovide these :o:ents ofinner 9al: 1ut the greater the effort needed+ the :ore i:3ortant is the a9hieve:ent& In

3iritual 9ien9e everything de3ends u3on the energy+ inward truthfulness and

un9o:3ro:ising sin9erity with whi9h we 9onfront our own selves+ with all our deeds anda9tions+ as a 9o:3lete stranger&

But only one side of the studentHs a9tivity is 9hara9teri0ed 1y this 1irth of his own higher

1eing& o:ething else is needed in addition& Even if he 9onfronts hi:self as a stranger+ it

is only hi:self that he 9onte:3lates he loos on those e23erien9es and a9tions withwhi9h he is 9onne9ted through his 3arti9ular station of life& #e :ust now disengage


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hi:self fro: it and rise 1eyond+ to a 3urely hu:an level+ whi9h no longer has anything to

do with his own s3e9ial situation& #e :ust 3ass on to the 9onte:3lation of those things

whi9h would 9on9ern hi:+ if he lived under uite different 9ir9u:stan9es+ and in uite adifferent situation& In this way so:ething 1egins to live within hi: whi9h ranges a1ove

the 3urely 3ersonal& #is ga0e is dire9ted to higher worlds than those with whi9h everyday

life 9onne9ts hi:& And thus he 1egins to feel and reali0e+ as an inner e23erien9e+ that he1elongs to those higher worlds& These are worlds 9on9erning whi9h his senses and his

daily o99u3ation 9an tell hi: nothing& Thus he now shifts the 9entral 3oint of his 1eing to

the inner 3art of his nature& #e listens to the voi9es within hi:+ whi9h s3ea to hi:+ in his:o:ents of tranuillity he 9ultivates an inter9ourse with the s3iritual world& #e is

re:oved fro: the everyday world& Its noise is silen9ed& All around hi: there is silen9e&

#e 3uts away everything that is around hi: he even 3uts away everything that re:inds

hi: of su9h i:3ressions fro: without& %al: inward 9onte:3lation and 9onverse with the3urely s3iritual world fill his soul& u9h tranuil 9onte:3lation :ust 1e9o:e a natural

ne9essity in the life of the student& #e is now 3lunged in a world of thought& #e :ust

develo3 a living feeling for this silent thoughta9tivity& #e :ust learn to love what the

s3irit 3ours into hi:& #e will soon 9ease to feel that this thoughtworld is less real thanthe everyday things whi9h surround hi:& #e 1egins to deal with his thoughts as with

things in s3a9e+ and the :o:ent a33roa9hes when he 1egins to feel that whi9h revealsitself in the silent inward thoughtworld+ to 1e :u9h higher+ :u9h :ore real than the

things in s3a9e& #e dis9overs that so:ething living e23resses itself in this thoughtworld&

#e sees that his thoughts do not :erely har1our shadow3i9tures+ 1ut that+ through the:+hidden 1eings s3ea to hi:& Fro: out of the silen9e s3ee9h 1e9o:es audi1le to hi:&

For:erly sound only rea9hed hi: through his ear now it resounds through his soul& An

inner language+ an inner word is revealed to hi:& This :o:ent+ when first e23erien9ed+ is

one of greatest ra3ture for the student& An inner light is shed over the whole e2ternalworld+ and a new life 1egins for hi:& Through his 1eing there 3ours a divine strea: fro:

a world of divine ra3ture&

This life of the soul in thought+ whi9h gradually widens into a life in s3iritual 1eing+ is

9alled 1y $nosis and 1y 3iritual 9ien9e+ )editation >9onte:3lative refle9tion?& This:editation is the :eans to su3ersensi1le nowledge& But the student in su9h :o:ents

:ust not :erely indulge in feelings he :ust not have indefinite sensations in his soul&

That would only hinder hi: fro: rea9hing true s3iritual nowledge& #is thoughts :ust1e 9lear+ shar3 and definite+ and he will 1e hel3ed in this if he does not 9ling 1lindly to

the thoughts that rise within hi:& Rather :ust he 3er:eate hi:self with the lofty

thoughts with whi9h :en already advan9ed and 3ossessed of the s3irit were ins3ired+ insu9h :o:ents& #e should tae as his starting 3oint the writings whi9h the:selves had

their origin in su9h revelation during :editation& In the :ysti9+ gnosti9 and s3iritual

s9ientifi9 literature of today+ the student will find su9h writings+ and in the: the :aterialfor his :editation& The seeers of the s3irit have the:selves set down+ in su9h writings+

the thoughts of the divine s9ien9e+ whi9h the 3irit has suffered to 1e 3ro9lai:ed to the

world through his :essengers&

Through su9h :editation a 9o:3lete transfor:ation taes 3la9e in the student& #e 1eginsto for: uite new 9on9e3tions of reality& All things a9uire a fresh value for hi:& It


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9annot 1e re3eated too often that this transfor:ation does not alienate hi: fro: the

world& #e will in no way 1e estranged fro: his daily duties+ for he 9o:es to reali0e that

the :ost insignifi9ant a9tion he has to a99o:3lish+ the :ost insignifi9ant e23erien9ewhi9h offers itself to hi:+ stand in 9onne9tion with 9os:i9 1eings and 9os:i9 events&

When on9e this 9onne9tion is revealed to hi: in his :o:ents of 9onte:3lation+ he

engages in his daily 9ir9le of a9tivities with a new+ fuller 3ower& For now he nows thathis la1our and his suffering are given and endured for the sae of a great+ s3iritual+

9os:i9 whole& !ot weariness+ 1ut strength to live s3rings fro: :editation&

With fir: ste3 the student 3asses through life& !o :atter what it :ay 1ring hi:+ he goes

forward ere9t& In the 3ast he new not why he la1oured and suffered+ 1ut now he nows&It is o1vious that su9h :editation leads :ore surely to the goal+ if 9ondu9ted under the

dire9tion of e23erien9ed 3ersons+ who now of the:selves how everything :ay 1est 1e

done and their advi9e and guidan9e should 1e sought& Truly no one loses his freedo:&What would otherwise 1e :ere un9ertain gro3ing in the dar+ 1e9o:es+ under this

dire9tion+ 3re9ise wor& All who a33ly to su9h as 3ossess nowledge and e23erien9e in

these :atters will never a33ly in vain+ only they :ust reali0e that what they see is theadvi9e of a friend and not the do:ination of a would1e ruler& It will always 1e found that

they who really now+ are the :ost :odest of :en+ and that nothing is further fro: their

nature than what is 9alled the lust for 3ower&

When+ 1y :eans of :editation+ :an rises to 1e united with the s3irit+ he 1rings to life theeternal in hi:+ whi9h is li:ited 1y neither 1irth nor death& The e2isten9e of this eternal

1eing 9an only 1e dou1ted 1y those who have not the:selves e23erien9ed it& Thus

:editation is the way whi9h also leads :an to the nowledge+ to the 9onte:3lation of his

eternal+ indestru9ti1le+ essential 1eing& $nosis and 3iritual 9ien9e tell of the eternalnature of this 1eing+ and of its rein9arnation& The uestion is often ased@ Why does a

:an now nothing of his e23erien9es 1eyond the 1orders of life and death #ow 9an weattain su9h nowledgeG In right :editation the 3ath is o3ened& This alone 9an revive the:e:ory of e23erien9es 1eyond the 1order of life and death& Everyone 9an attain this

nowledge in ea9h one of us lies the fa9ulty of re9ogni0ing and 9onte:3lating for

ourselves what genuine )ysti9is:+ 3iritual 9ien9e+ Anthro3oso3hy and $nosis tea9h&Only the right :eans :ust 1e 9hosen& Only a 1eing with ears and eyes 9an a33rehend

sounds and 9olours+ nor 9an the eye 3er9eive+ if the light+ whi9h :aes things visi1le+ 1e

wanting& 3iritual 9ien9e gives the :eans of develo3ing the s3iritual ears and eyes+ andindling the s3iritual light this :ethod of s3iritual training :ay 1e des9ri1ed as

9onsisting of three stages@ >,? "ro1ation this develo3s the s3iritual senses& >4?

Enlighten:ent this indles the s3iritual light& >5? Initiation this esta1lishes inter9ourse

with the higher s3iritual 1eings&


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THE STAGES OF INITIATION

T#E infor:ation given in the following 9ha3ters for:s 3art of an esoteri9 training+ the

na:e and 9hara9ter of whi9h will 1e understood 1y all who a33ly this infor:ation in theright way& It refers to the three stages through whi9h the training of the s3iritual life leads

to a 9ertain degree of Initiation& But only so :u9h will here 1e e23lained as 9an 1e3u1li9ly i:3arted& These are :erely indi9ations e2tra9ted fro: a still far dee3er and :ore

inti:ate do9trine& In esoteri9 training itself a uite definite 9ourse of instru9tion isfollowed& %ertain e2er9ises ena1le the soul to attain a 9ons9ious inter9ourse with the

s3iritual world& These e2er9ises 1ear a1out the sa:e relation to what will 1e i:3arted in

the following 3ages+ as the instru9tion given in a higher+ stri9tly dis9i3lined s9hool+ to thein9idental tea9hing in a 3re3aratory s9hool& And yet the earnest and 3ersevering 3ursuit of

the 9ourse here indi9ated+ will lead to a genuine esoteri9 training& But an i:3atient

da11ling+ devoid of earnest 3erseveran9e+ 9an lead to nothing at all& The study of 3iritual9ien9e 9an only 1e su99essful if the student will retain what has already 1een indi9ated

in the 3re9eding 9ha3ter+ and on the 1asis of this 3ro9eed further&

The three stages whi9h the a1ove:entioned tradition s3e9ifies+ are as follows@ >,?

"ro1ation >4? Enlighten:ent >5? Initiation& It is not altogether ne9essary that the first ofthese three stages should 1e 9o:3leted 1efore the se9ond 9an 1e 1egun+ nor that the

se9ond+ in turn+ 1e 9o:3leted 1efore the third 1e started& In 9ertain res3e9ts it is 3ossi1le

to 3artae of Enlighten:ent+ and even of Initiation+ and in other res3e9ts still 1e in the3ro1ationary stage& *et it will 1e ne9essary to s3end a 9ertain ti:e in the stage of

"ro1ation+ 1efore any Enlighten:ent 9an 1egin+ and at least in so:e res3e9ts+

Enlighten:ent :ust 1e 9o:3leted 1efore it is even 3ossi1le to enter u3on the stage of

Initiation& But in des9ri1ing the:+ it is ne9essary+ for the sae of 9larity+ that the threestages 1e :ade to follow in turn&

PROBATION

"ro1ation 9onsists of a stri9t and definite 9ultivation of the life of thought and feeling

through whi9h the 3sy9hi9s3iritual K1odyH1e9o:es eui33ed with organs of sensea9tivity+ in the sa:e way that natural for9es have fitted the 3hysi9al 1ody with organs

1uilt out of indeter:inate living :atter&

To 1egin with+ the attention of the soul is dire9ted to 9ertain events in the world that

surrounds us& u9h events are+ on the one hand+ life that is 1udding+ growing andflourishing+ and+ on the other hand+ all 3heno:ena 9onne9ted with fading+ de9aying and

withering& The student 9an o1serve these events si:ultaneously+ wherever he turns his

eyes+ and on every o99asion they naturally evoe in hi: feelings and thoughts 1ut underordinary 9ir9u:stan9es+ he does not devote hi:self suffi9iently to the:& #e hurries on

too ui9ly fro: i:3ression to i:3ression& It is ne9essary+ therefore+ that he should fi2

his attention intently and 9ons9iously u3on these 3heno:ena& Wherever he o1serves adefinite ind of 1loo:ing and flourishing+ he :ust 1anish everything else fro: his soul+


17/90

and entirely surrender hi:self+ for a short ti:e+ to this one i:3ression& #e will soon

9onvin9e hi:self that a feeling whi9h heretofore+ in a si:ilar 9ase+ would :erely have

flitted through his soul+ now swells out+ and assu:es a 3owerful and energeti9 for:& #e:ust now allow this feeling to rever1erate uietly within hi:self while ee3ing inwardly

uite still& #e :ust 9ut hi:self off fro: the outer world+ and si:3ly and solely follow

what his soul tells hi: of this 1losso:ing and flourishing&

*et it :ust not 1e thought that :u9h 3rogress 9an 1e :ade if the senses are 1lunted to theworld& First loo at the things as eenly and as intently as you 3ossi1ly 9an then only let

the feeling whi9h e23ands to life+ and the thought whi9h arises in the soul+ tae

3ossession of you& The 3oint is that the attention should 1e dire9ted with 3erfe9t inner1alan9e+ u3on 1oth 3heno:ena& If the ne9essary tranuillity 1e attained+ and if you

surrender yourself to the feeling whi9h e23ands to life in the soul+ then+ in due ti:e+ the

following e23erien9e will ensue& Thoughts and feelings will 1e noti9ed+ of a new indand unnown 1efore+ u3rising in the soul& Indeed+ the :ore the attention 1e fi2ed+ in this

way+ u3on so:ething growing+ 1losso:ing and flourishing+ and u3on so:ething else that

is fading and de9aying+ the :ore vivid will these feelings 1e9o:e& And Cust as naturalfor9es 1uild out of living :atter the eyes and ears of the 3hysi9al 1ody+ so will the organs

of 9lairvoyan9e 1uild the:selves fro: the feelings and thoughts thus evoed& A uite

different for: of feeling is 9onne9ted with growth and e23ansion+ and another eually

definite with all that is fading and de9aying& But this is only the 9ase if the effort 1e :adeto 9ultivate these feelings in the way indi9ated& It is 3ossi1le to des9ri1e a33ro2i:ately

what these feelings are lie& A full 9on9e3tion of the: is within the rea9h of all who

undergo these inner e23erien9es& If the attention 1e freuently fi2ed on the 3heno:ena ofgrowing+ 1loo:ing and flourishing+ a feeling re:otely allied to the sensation of a sunrise

will ensue+ while the 3heno:ena of fading and de9aying will 3rodu9e an e23erien9e

9o:3ara1le+ in the sa:e way+ to the slow rising of the :oon on the hori0on& Both these

feelings are for9es whi9h+ when duly 9ultivated and develo3ed to everin9reasingintensity+ lead to the :ost signifi9ant s3iritual results& A new world is o3ened to the

student if he syste:ati9ally and deli1erately surrenders hi:self to su9h feelings& The

soulworld+ the so9alled astral 3lane+ 1egins to dawn u3on hi:& $rowth and de9ay are nolonger fa9ts whi9h :ae indefinite i:3ressions on hi:+ as of old+ 1ut rather they for:

into s3iritual lines and figures+ of whi9h he had 3reviously sus3e9ted nothing& And these

lines and figures have+ for the different 3heno:ena+ different for:s& A 1loo:ing flower+a young ani:al+ a tree that is de9aying+ evoe in his soul different lines& The soulworld

>astral 3lane? 1roadens out slowly 1efore hi:& These lines and figures are not :ere

inventions& Two students who have rea9hed the 9orres3onding stage of develo3:ent+ willalways see the sa:e lines and figures+ under the sa:e 9onditions& 8ust as a round ta1le

will 1e seen as round 1y two nor:al 3ersons and not as round 1y one and suare 1y the

other so too+ at the sight of a flower+ the sa:e s3iritual figure is 3resented to the soul&And Cust as the for:s of ani:als and 3lants are des9ri1ed in ordinary natural history+ so+

too+ the s3iritual s9ientist des9ri1es or draws the s3iritual for:s of the 3ro9esses of

growth and de9ay+ a99ording to s3e9ies and ind&

If the student has 3rogressed so far that he 9an 3er9eive the s3iritual for:s of those3heno:ena whi9h are 3hysi9ally visi1le to his e2ternal sight+ he will then not 1e far fro:


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the stage+ when he shall 1ehold things whi9h have no 9orres3onding 3hysi9al e2isten9e+

and whi9h therefore re:ain entirely hidden >o99ult? fro: those who have not re9eived

suita1le instru9tion and training&

It should 1e e:3hasi0ed that the student :ust never lose hi:self in s3e9ulations on the

:eaning of one thing or another& u9h intelle9tuali0ing will only 1ring hi: away fro:the right road& #e should loo out on the world with een+ healthy senses+ and ui9ened

3ower of o1servation+ and then give hi:self u3 to the feeling that arises within hi:& #eshould not try to :ae out+ through intelle9tual s3e9ulation+ what the things :ean+ 1ut

rather allow the things the:selves to tell hi:& It should 1e re:ared that artisti9 feeling+

when 9ou3led with a uiet intros3e9tive nature+ for:s the 1est 3reli:inary 9ondition forthe develo3:ent of s3iritual fa9ulties& This feeling 3ier9es through the su3erfi9ial as3e9t

of things+ and+ in so doing+ tou9hes their se9rets&

A further 3oint of i:3ortan9e is what 3iritual 9ien9e 9alls KOrientationHin the higher

worlds& This is attained when the student is 3er:eated+ through and through+ with the

9ons9ious reali0ation that feelings and thoughts are verita1le realities+ Cust as :u9h as areta1les and 9hairs in the world of the 3hysi9al senses& In the soul and thoughtworld+

feelings and thoughts rea9t u3on ea9h other Cust as 3hysi9al o1Ce9ts rea9t u3on ea9h otherin the 3hysi9al world& As long as the student is not vividly 3er:eated with this

9ons9iousness+ he will not 1elieve that a wrong thought in his :ind :ay have as

devastating an effe9t u3on other thoughts that s3read life in the thoughtworld+ as theeffe9t wrought 1y a 1ullet fired at rando:+ u3on the 3hysi9al o1Ce9ts it hits& #e will

3erha3s never allow hi:self to 3erfor: a 3hysi9ally visi1le a9tion whi9h he 9onsiders to

1e wrong+ though he will not shrin fro: har1ouring wrong thoughts and feelings+ when

these a33ear har:less to the rest of the world& There 9an 1e no 3rogress+ however+ on the3ath to higher nowledge+ unless we guard our thoughts and feelings in Cust the sa:e way

as we guard our ste3s in the 3hysi9al world& If we see a wall 1efore us+ we do not atte:3tto dash right through it+ 1ut turn aside& In other words+ we guide ourselves 1y the laws ofthe 3hysi9al world& There are su9h laws+ too+ for the soul and thoughtworld+ only they

9annot i:3ose the:selves on us fro: without& They :ust flow out of the life of the soul

itself& This 9an 1e attained if we for1id ourselves to har1our wrong thoughts and feelings&All ar1itrary flitting toandfro in thought+ all a99idental e11ing and flowing of e:otion

:ust 1e for1idden in the sa:e way& In so doing we do not 1e9o:e defi9ient in feeling&

On the 9ontrary+ if we regulate our inner life in this way+ we shall soon find ourselves1e9o:ing ri9h in feelings and 9reative with genuine i:agination& In the 3la9e of 3etty

e:otionalis:+ and 9a3ri9ious flights of thought+ there a33ear signifi9ant e:otions and

thoughts that are fruitful& Feelings and thoughts of this ind lead the student to orientation

in the s3iritual world& #e attains a right 3osition in relation to the things of the s3iritualworld a distin9t and definite result 9o:es into effe9t in his favour& 8ust as he+ as a

3hysi9al :an+ finds his way 1etween 3hysi9al things so+ too+ his 3ath now leads hi:

1etween growth and de9ay+ whi9h he has already 9o:e to now in the way des9ri1eda1ove& #e follows+ then+ all 3ro9esses of growing and flourishing+ and+ on the other hand+

of withering and de9aying+ in a way that is ne9essary for his own and the worldHs

advan9e:ent&


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The student has also to 1estow a further 9are on the world of sound& #e :ust dis9ri:inate

1etween sounds that are 3rodu9ed 1y the o9alled inert >lifeless? 1odies+ as+ for instan9e+

a 1ell+ or a :usi9al instru:ent+ or a falling :ass+ and those whi9h 3ro9eed fro: a living9reature >an ani:al or a hu:an 1eing?& When a 1ell is stru9+ we hear the sound and

9onne9t a 3leasant feeling with it 1ut when we hear the 9ry of an ani:al+ we 9an dete9t

through it+ 1esides our own feeling+ the :anifestation of an inward e23erien9e of theani:al+ whether of 3leasure or of 3ain& It is with the latter ind of sound that the student

sets to wor& #e :ust 9on9entrate his whole attention on the fa9t that the sound tells hi:

of so:ething that lies outside his own soul& #e :ust :erge hi:self into this foreignthing& #e :ust 9losely unite his own feeling with the 3leasure or 3ain of whi9h the sound

tells hi:& #e :ust get 1eyond the 3oint of 9aring whether+ for hi:+ the sound is 3leasant

or un3leasant+ agreea1le or disagreea1le+ and his soul :ust 1e filled with whatever is

trans3iring in the 1eing fro: whi9h the sound 3ro9eeds& Through su9h e2er9ises+ ifsyste:ati9ally and deli1erately 3erfor:ed+ the student will develo3 within hi:self the

fa9ulty of inter:ingling+ as it were+ with the 1eing fro: whi9h the sound 3ro9eeds& A

3erson sensitive to :usi9 will find it easier to 9ultivate his inner life in this way+ than one

who is un:usi9al 1ut no one should su33ose that a :ere sense for :usi9 9an tae the3la9e of this inner a9tivity& The student :ust learn to feel in this way in the fa9e of the

whole of nature& By doing so+ a new fa9ulty is i:3lanted in this world of thought andfeeling& Through her resounding tones+ the whole of nature 1egins to whis3er her se9rets

to the student& What was hitherto :erely in9o:3rehensi1le noise to his soul+ will 1e9o:e

1y this :eans a 9oherent language of nature& And whereas hitherto+ he only heard sound+fro: the so9alled inani:ate o1Ce9ts+ he now is aware of a new language of the soul&

hould he advan9e further in this inner 9ulture+ he will soon learn that he 9an hear what

hitherto he did not even sur:ise& #e 1egins to hear with the soul&

To this+ one thing :ore :ust 1e added 1efore the highest 3oint in this region 9an 1e

attained& Of very great i:3ortan9e for the develo3:ent of the student is the way in whi9hhe listens to others when they s3ea& #e :ust a99usto: hi:self to do this in su9h a way

that+ while listening+ his inner self is a1solutely silent& If so:eone e23resses an o3inion+

and another listens+ assent or dissent will+ generally s3eaing+ stir in the inner self of thelistener& )any 3eo3le+ in su9h 9ases+ feel the:selves i:3elled to an e23ression of their

assent+ or+ :ore es3e9ially+ of their dissent& In the student+ all su9h assent or dissent :ust

1e silen9ed& It is not i:3erative that he should suddenly alter his way of living+ 1y tryingto attain at all ti:es+ this 9o:3lete inner silen9e& #e will have to 1egin 1y doing so in

s3e9ial 9ases+ deli1erately sele9ted 1y hi:self& Then uite slowly and 1y degrees+ this

new way of listening will 9ree3 into his ha1its+ as of itself& In s3iritual investigation this issyste:ati9ally 3ra9tised& The student feels it his duty to listen+ 1y way of 3ra9ti9e+ at

9ertain ti:es+ to the :ost 9ontradi9tory views+ and+ at the sa:e ti:e+ entirely to 1ring to

silen9e all assent+ and+ :ore es3e9ially+ all adverse 9riti9is:& The 3oint is+ that in sodoing+ not only all 3urely intelle9tual Cudg:ent 1e silen9ed+ 1ut also all feelings of

dis3leasure+ denial or even es3e9ially+ of their dissent& dissent :ust 1e silen9ed& assent&

The student :ust at all ti:es 1e 3arti9ularly wat9hful lest su9h feelings+ even when not

on the surfa9e+ should still lur in the inner:ost re9ess of the soul& #e :ust listen+ fore2a:3le+ to the state:ents of 3eo3le who are+ in so:e res3e9ts+ far 1eneath hi:+ and yet

while doing so+ su33ress every feeling of greater nowledge or su3eriority& It is useful for


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everyone to listen in this way to 9hildren+ for even the wisest 9an learn in9al9ula1ly :u9h

fro: 9hildren& The student 9an thus train hi:self to listen to the words of others uite

selflessly+ 9o:3letely shutting out his own 3erson+ and his o3inions and way of feeling&When he 3ra9tises listening without 9riti9is:+ even when a 9o:3letely 9ontradi9tory

o3inion is advan9ed+ when the :ost Kho3eless :istaeHis 9o::itted 1efore hi:+ then he

learns+ little 1y little+ to 1lend hi:self with the 1eing of another and 1e9o:e identifiedwith it& Then he hears through the words+ into the soul of the other& Through 9ontinued

e2er9ise of this ind+ sound 1e9o:es the right :ediu: for the 3er9e3tion of soul and

s3irit& Of 9ourse it i:3lies the very stri9test selfdis9i3line+ 1ut the latter leads to a highgoal& When these e2er9ises are 3ra9tised in 9onne9tion with the others already given+

dealing with the sounds of nature+ the soul develo3s a new sense of hearing& It is now

a1le to 3er9eive :anifestations fro: the s3iritual world+ whi9h do not find their

e23ression in sounds a33rehensi1le 1y the 3hysi9al ear& The 3er9e3tion of the KinnerwordHawaens& $radually truths reveal the:selves to the student+ fro: the s3iritual

world& #e hears s3ee9h uttered to hi: in a s3iritual way& Only to those who+ 1y selfless

listening+ train the:selves to 1e really re9i3ient fro: within+ in stillness+ un:oved 1y

3ersonal o3inion or feeling+ only to su9h 9an the higher 1eings s3ea+ of who: 3iritual9ien9e tells& As long as one hurls any 3ersonal o3inion or feeling against the s3eaer to

who: one :ust listen+ the 1eings of the s3iritual world re:ain silent&

All higher truths are attained through su9h Kinwardly instilled s3ee9hH+ and what we hearfro: the li3s of a true s3iritual tea9her+ has 1een e23erien9ed 1y hi: in this :anner& But

this does not :ean that it is uni:3ortant for us to a9uaint ourselves with the writings of

3iritual 9ien9e+ 1efore we 9an ourselves hear su9h Kinwardly instilled s3ee9hH& On the9ontrary+ the reading of su9h writings and the listening to the tea9hings of 3iritual

9ien9e+ are the:selves :eans of attaining 3ersonal nowledge& Every senten9e of

3iritual 9ien9e we hear is of a nature to dire9t the :ind to the 3oint whi9h :ust 1e

attained 1efore the soul 9an e23erien9e real 3rogress& To the 3ra9ti9e of all that has here1een indi9ated+ :ust 1e added the ardent study of what the s3iritual investigators i:3art

to the world& In all esoteri9 training+ su9h study 1elongs to the 3ro1ationary 3eriod+ and

all other :ethods will 3rove ineffe9tive+ if due re9e3tivity for the tea9hings of thes3iritual investigators 1e la9ing& For inas:u9h as these instru9tions are 9ulled fro: the

living Kinner wordHfro: the living Kinwardly instilled s3ee9hH+ they are the:selves gifted

with s3iritual life& They are not :ere words they are living 3owers& And while youfollow the words of one who nows+ while you read a 1oo that s3rings fro: real inner

e23erien9e+ 3owers are at wor in your soul whi9h :ae you 9lairvoyant+ Cust as natural

for9es have 9reated out of living :atter your eyes and your ears&

ENLIGHTENMENT

Enlighten:ent is the result of very si:3le 3ro9esses& #ere+ too+ it is a :atter of

develo3ing 9ertain feelings and thoughts whi9h slu:1er in every hu:an 1eing and :ust

1e awaened& It is only when these si:3le 3ro9esses are 9arried out with unfailing3atien9e+ 9ontinuously and strenuously+ that they 9an lead to the 3er9e3tion of the inner


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lightfor:s& The first ste3 is taen 1y o1serving different natural o1Ce9ts in a 3arti9ular

way for instan9e+ a trans3arent and 1eautifully for:ed stone >a 9rystal?+ a 3lant and an

ani:al& The student should endeavour+ at first+ to dire9t his whole attention to a9o:3arison of the stone with the ani:al+ in the following :anner& The thoughts here

:entioned shall 3ass through his soul a99o:3anied 1y vivid feelings+ and no other

thought+ no other feeling+ :ust :ingle with the:+ and distur1 what should 1e an intenselyattentive o1servation& The student says to hi:self@ KThe stone has a for: the ani:al also

has a for:& The stone re:ains :otionless in its 3la9e& The ani:al 9hanges its 3la9e& It is

instin9t >desire? whi9h 9auses the ani:al to 9hange its 3la9e& Instin9ts+ too+ are served 1ythe for: of the ani:al& Its organs and li:1s are fashioned in a99ordan9e with these

instin9ts& The for: of the stone is not fashioned in a99ordan9e with desires+ 1ut in

a99ordan9e with desireless for9e&H footnote@ The fa9t here :entioned+ in its 1earing on

the 9onte:3lation of 9rystals+ is in :any ways distorted 1y those who have only heard ofit in an outward+ esoteri9 :anner+ and in this way su9h 3ra9ti9es as 9rystal ga0ing have

their origin& u9h :ani3ulations are 1ased on a :isunderstanding& They have 1een

des9ri1ed in :any 1oos+ 1ut they never for: the su1Ce9t of genuine esoteri9tea9hingJ

By sining dee3ly into su9h thoughts+ and while doing so+ o1serving the stone and the

ani:al with ra3t attention+ there arise in the soul two uite se3arate inds of feelings&

Fro: the stone there flows into the soul the one ind of feeling+ and fro: the ani:al the

other ind& The atte:3t will 3ro1a1ly not su99eed at first+ 1ut little 1y little+ with genuineand 3atient 3ra9ti9e+ these feelings ensue& This should 1e 3ra9tised over and over again&

At first the feelings are only 3resent as long as the o1servation lasts& Later on they

9ontinue+ and then they grow to so:ething whi9h re:ains living in the soul& The studenthas then only to refle9t+ and 1oth the feelings will always arise+ even without the

9onte:3lation of an e2ternal o1Ce9t& Out of these feelings and the thoughts that are 1ound

u3 with the:+ the organs of 9lairvoyan9e are for:ed& If the 3lant should then 1e in9luded+

it will 1e noti9ed that the feeling flowing fro: it lies 1etween the feelings derived fro:the stone and the ani:al+ 1oth in uality and degree& The organs thus for:ed are s3iritual

eyes& The student gradually learns+ 1y their :eans+ to see so:ething lie 3sy9hi9 and

s3iritual 9olours& The s3iritual world+ with its lines and figures+ re:ains dar+ as long ashe has only attained what has 1een des9ri1ed as "ro1ation through Enlighten:ent it

1e9o:es light& #ere also+ it :ust 1e noted that the words KdarHand KlightH+ as well as the

other e23ressions used+ do 1ut a33ro2i:ately des9ri1e what is :eant& This 9annot 1eotherwise+ if ordinary language is used+ for this language was 9reated to suit 3hysi9al

9onditions& 3iritual 9ien9e des9ri1es that whi9h+ for 9lairvoyant organs+ flows fro: the

stone+ as K1lueH+ or K1lueredH and that whi9h is felt as 9o:ing fro: the ani:al as KredHorKredyellowH& In reality 9olours of a s3iritual ind are seen& The 9olour 3ro9eeding fro:

the 3lant is green+ whi9h little 1y little+ resolves itself into a light ethereal 3in& The 3lant

is a9tually that 3rodu9t of nature whi9h in higher worlds rese:1les+ in 9ertain res3e9ts+ its9onstitution in the 3hysi9al world& The sa:e does not a33ly to the stone and the ani:al& It

:ust now 1e 9learly understood that the a1ove:entioned 9olours only re3resent the

3rin9i3al shades in the stone+ 3lant and ani:al ingdo:s& In reality all 3ossi1le

inter:ediate shades are 3resent& Every stone+ every 3lant+ every ani:al has its own3arti9ular shade of 9olour& In addition to these+ there are also the 1eings of the higher

worlds+ whi9h never in9arnate 3hysi9ally+ 1ut whi9h have their 9olours+ often wonderful+


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often horri1le& Indeed the wealth of 9olour in these higher worlds is i::easura1ly greater

than in the 3hysi9al world&

On9e the fa9ulty of seeing with s3iritual eyes has 1een a9uired+ one then en9ounters+sooner or later+ the 1eings here :entioned+ so:e of the: higher+ so:e lower than :an

hi:self 1eings whi9h never enter 3hysi9al reality&

If this 3oint has 1een rea9hed+ the way to a great deal lies o3en& But it is inadvisa1le to

3ro9eed further+ without 3aying 9areful heed to what is said or otherwise i:3arted 1y thes3iritual investigator& And for that too+ whi9h has 1een des9ri1ed+ attention 3aid to su9h

e23erien9ed guidan9e is the very 1est thing& )oreover if a :an has the strength and the

enduran9e to travel so far+ that he fulfils the ele:entary 9onditions of Enlighten:ent+ hewill assuredly see and find the right guidan9e&

But+ under all 9ir9u:stan9es+ one 3re9aution is ne9essary+ failing whi9h+ it were 1etter to

leave untrodden all ste3s on the 3ath to higher nowledge& It is ne9essary that the student

should lose none of his ualities as a good and no1le :an+ or his re9e3tivity for all3hysi9al reality& Indeed+ throughout his training+ he :ust 9ontinually in9rease his :oral

strength+ his inner 3urity and his 3ower of o1servation& To give an e2a:3le@ during the

ele:entary e2er9ises on Enlighten:ent+ the student :ust have a 9are to 1e always

enlarging his sy:3athy for the ani:al and the hu:an worlds+ and his sense for the 1eautyof nature& Failing this 9are+ su9h e2er9ises would 9ontinually 1lunt that feeling and that

sense the heart would 1e9o:e hardened+ and the senses 1lunted+ and that 9ould only lead

to 3erilous results&

#ow Enlighten:ent 3ro9eeds+ if the student rises+ in the sense of the foregoing e2er9ises+

fro: the stone+ the 3lant and the ani:al+ u3 to :an+ and how+ after Enlighten:ent+ under

all 9ir9u:stan9es+ the union of the soul with the s3iritual world is effe9ted+ leading toInitiation of these things the following 9ha3ters will deal+ in so far as they 9an and :aydo so&

In our ti:e+ the 3ath to 3iritual 9ien9e is sought 1y :any& It is sought in :any ways+

and :any dangerous and even o1Ce9tiona1le 3ra9ti9es are tried& It is for this reason that

they who 9lai: to now so:ething of the truth in these :atters+ 3la9e 1efore others the3ossi1ility of learning so:ething of esoteri9 training& Only so :u9h is here i:3arted as

9orres3onds with this 3ossi1ility& It is ne9essary that so:ething of the truth should

1e9o:e nown+ so as to 3revent error 9ausing great har:& !o har: 9an 9o:e to anyonefollowing the way here des9ri1ed+ so long as he does not for9e things& Only one thing

should 1e noted no student should s3end :ore ti:e and strength u3on these e2er9ises

than he 9an s3are+ with due regard to his station of life and his duties+ nor should he9hange anything+ for the ti:e 1eing+ in the e2ternal 9onditions of his life+ through taing

this 3ath& Without 3atien9e+ no genuine results 9an 1e attained& After doing an e2er9ise

for a few :inutes+ the student :ust 1e a1le to sto3+ and 9ontinue uietly his daily wor+and no thought of these e2er9ises should :ingle with the dayHs wor& !o one is of use as

an esoteri9 student or will ever attain results of real value+ who has not learnt to wait in

the highest and 1est sense of the word&


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THE CONTROL OF THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS

When the student sees the 3ath leading to higher nowledge in the way des9ri1ed in the

3re9eding 9ha3ter+ he should not o:it to fortify hi:self+ throughout his wor+ with oneever3resent thought& #e :ust never 9ease re3eating to hi:self that he :ay have :ade

uite 9onsidera1le 3rogress+ after a 9ertain interval+ though it :ay not 1e a33arent to hi:in the way he 3erha3s e23e9ted otherwise he 9an easily lose heart+ and a1andon all

atte:3ts after a short ti:e& The 3owers and fa9ulties to 1e develo3ed are of a :ost su1tleind+ and differ entirely+ in their nature+ fro: the 9on9e3tions for:ed of the: 1y the

student in advan9e& #is o99u3ation has 1een restri9ted to the 3hysi9al world alone and it

is therefore not sur3rising if he does not i::ediately noti9e the 3owers of soul and s3iritnow develo3ing in hi:& In this res3e9t there is a 3ossi1ility of error for those setting out

on the 3ath to higher nowledge+ if they ignore the e23erien9e gathered 1y res3onsi1le

investigators& The tea9her is aware of the 3rogress :ade 1y his 3u3il long 1efore thelatter is 9ons9ious of it& #e nows how the deli9ate s3iritual eyes 1egin to for:

the:selves+ long 1efore the 3u3il is aware of their e2isten9e+ and a great 3art of what he

has to say is 9ou9hed in su9h ter:s as to 3revent the 3u3il fro: losing 3atien9e and3erseveran9e+ 1efore he 9an hi:self attain nowledge of his own 3rogress& The tea9her+

as we now+ 9an 9onfer u3on the 3u3il no 3owers whi9h are not already latent within

hi:+ and his sole fun9tion is to assist in the awaening of slu:1ering fa9ulties& But what

he i:3arts out of his own e23erien9e is a 3illar of strength for hi: who will 3enetratethrough darness to light& )any a1andon the 3ath to higher nowledge+ soon after having

set foot u3on it+ 1e9ause their 3rogress is not i::ediately a33arent to the:& And even

when the first e23erien9es 1egin to dawn u3on the seeer+ he is a3t to regard the: asillusions+ 1e9ause he had for:ed uite different 9on9e3tions of what he was going to

e23erien9e& #e loses 9ourage+ either 1e9ause he regards these first e23erien9es as 1eing

of no value+ or 1e9ause they a33ear to hi: to 1e so unliely that he 9annot 1elieve they

will lead hi: to any a33re9ia1le results within a :easura1le ti:e& %ourage and self9onfiden9e are two 1ea9ons whi9h :ust never 1e e2tinguished on the 3ath to higher

nowledge& !o one will ever travel far who 9annot 1ring hi:self to re3eat+ over and over

again+ an e2er9ise whi9h has failed+ a33arently+ for a 9ountless nu:1er of ti:es&

Long 1efore any distin9t 3er9e3tion of 3rogress+ there rises+ in the student+ fro: the

hidden de3ths of the soul+ a feeling that he is on the right 3ath& This feeling should 1e

9herished and fostered+ for it 9an develo3 into a trustworthy guide& A1ove all it isi:3erative to e2tir3ate the idea that any fantasti9+ :ysterious 3ra9ti9es are reuired for

the attain:ent of higher nowledge& It :ust 1e 9learly reali0ed that a start has to 1e :ade

with the thoughts and feelings with whi9h we 9ontinually live+ and that these feelings and

thoughts are given a new dire9tion& Everyone :ust say to hi:self@ KIn :y own world ofthought and feeling+ the dee3est :ysteries lie hidden+ only hitherto I have 1een una1le to

3er9eive the:&HIn the end it all resolves itself into the fa9t that :an ordinarily 9arries

1ody+ soul and s3irit a1out with hi:+ and yet is 9ons9ious+ in a true sense+ only of his1ody+ and not of his soul and s3irit& The student 1e9o:es 9ons9ious of soul and s3irit+ Cust

as the ordinary 3erson is 9ons9ious of his 1ody& #en9e it is highly i:3ortant to give the

3ro3er dire9tion to thoughts and feelings+ for then only 9an the 3er9e3tion 1e develo3edof all that is invisi1le in ordinary life& One of the ways 1y whi9h this develo3:ent :ay 1e


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9arried out will now 1e indi9ated& Again+ lie al:ost everything else so far e23lained+ it is

uite a si:3le :atter& *et its results are of the greatest 9onseuen9e+ if the ne9essary

devotion and sy:3athy 1e a33lied&

Let the student 3la9e 1efore hi:self the s:all seed of a 3lant+ and while 9onte:3lating

this insignifi9ant o1Ce9t+ 9onstru9t with intensity+ the right ind of thoughts+ and throughthese thoughts develo3 9ertain feelings& In the first 3la9e let hi: 9learly gras3 what he

really sees with his eyes& Let hi: des9ri1e to hi:self the sha3e+ 9olour and all otherualities of the seed& Then let his :ind dwell u3on the following train of thought@ KOut of

the seed+ if 3lanted in the soil+ a 3lant of 9o:3le2 stru9ture will grow&HLet hi: 1uild u3

this 3lant in his i:agination+ and refle9t as follows@ KWhat I a: now 3i9turing to :yselfin :y i:agination+ will+ later on+ 1e drawn out of the seed 1y the for9es of the earth and

of light& If I had 1efore :e an artifi9ial o1Ce9t+ whi9h i:itated the seed to su9h a

de9e3tive degree that :y eyes 9ould not dete9t it fro: a real seed+ no for9es of the earthor of light 9ould avail to 3rodu9e fro: it a 3lant&HIf the student thoroughly gras3s this

thought so that it 1e9o:es an inward e23erien9e+ he will also 1e a1le to for: the

following thought and 9ou3le it with the right feeling@ KAll that will ulti:ately grow outof the seed is now se9retly enfolded within it+ as the for9e of the whole 3lant& In the

artifi9ial i:itation of the seed+ there is no su9h for9e 3resent& And yet 1oth a33ear alie to

:y eyes& The real seed therefore 9ontains so:ething invisi1le+ whi9h is not 3resent in the

i:itation&HIt is on this invisi1le so:ething that thought and feeling are to 1e9on9entrated& footnote@ KAnyone o1Ce9ting that a :i9ros9o3i9al e2a:ination would

reveal the differen9e 1etween the real seed and the i:itation+ would only show that he

had failed to gras3 the 3oint& The intention is not to investigate the 3hysi9al nature of theo1Ce9t+ 1ut to use it for the develo3:ent of 3sy9hi9 s3iritual for9es&J

Let the student fully reali0e that this invisi1le so:ething will trans:ute itself later on into

a visi1le 3lant+ whi9h he will have 1efore hi: in its sha3e and 9olour& Let hi: 9ling to thethought@ KThe invisi1le will 1e9o:e visi1le& If I 9ould not thin+ then that 9ould notalready :ae its 3resen9e felt to :e+ whi9h will only 1e9o:e visi1le later on&H"arti9ular

stress :ust 1e laid on the following 3oint@ what the student thins+ he :ust also feel with

intensity& In inner tranuillity+ the thought :entioned a1ove+ :ust 1e9o:e a 9ons9iousinner e23erien9e+ to the e29lusion of all other thoughts and distur1an9es& And suffi9ient

ti:e :ust 1e taen to allow the thought and the feeling whi9h is 9ou3led to it+ to 1ore

the:selves into the soul& If this 1e a99o:3lished in the right way+ then+ after a ti:e 3ossi1ly not until after nu:erous atte:3ts an inner for9e will :ae itself felt& This for9e

will 9reate new 3owers of 3er9e3tion& The grain of seed will a33ear as if envelo3ed in a

s:all lu:inous 9loud& In a sensi1lesu3ersensi1le way+ it will 1e felt as a ind of fla:e&

The 9entre of this fla:e evoes the sa:e feeling as when one is under the i:3ression ofthe 9olour lila9+ and the edges as when under the i:3ression of a 1luish tone& What was

for:erly invisi1le now 1e9o:es visi1le+ for it is 9reated 1y the 3ower of the thoughts and

the feelings we have stirred to life within ourselves& The 3lant itself will not 1e9o:evisi1le until later+ so that the 3hysi9ally invisi1le now reveals itself in a s3iritually visi1le

way&


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It is not sur3rising that all this a33ears to :any as illusion& KWhat is the use of su9h

visions+Hthey as+ Kand su9h hallu9inationsHAnd :any will thus fall away and a1andon

the 3ath& But this is 3re9isely the i:3ortant 3oint@ not to 9onfuse s3iritual reality withi:agination+ at this diffi9ult stage of hu:an evolution+ and further:ore+ to have the

9ourage to 3ress onward and not 1e9o:e ti:orous and fainthearted& On the other hand+

however+ the ne9essity :ust 1e e:3hasi0ed of :aintaining uni:3aired and of 3er3etually9ultivating that healthy sound sense whi9h distinguishes truth fro: illusion& Fully

9ons9ious self9ontrol :ust never 1e lost during all these e2er9ises+ and they :ust 1e

a99o:3anied 1y the sa:e sane+ sound thining whi9h is a33lied to the details of everydaylife& To la3se into reveries would 1e fatal& The intelle9tual 9larity+ not to say the so1riety

of thought+ :ust never for a :o:ent 1e dulled& The greatest :istae would 1e :ade+ if

the studentHs :ental 1alan9e were distur1ed through su9h e2er9ises+ or if he were

ha:3ered fro: Cudging the :atters of his daily life as sanely and as soundly as 1eforee should e2a:ine hi:self again and again to find out if he has re:ained unaltered in

relation to the 9ir9u:stan9es a:ong whi9h he lives+ or whether he :ay 3erha3s have

1e9o:e un1alan9ed& A1ove all+ stri9t 9are :ust 1e taen not to drift at rando: into vague

reveries+ or to e23eri:ent with all inds of e2er9ises& The trains of thought here indi9atedhave 1een tested and 3ra9tised in esoteri9 training sin9e the earliest ti:es+ and only su9h

are given in these 3ages& Anyone atte:3ting to use others devised 1y hi:self+ or of whi9hhe :ay have heard or read+ at one 3la9e or another+ will inevita1ly go astray and find

hi:self on the 3ath of 1ound less 9hi:era&

As a further e2er9ise+ to su99eed the one Cust des9ri1ed+ the following :ay 1e taen@ Let

the student 3la9e 1efore hi: a 3lant whi9h has attained the stage of full develo3:ent&!ow let hi: fill his :ind with the thought that the ti:e will 9o:e when this 3lant will

wither and die& K!othing will 1e left of what I now see 1efore :e& But this 3lant will have

develo3ed seeds+ whi9h+ in their turn+ will develo3 to new 3lants& I again 1e9o:e aware

that in that whi9h I see+ so:ething lies hidden whi9h I 9annot see& I fill :y :ind entirelywith the thought@ this 3lant+ with its for: and 9olours+ will in ti:e 1e no :ore& But the

refle9tion that it 3rodu9es seeds+ tea9hes :e that it will not disa33ear into nothing& I

9annot at 3resent see with :y eyes that whi9h guards it fro: disa33earan9e+ any :orethan I 3reviously 9ould dis9ern the 3lant in the grain of seeds& Thus there is so:ething in

the 3lant whi9h :y eyes 9annot see& If I let this thought live within :e+ and if the

9orres3onding feeling 1e 9ou3led with it+ then+ in due ti:e+ there will again develo3 in:y soul+ a for9e whi9h will ri3en into a new 3er9e3tion& KOut of the 3lant there again

grows a ind of s3iritual fla:efor:+ whi9h is+ of 9ourse+ 9orres3ondingly larger than the

one 3reviously des9ri1ed& The fla:e 9an 1e felt as 1eing greenish1lue in the 9entre+ andyellowishred at the outer edge&

It :ust 1e e23li9itly e:3hasi0ed that the 9olours here des9ri1ed are not seen as the

3hysi9al eyes see 9olours+ 1ut that through s3iritual 3er9e3tion+ the sa:e feeling is

e23erien9ed as in the 9ase of a 3hysi9al 9olouri:3ression& To a33rehend 1lue s3iritually+:eans to have a sensation si:ilar to the one e23erien9ed when the 3hysi9al eye rests on

the 9olour 1lue& This fa9t :ust 1e noted 1y all who intend to rise to s3iritual 3er9e3tion&

Otherwise they will e23e9t a :ere re3etition of the 3hysi9al in the s3iritual& This 9ouldonly lead to the 1itterest de9e3tion&


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Anyone having rea9hed this 3oint of s3iritual vision+ is the ri9her 1y a great deal+ for he

9an 3er9eive things not only in their 3resent state of 1eing+ 1ut also in their 3ro9ess of

growth and de9ay& #e 1egins to see in all things the s3irit+ of whi9h 3hysi9al eyes 9annow nothing& And therewith he has taen the first ste3 towards the gradual solution+

through 3ersonal vision+ of the se9ret of 1irth and death& Fur the outer senses a 1eing

9o:es into e2isten9e through 1irth+ and 3asses away through death& This+ however+ isonly 1e9ause these senses 9annot 3er9eive the 9on9ealed s3irit of the 1eing& For the s3irit+

1irth and death are :erely a transfor:ation+ Cust as the unfolding of the flower fro: the

1ud is a transfor:ation ena9ted 1efore our 3hysi9al eyes& But if we desire to learn thisthrough 3ersonal vision we :ust first awaen the reuisite s3iritual sense in the way here

indi9ated&

In order to :eet another o1Ce9tion+ whi9h :ay 1e raised 1y 9ertain 3eo3le who have so:e

3sy9hi9 e23erien9e+ let it at on9e 1e ad:itted that there are shorter and si:3ler ways+ andthat there are 3ersons who have a9uired nowledge of the 3heno:ena of 1irth and death

through 3ersonal vision+ without first going through all that has here 1een des9ri1ed&

There are+ in fa9t+ 3eo3le with 9onsidera1le 3sy9hi9 gifts+ who need 1ut a slight i:3ulsein order to find the:selves already develo3ed& But they are the e29e3tions+ and the

:ethods des9ri1ed a1ove are safer and a33ly eually to all& It is 3ossi1le to a9uire so:e

nowledge of 9he:istry in an e29e3tional way+ 1ut if you wish to 1e9o:e a 9he:ist+ you

:ust follow the re9ogni0ed and relia1le 9ourse&

An error fraught with serious results would ensue+ if it were assu:ed that the desired

result 9ould 1e rea9hed :ore easily+ if the grain of seed or the 3lant :entioned a1ove+

were :erely i:agined+ were :erely 3i9tured in the i:agination& This :ight lead to

results+ 1ut not so surely as the :ethod here given& The vision thus attained would+ in:ost 9ases+ 1e a :ere fig:ent of the i:agination+ the transfor:ation of whi9h into

genuine s3iritual vision+ would still re:ain to 1e a99o:3lished& It is not intendedar1itrarily to 9reate visions+ 1ut to allow reality to 9reate the: within oneself& The truth:ust well u3 fro: the de3ths of our own soul it :ay not 1e 9onCured forth 1y our

ordinary Ego+ 1ut 1y the 1eings the:selves+ whose s3iritual truth we are to 9onte:3late&

On9e the student has found the rudi:ents of s3iritual vision 1y :eans of su9h e2er9ises+

he :ay 3ro9eed to the 9onte:3lation of :an hi:self& i:3le a33earan9es of hu:an life:ust first 1e 9hosen& But 1efore :aing any atte:3ts in this dire9tion+ it is i:3erative for

the student to strive for the a1solute 3urity of his :oral 9hara9ter& #e :ust 1anish all

thought of ever using nowledge gained in this way for his own 3ersonal 1enefit& There:ust 1e no fear in his :ind that he would ever+ under any 9ir9u:stan9es+ avail hi:self in

a sense that is evil+ of any 3ower he :ay gain over his fellow9reatures& For this reason+

all who see to dis9over through 3ersonal vision the se9rets in hu:an nature+ :ust followthe golden rule of true 3iritual 9ien9e& This golden rule is as follows@ For every one

ste3 that you tae in the 3ursuit of higher nowledge+ tae three ste3s in the 3erfe9tion of

your own 9hara9ter& If this rule 1e o1served+ su9h e2er9ises as the following :ay 1e

atte:3ted@


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Re9all to :ind so:e 3erson who: you :ay have o1served when he was filled with

desire for so:e o1Ce9t& Dire9t your attention to this desire& It is 1est to re9all to :e:ory

that :o:ent when the desire was at its height+ and it was still un9ertain whether theo1Ce9t of the desire would 1e attained& And now fill your :ind with this re9olle9tion+ and

refle9t on what you 9an thus o1serve& )aintain the ut:ost inner tranuillity& )ae the

greatest 3ossi1le effort to 1e 1lind and deaf to everything that :ay 1e going on aroundyou+ and tae s3e9ial heed that through the 9on9e3tion thus evoed+ a feeling should

awaen in your soul& Allow this feeling to rise in your soul lie a 9loud on the 9loudless

hori0on& As a rule+ of 9ourse+ your refle9tion will 1e interru3ted+ 1e9ause the 3ersonwho: it 9on9erns+ was not o1served in this 3arti9ular state of soul for a suffi9ient length

of ti:e& The atte:3t will :ost liely fail hundreds and hundreds of ti:es& It is Cust a

uestion of not losing 3atien9e& After :any atte:3ts you will su99eed in e23erien9ing a

feeling in your soul 9orr

knowledge of the higher worlds rudoph steiner

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