Knowledge of the Higher Worlds - Rudolf Steiner

7/29/2019 Knowledge of the Higher Worlds - Rudolf Steiner

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KNOWLEDGE OF THEHIGHER WORLDS

AND ITS ATTAINMENT

By RUDOLF STEINER

(Translation of Wie erlangt man Erkenntnisse der hoheren Welten?)

ANTHROPOSOPHIC PRESS Ne! "ork

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Preared at sa*red+te,ts-*om No.em/er 011'- This te,t is in the 2/li* domain in the 3nitedStates /e*a2se the original te,t !as 2/lished rior to $%04 and the translation !hi*h !as

2/lished in the 3S in $%&' sho!s no *o5right rene!al as re62ired /5 la! at the time-These files ma5 /e 2sed for an5 2rose-

A2thori7ed English Translation /5 8eorge 9eta,a- Re.ised /5 Henr5 :- and ;isa


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CONTENTS

Prefa*e to the Edition of 9a5 $%$=Prefa*e to the Si,th Edition

Prefa*e to the Third EditionI- Ho! is >no!ledge Of The Higher Worlds Attained?II- The Stages of InitiationIII- Some Pra*ti*al Ase*tsI- The Conditions of Esoteri* Training- Some Res2lts of InitiationI- The Transformation of


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Preface to the Edto! of May "#"$

In !orking o.er this ne! edition I fo2nd onl5 minor *hanges in its s2/stan*e ne*essar5 /2t Iha.e added an aendi, in !hi*h I ha.e endea.ored to e,lain more *learl5 thes5*hologi*al fo2ndations to !hi*h the dis*los2res *ontained in the /ook m2st /e tra*ed ifthe5 are to /e a**eted !itho2t risk of mis2nderstanding- I /elie.e that the *ontents of the

aendi, !ill also ser.e to sho! man5 an oonent of anthroosohi*al sirit2al s*ien*ethat his B2dgment is /ased 2on a mis*on*etion of the nat2re of this sirit2al s*ien*e that hedoes not see !hat it reall5 is-

R2dolh Steiner

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Preface to the S%th Edto!

In rearing this ne! edition of >no!ledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment I ha.egone o.er e.er5 detail of the s2/Be*t as I had resented it o.er ten 5ears ago- The 2rge tomake s2*h a re.ie! is nat2ral in the *ase of dis*los2res *on*erning so2l e,erien*es andaths s2*h as are indi*ated in this /ook- There *an /e no ortion of !hat is imarted !hi*h

does not remain intimatel5 a art of the one !ho *omm2ni*ates it or !hi*h does not *ontainsomething that eret2all5 !orks 2on his so2l- And it is ine.ita/le that this !ork of the so2lsho2ld /e Boined /5 an endea.or to enhan*e the *larit5 and l2*idit5 of the resentation asgi.en 5ears /efore- This engendered !hat I ha.e endea.ored to a**omlish in this ne!edition- All the essential elements of

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the e,ositions all the rin*ial oints ha.e remained as the5 !ere 5et imortant *hangesha.e /een made- In man5 assages I ha.e /een a/le to in*rease the a**2ra*5 of

*hara*teri7ation in detail and this seemed to me imortant- If an5one !ishes to al5 !hat isimarted in this /ook to his o!n sirit2al life it is imortant that he sho2ld /e a/le to*ontemlate the aths in 62estion /5 means of a *hara*teri7ation as e,a*t as ossi/le-9is*on*etions *an arise in far greater meas2re in *onne*tion !ith the des*rition of innersirit2al ro*esses than !ith that of fa*ts in the h5si*al !orld- The mo/ilit5 of the so2l lifethe danger of losing sight of ho! different it is from all life in the h5si*al !orld++this andm2*h else renders s2*h mis2nderstandings ossi/le- In rearing this ne! edition I ha.edire*ted m5 attention to finding assages in !hi*h mis*on*etions might arise and I ha.eendea.ored to forestall them-

At the time I !rote the essa5s that *onstit2te this /ook m2*h had to /e dis*2ssed in adifferent !a5 from toda5 /e*a2se at that time I had to all2de in a different manner to thes2/stan*e of !hat had /een 2/lished sin*e then *on*erning fa*ts of *ognition of the sirit2al!orlds- In m5 O**2lt

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#aragrah *ontin2es S*ien*e in The Sirit2al 82idan*e of 9ankind in A Road to Self+>no!ledge and the Threshold of the Sirit2al World as !ell as in other !ritings sirit2alro*esses are des*ri/ed !hose e,isten*e to /e s2re !as alread5 ine.ita/l5 indi*ated in this/ook ten 5ears ago /2t in !ords differing from those that seem right toda5- In *onne*tion

!ith a great deal not des*ri/ed in this /ook I had to e,lain at that time that it *o2ld /elearned /5 oral *omm2ni*ation- 92*h of !hat this referred to has sin*e /een 2/lished- :2tthese all2sions erhas did not !holl5 e,*l2de the ossi/ilit5 of erroneo2s ideas in thereaders mind- It might /e ossi/le for instan*e to imagine that something m2*h more .italin the ersonal relations /et!een the seeker for sirit2al s*hooling and this or that tea*herthan is intended- I tr2st I ha.e here s2**eeded /5 resenting details in a *ertain !a5 inemhasi7ing more strongl5 that for one seeking sirit2al s*hooling in a**ord !ith resentsirit2al *onditions an a/sol2tel5 dire*t relation to the o/Be*ti.e sirit2al !orld is of far


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greater imortan*e than a relation to the ersonalit5 of a tea*her- The latter !ill grad2all5/e*ome merel5 the heler he !ill ass2me the same osition in sirit2al

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s*hooling as a tea*her o**2ies in *onformit5 !ith modern .ie!s in an5 other field of

kno!ledge- I /elie.e I ha.e s2ffi*ientl5 stressed the fa*t that the tea*hers a2thorit5 and the2ils faith in him sho2ld la5 no greater art in sirit2al s*hooling than in an5 other /ran*hof kno!ledge or life- A great deal deends its seems to me 2on an in*reasingl5 tr2eestimate of this relation /et!een the one !ho *arries on sirit2al resear*h and those !hode.elo an interest in the res2lts of his resear*h- Th2s I /elie.e I ha.e imro.ed the /ook!here.er I !as in a osition after ten 5ears to find !hat needs imro.ing-

A se*ond art is to /e added to this first art /ringing f2rther e,lanations of the frame ofmind that *an lead a man to the e,erien*e of the higher !orlds-

The ne! edition of the /ook the rinting *omleted la5 /efore me !hen the great !ar no!/eing e,erien*ed /5 mankind /roke o2t- I m2st !rite these refator5 remarks !hile m5 so2lis deel5 mo.ed /5 the destin5+laden e.ent-

R2dolh Steiner

:erlin Setem/er ' $%$&-

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Preface to the Thrd Edto!

Here!ith aear in /ook form m5 e,ositions originall5 2/lished as single essa5s 2nder thetitle >no!ledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment- Dor the resent this .ol2me offersthe first art one that is to follo! !ill *onstit2te the *ontin2ation- This !ork on ade.eloment of man that !ill ena/le him to gras the s2ersensi/le !orlds *annot /e

resented to the 2/li* in a ne! form !itho2t *ertain *omments !hi*h I shall no! make- The*omm2ni*ations it *ontains *on*erning the de.eloment of the h2man so2l are intended tofill .ario2s needs-

Dirst of all something is to /e offered those eole !ho feel dra!n to the res2lts of sirit2alresear*h and !ho m2st raise the 62estion FWell !hen*e do these ersons deri.e theirkno!ledge

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!ho *laim the a/ilit5 to tell 2s something of the rofo2nd riddles of life?F++Sirit2al s*ien*edoes this- Whoe.er !ishes to o/ser.e the fa*ts leading to s2*h *laims m2st rise tos2ersensi/le *ognition- He m2st follo! the ath I ha.e endea.ored to des*ri/e in this /ook-On the other hand it !o2ld /e an error to imagine these dis*los2res of sirit2al s*ien*e to /e.al2eless for one !ho la*ks the in*lination or the ossi/ilit5 to 2rs2e this ath himself- Inorder to esta/lish the fa*ts thro2gh resear*h the a/ilit5 to enter the s2ersensi/le !orlds isindisensa/le /2t on*e the5 ha.e /een dis*o.ered and *omm2ni*ated e.en one !ho doesnot er*ei.e them himself *an /e ade62atel5 *on.in*ed of their tr2th- A large roortion ofthem *an /e tested offhand siml5 /5 al5ing ordinar5 *ommon sense in a gen2inel52nreB2di*ed !a5- Onl5 one m2st not let this oen+mindedness /e*ome *onf2sed /5 an5 of

the re+*on*ei.ed ideas so *ommon in h2man life- Someone *an easil5 /elie.e for e,amlethat some statement or other *ontradi*ts *ertain fa*ts esta/lished /5 modern s*ien*e- Inrealit5 there is no s2*h thing as a s*ientifi* fa*t that *ontradi*ts sirit2al s*ien*e /2t there *aneasil5 seem to /e *ontradi*tions 2nless

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s*ientifi* *on*l2sions are *ons2lted a/2ndantl5 and !itho2t reB2di*e- The st2dent !ill findthat the more oen+mindedl5 he *omares sirit2al s*ien*e !ith ositi.e s*ientifi*a*hie.ements the more *learl5 is *omlete a**ord to /e seen-

Another *ategor5 of sirit2al+s*ientifi* dis*los2res it is tr2e !ill /e fo2nd to el2de 2rel5mental B2dgment more or less /2t the right relation to these also !ill /e a*hie.ed !itho2tgreat diffi*2lt5 /5 one !ho 2nderstands that not the mind alone /2t health5 feeling as !ell is62alified to determine !hat is tr2e- And !hen this feeling does not ermit itself to /e !ared/5 a liking or antiath5 for some oinion or other /2t reall5 allo!s higher kno!ledge to a*t!itho2t reB2di*e a *orresonding sentient B2dgment res2lts-

And there are man5 more !a5s of *onfirming this kno!ledge for those !ho *annot or do not


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!ish to tread the ath into the s2ersensi/le !orld- S2*h eole *an feel .er5 *learl5 !hat.al2e this kno!ledge has in life e.en !hen it *omes to them onl5 thro2gh the*omm2ni*ations of those engaged in sirit2al resear*h- Not e.er5one *an immediatel5a*hie.e sirit2al .ision /2t the dis*o.eries of those !ho ha.e it *an /e health+gi.ing life+no2rishment

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for all- Dor e.er5one *an al5 them and !hoe.er does so !ill soon dis*o.er !hat life ine.er5 /ran*h *an /e !ith their aid and !hat it la*ks !itho2t them- The res2lts ofs2ersensi/le kno!ledge !hen roerl5 emlo5ed in life ro.e to /e++not 2nra*ti*al /2trather ra*ti*al in the highest sense-

One !ho does not himself intend to follo! the ath to higher kno!ledge /2t is interested inthe fa*ts it re.eals *an ask Ho! does the seer arri.e at these fa*ts? To s2*h a one this /ook isintended to i*t2re the ath in s2*h a !a5 that e.en one not follo!ing it *an ne.ertheless

ha.e *onfiden*e in the *omm2ni*ations of the erson !ho has done so- Reali7ing ho! thesirit2al s*ientist !orks he *an aro.e and sa5 to himself The imression made 2on me/5 the des*rition of this ath to higher !orlds makes *lear !h5 the fa*ts reorted seemreasona/le- Th2s this /ook is intended to hel those !ho !ant their sense of tr2th and feelingfor tr2th *on*erning the s2ersensi/le !orld strengthened and ass2red-

No less ho!e.er does it aim to offer aid to those !ho themsel.es seek the !a5 tos2ersensi/le kno!ledge- The tr2th of !hat is here set

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forth !ill /est /e .erified /5 those !ho a*hie.e its realit5 !ithin themsel.es- An5one !iththis intention !ill do !ell to kee reminding himself that in an e,osition on thede.eloment of the so2l more is *alled for than /e*oming a*62ainted !ith the s2/stan*e!hi*h is fre62entl5 the aim in other e,ositions- It is ne*essar5 to familiari7e oneselfintimatel5 !ith the resentation- One m2st ost2late the follo!ing no single matter is to /e*omrehended onl5 /5 means of !hat is said a/o2t the matter itself /2t /5 means of m2*helse that is dis*losed *on*erning totall5 different matters- This !ill de.elo the *on*etionthat !hat is .ital is to /e fo2nd not in an5 single tr2th /2t in the harmon5 of all tr2ths- Thism2st /e serio2sl5 *onsidered /5 an5one intending to *arr5 o2t the e,er*ises- An e,er*ise *an/e rightl5 2nderstood and e.en rightl5 e,e*2ted and 5et rod2*e a !rong effe*t 2nless

another /e added to it++one that !ill resol.e the one+sidedness of the first into a harmon5 ofthe so2l- Whoe.er reads this /ook in an intimate !a5 so that the reading resem/les an innere,erien*e !ill not merel5 familiari7e himself !ith its *ontent one assage !ill e.oke a*ertain feeling another assage another feeling

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and in that !a5 he !ill learn ho! m2*h imortan*e sho2ld /e seen in the one or the other in


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the de.eloment of his so2l- He !ill also find o2t in !hat form he sho2ld tr5 this or thate,er*ise !hat form /est s2its his arti*2lar indi.id2alit5- When one has to do as is the *asehere !ith des*ritions of ro*esses that are to /e e,erien*ed it is ne*essar5 to refer againand again to the *ontent for it !ill /e*ome manifest that m2*h *an /e satisfa*toril5assimilated onl5 after trial !hi*h in t2rn re.eals *ertain finer oints that at first are /o2nd to/e o.erlooked-

E.en those readers !ho do not intend to take the !a5 res*ri/ed !ill find m2*h in the /ookthat *an /e of ser.i*e to the inner life s2*h as ma,ims s2ggestions that thro! light on.ario2s 277ling ro/lems and so on-

And those !ho ha.e had e,erien*es in their li.es that ser.e to some e,tent as an initiationthro2gh life ma5 deri.e a *ertain satisfa*tion from finding *larified thro2gh *o+ordination!hat had ha2nted them as searate ro/lems++things the5 alread5 kne! /2t erhas!itho2t ha.ing /een a/le to *onsolidate them in ade62ate *on*etions-

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I

HOW IS KNOWLEDGE OF THE HIGHER WORLDS ATTAINED&

Conditions

THERE sl2m/er in e.er5 h2man /eing fa*2lties /5 means of !hi*h he *an a*62ire for himselfa kno!ledge of higher !orlds- 95sti*s 8nosti*s Theosohists++all seak of a !orld of so2land sirit !hi*h for them is B2st as real as the !orld !e see !ith o2r h5si*al e5es and to2*h!ith o2r h5si*al hands- At e.er5 moment the listener ma5 sa5 to himself that of !hi*h the5seak I too *an learn if I de.elo !ithin m5self *ertain o!ers !hi*h toda5 still sl2m/er!ithin me- There remains onl5 one 62estion++ho! to set to !ork to de.elo s2*h fa*2lties-

Dor this 2rose the5 onl5 *an gi.e ad.i*e !ho alread5 ossess s2*h o!ers- As long as theh2man ra*e has e,isted there has al!a5s /een a method of training in the *o2rse of !hi*hindi.id2als

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ossessing these higher fa*2lties ga.e instr2*tion to others !ho !ere in sear*h of them- S2*ha training is *alled o**2lt (esoteri*) training and the instr2*tion re*ei.ed therefrom is *alledo**2lt (esoteri*) tea*hing or sirit2al s*ien*e- This designation nat2rall5 a!akensmis2nderstanding- The one !ho hears it ma5 .er5 easil5 /e misled into the /elief that thistraining is the *on*ern of a se*ial ri.ileged *lass !ithholding its kno!ledge ar/itraril5from its fello!+*reat2res- He ma5 e.en think that nothing of real imortan*e lies /ehind s2*hkno!ledge for if it !ere a tr2e kno!ledge++he is temted to think++there !o2ld /e no need ofmaking a se*ret of it it might /e 2/li*l5 imarted and its ad.antages made a**essi/le to all-Those !ho ha.e /een initiated into the nat2re of this higher kno!ledge are not in the leasts2rrised that the 2ninitiated sho2ld so think for the se*ret of initiation *an onl5 /e2nderstood /5 those !ho ha.e to a *ertain degree e,erien*ed this initiation into the higherkno!ledge of e,isten*e- The 62estion ma5 /e raised ho! then 2nder these *ir*2mstan*esare the 2ninitiated to de.elo an5 h2man interest in this so+*alled esoteri* kno!ledge?

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#aragrah *ontin2es Ho! and !h5 are the5 to seek for something of !hose nat2re the5 *anform no idea? S2*h a 62estion is /ased 2on an entirel5 erroneo2s *on*etion of the realnat2re of esoteri* kno!ledge- There is in tr2th no differen*e /et!een esoteri* kno!ledgeand all the rest of mans kno!ledge and rofi*ien*5- This esoteri* kno!ledge is no more of ase*ret for the a.erage h2man /eing than !riting is a se*ret for those !ho ha.e ne.er learnedit- And B2st as all *an learn to !rite !ho *hoose the *orre*t method so too *an all !ho seekthe right !a5 /e*ome esoteri* st2dents and e.en tea*hers- In one rese*t onl5 do the


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*onditions here differ from those that al5 to e,ternal kno!ledge and rofi*ien*5- Theossi/ilit5 of a*62iring the art of !riting ma5 /e !ithheld from someone thro2gh o.ert5 orthro2gh the *onditions of *i.ili7ation into !hi*h he is /orn /2t for the attainment ofkno!ledge and rofi*ien*5 in the higher !orlds there is no o/sta*le for those !ho earnestl5seek them-

9an5 /elie.e that the5 m2st seek at one la*e or another the masters of higher kno!ledgein order to re*ei.e enlightenment- No! in the first la*e !hoe.er stri.es earnestl5 afterhigher

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kno!ledge !ill sh2n no e,ertion and fear no o/sta*le in his sear*h for an initiate !ho *anlead him to the higher kno!ledge of the !orld- On the other hand e.er5one ma5 /e *ertainthat initiation !ill find him 2nder all *ir*2mstan*es if he gi.es roof of an earnest and !orth5endea.or to attain this kno!ledge- It is a nat2ral la! among all initiates to !ithhold from no

man the kno!ledge that is d2e him /2t there is an e62all5 nat2ral la! !hi*h la5s do!n thatno !ord of esoteri* kno!ledge shall /e imarted to an5one not 62alified to re*ei.e it- Andthe more stri*tl5 he o/ser.es these la!s the more erfe*t is an initiate- The /ond of 2nionem/ra*ing all initiates is sirit2al and not e,ternal /2t the t!o la!s here mentioned form asit !ere strong *lass /5 !hi*h the *omonent arts of this /ond are held together- "o2 ma5li.e in intimate friendshi !ith an initiate and 5et a ga se.ers 5o2 from his essential self solong as 5o2 ha.e not /e*ome an initiate 5o2rself- "o2 ma5 enBo5 in the f2llest sense the heartthe lo.e of an initiate 5et he !ill onl5 *onfide his kno!ledge to 5o2 !hen 5o2 are rie for it-"o2 ma5 flatter him 5o2 ma5 tort2re him nothing *an ind2*e him to /etra5 an5thing

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to 5o2 as long as 5o2 at the resent stage of 5o2r e.ol2tion are not *ometent to re*ei.e itinto 5o2r so2l in the right !a5-

The methods /5 !hi*h a st2dent is reared for the re*etion of higher kno!ledge aremin2tel5 res*ri/ed- The dire*tion he is to take is tra*ed !ith 2nfading e.erlasting letters inthe !orlds of the sirit !here the initiates g2ard the higher se*rets- In an*ient times anteriorto o2r histor5 the temles of the sirit !ere also o2t!ardl5 .isi/le toda5 /e*a2se o2r lifehas /e*ome so 2nsirit2al the5 are not to /e fo2nd in the !orld .isi/le to e,ternal sight 5etthe5 are resent sirit2all5 e.er5!here and all !ho seek ma5 find them-

Onl5 !ithin his o!n so2l *an a man find the means to 2nseal the lis of an initiate- He m2stde.elo !ithin himself *ertain fa*2lties to a definite degree and then the highest treas2res ofthe sirit *an /e*ome his o!n-

He m2st /egin !ith a *ertain f2ndamental attit2de of so2l- In sirit2al s*ien*e thisf2ndamental attit2de is *alled the ath of .eneration of de.otion to tr2th and kno!ledge-Witho2t this attit2de no one *an /e*ome a st2dent- The disosition


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sho!n in their *hildhood /5 s2/se62ent st2dents of higher kno!ledge is !ell kno!n to thee,erien*ed in these matters- There are *hildren !ho look 2 !ith religio2s a!e to those!hom the5 .enerate- Dor s2*h eole the5 ha.e a rese*t !hi*h for/ids them e.en in the

deeest re*ess of their heart to har/or an5 tho2ght of *riti*ism or oosition- S2*h *hildrengro! 2 into 5o2ng men and !omen !ho feel ha5 !hen the5 are a/le to look 2 toan5thing that fills them !ith .eneration- Drom the ranks of s2*h *hildren are re*r2ited man5st2dents of higher kno!ledge- Ha.e 5o2 e.er a2sed o2tside the door of some .eneratederson and ha.e 5o2 on this 5o2r first .isit felt a religio2s a!e as 5o2 ressed on the handleto enter the room !hi*h for 5o2 is a hol5 la*e? If so a feeling has /een manifested !ithin5o2 !hi*h ma5 /e the germ of 5o2r f2t2re adheren*e to the ath of kno!ledge- It is a/lessing for e.er5 h2man /eing in ro*ess of de.eloment to ha.e s2*h feelings 2on !hi*hto /2ild- Onl5 it m2st not /e tho2ght that this disosition leads to s2/missi.eness andsla.er5- What !as on*e a *hildlike .eneration for ersons /e*omes later a .eneration for

tr2th and kno!ledge-

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#aragrah *ontin2es E,erien*e tea*hes that the5 *an /est hold their heads ere*t !ho ha.elearnt to .enerate !here .eneration is d2e and .eneration is al!a5s fitting !hen it flo!sfrom the deths of the heart-

If !e do not de.elo !ithin o2rsel.es this deel5 rooted feeling that there is somethinghigher than o2rsel.es !e shall ne.er find the strength to e.ol.e to something higher- The

initiate has onl5 a*62ired the strength to lift his head to the heights of kno!ledge /5 g2idinghis heart to the deths of .eneration and de.otion- The heights of the sirit *an onl5 /e*lim/ed /5 assing thro2gh the ortals of h2milit5- "o2 *an onl5 a*62ire right kno!ledge!hen 5o2 ha.e learnt to esteem it- 9an has *ertainl5 the right to t2rn his e5es to the light /2the m2st first a*62ire this right- There are la!s in the sirit2al life as in the h5si*al life- R2/a glass rod !ith an aroriate material and it !ill /e*ome ele*tri* that is it !ill re*ei.e theo!er of attra*ting small /odies- This is in keeing !ith a la! of nat2re- It is kno!n to all!ho ha.e learnt a little h5si*s- Similarl5 a*62aintan*e !ith the first rin*iles of sirit2als*ien*e sho!s that e.er5

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feeling of tr2e de.otion har/ored in the so2l de.elos a o!er !hi*h ma5 sooner or laterlead f2rther on the ath of kno!ledge-

The st2dent !ho is gifted !ith this feeling or !ho is fort2nate eno2gh to ha.e had itin*2l*ated in a s2ita/le ed2*ation /rings a great deal along !ith him !hen later in life heseeks admittan*e to higher kno!ledge- Dailing s2*h rearation he !ill en*o2nter diffi*2ltiesat the .er5 first ste 2nless he 2ndertakes /5 rigoro2s self+ed2*ation to *reate !ithin


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himself this inner life of de.otion- In o2r time it is ese*iall5 imortant that f2ll attention /eaid to this oint- O2r *i.ili7ation tends more to!ard *riti*al B2dgment and *ondemnationthan to!ard de.otion and selfless .eneration- O2r *hildren alread5 *riti*i7e far more thanthe5 !orshi- :2t e.er5 *riti*ism e.er5 ad.erse B2dgment assed diserses the o!ers ofthe so2l for the attainment of higher kno!ledge in the same meas2re that all .eneration andre.eren*e de.elos them- In this !e do not !ish to sa5 an5thing against o2r *i.ili7ation-

There is no 62estion here of le.eling *riti*ism against it- To this *riti*al fa*2lt5 this self+*ons*io2s h2man B2dgment this Ftest all things and

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hold fast !hat is /estF !e o!e the greatness of o2r *i.ili7ation- 9an *o2ld ne.er ha.eattained to the s*ien*e the ind2str5 the *ommer*e the rights relationshis of o2r time hadhe not alied to all things the standard of his *riti*al B2dgment- :2t !hat !e ha.e there/5gained in e,ternal *2lt2re !e ha.e had to a5 for !ith a *orresonding loss of higherkno!ledge of sirit2al life- It m2st /e emhasi7ed that higher kno!ledge is not *on*erned

!ith the .eneration of ersons /2t the .eneration of tr2th and kno!ledge-

No! the one thing that e.er5one m2st a*kno!ledge is the diffi*2lt5 for those in.ol.ed in thee,ternal *i.ili7ation of o2r time to ad.an*e to the kno!ledge of the higher !orlds- The5 *anonl5 do so if the5 !ork energeti*all5 at themsel.es- At a time !hen the *onditions of materiallife !ere simler the attainment of sirit2al kno!ledge !as also easier- O/Be*ts of .enerationand !orshi stood o2t in *learer relief from the ordinar5 things of the !orld- In an eo*h of*riti*ism ideals are lo!ered other feelings take the la*e of .eneration rese*t adorationand !onder- O2r o!n age thr2sts these feelings f2rther

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and f2rther into the /a*kgro2nd so that the5 *an onl5 /e *on.e5ed to man thro2gh his e.er5+da5 life in a .er5 small degree- Whoe.er seeks higher kno!ledge m2st *reate it for himself-He m2st instill it into his so2l- It *annot /e done /5 st2d5 it *an onl5 /e done thro2gh life-Whoe.er therefore !ishes to /e*ome a st2dent of higher kno!ledge m2st assid2o2sl5*2lti.ate this inner life of de.otion- E.er5!here in his en.ironment and his e,erien*es hem2st seek moti.es of admiration and homage- If I meet a man and /lame him for hisshort*omings I ro/ m5self of o!er to attain higher kno!ledge /2t if I tr5 to enter lo.ingl5into his merits I gather s2*h o!er- The st2dent m2st *ontin2all5 /e intent 2on follo!ingthis ad.i*e- The sirit2all5 e,erien*ed kno! ho! m2*h the5 o!e to the *ir*2mstan*e that in

fa*e of all things the5 e.er again t2rn to the good and !ithhold ad.erse B2dgment- :2t thism2st not remain an e,ternal r2le of life rather it m2st take ossession of o2r innermost so2l-9an has it in his o!er to erfe*t himself and in time *omletel5 to transform himself- :2tthis transformation m2st take la*e in his innermost self in his tho2ght+life-

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#aragrah *ontin2es It is not eno2gh that I sho! rese*t onl5 in m5 o2t!ard /earing I


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m2st ha.e this rese*t in m5 tho2ghts- The st2dent m2st /egin /5 a/sor/ing this de.otioninto this tho2ght+life- He m2st /e !ar5 of tho2ghts of disrese*t of ad.erse *riti*ism e,istingin his *ons*io2sness and he m2st endea.or straighta!a5 to *2lti.ate tho2ghts of de.otion-

E.er5 moment that !e set o2rsel.es to dis*o.er in o2r *ons*io2sness !hate.er there remainsin it of ad.erse disaraging and *riti*al B2dgement of the !orld and of life e.er5 s2*h

moment /rings 2s nearer to higher kno!ledge- And !e rise raidl5 !hen !e fill o2r*ons*io2sness in s2*h moments !ith tho2ghts e.oking in 2s admiration rese*t and.eneration for the !orld and for life- It is !ell kno!n to those e,erien*ed in these mattersthat in e.er5 s2*h moment o!ers are a!akened !hi*h other!ise remain dormant- In this!a5 the sirit2al e5es of man are oened- He /egins to see things aro2nd him !hi*h he *o2ldnot ha.e seen /efore- He /egins to 2nderstand that hitherto he had onl5 seen a art of the!orld aro2nd him- A h2man /eing standing /efore him no! resents a ne! and

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different ase*t- Of *o2rse this r2le of life alone !ill not 5et ena/le him to see for instan*e!hat is des*ri/ed as the h2man a2ra /e*a2se for this still higher training is ne*essar5- :2t he*an rise to this higher training if he has re.io2sl5 2ndergone a rigoro2s training in de.otion-(In the last *hater of his /ook Theosoh5 the a2thor des*ri/es f2ll5 the Path of >no!ledgehere it is intended to gi.e some ra*ti*al details-)

Noiseless and 2nnoti*ed /5 the o2ter !orld is the treading of the Path of >no!ledge- No*hange need /e noti*ed in the st2dent- He erforms his d2ties as hitherto he attends to his/2siness as /efore- The transformation goes on onl5 in the inner art of the so2l hidden fromo2t!ard sight- At first his entire inner life is flooded /5 this /asi* feeling of de.otion for

e.er5thing !hi*h is tr2l5 .enera/le- His entire so2l+life finds in this f2ndamental feeling itsi.ot- 2st as the s2ns ra5s .i.if5 e.er5thing li.ing so does re.eren*e in the st2dent .i.if5all feelings of the so2l-

It is not eas5 at first to /elie.e that feelings like re.eren*e and rese*t ha.e an5thing to do

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!ith *ognition- This is d2e to the fa*t that !e are in*lined to set *ognition aside as a fa*2lt5 /5itself++one that stands in no relation to !hat other!ise o**2rs in the so2l- In so thinking !e donot /ear in mind that it is the so2l !hi*h e,er*ises the fa*2lt5 of *ognition and feelings are

for the so2l !hat food is for the /od5- If !e gi.e the /od5 stones in la*e of /read its a*ti.it5!ill *ease- It is the same !ith the so2l- eneration homage de.otion are like n2trimentmaking it health5 and strong ese*iall5 strong for the a*ti.it5 of *ognition-


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intelligen*e of fa*ts in its en.ironment of !hi*h it had hitherto no idea- Re.eren*e a!akens inthe so2l a s5matheti*

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o!er thro2gh !hi*h !e attra*t 62alities in the /eings aro2nd 2s !hi*h !o2ld other!ise

remain *on*ealed-

The o!er o/tained thro2gh de.otion *an /e rendered still more effe*ti.e !hen the life offeeling is enri*hed /5 5et another 62alit5- This *onsists in gi.ing oneself 2 less and less toimressions of the o2ter !orld and to de.elo instead a .i.id inner life- A erson !ho dartsfrom one imression of the o2ter !orld to another !ho *onstantl5 seeks distra*tion *annotfind the !a5 to higher kno!ledge- The st2dent m2st not /l2nt himself to the o2ter !orld /2t!hile lending himself to its imressions he sho2ld /e dire*ted /5 his ri*h inner life- Whenassing thro2gh a /ea2tif2l mo2ntain distri*t the tra.eler !ith deth of so2l and !ealth offeeling has different e,erien*es from one !ho is oor in feeling- Onl5 !hat !e e,erien*e

!ithin o2rsel.es 2nlo*ks for 2s the /ea2ties of the o2ter !orld- One erson sails a*ross theo*ean and onl5 a fe! in!ard e,erien*es ass thro2gh his so2l another !ill hear the eternallang2age of the *osmi* sirit for him are 2n.eiled the m5sterio2s riddles of e,isten*e- Wem2st learn to remain in

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to2*h !ith o2r o!n feelings and ideas if !e !ish to de.elo an5 intimate relationshi !iththe o2ter !orld- The o2ter !orld !ith all its henomena is filled !ith slendor /2t !e m2stha.e e,erien*ed the di.ine !ithin o2rsel.es /efore !e *an hoe to dis*o.er it in o2r

en.ironment-

The st2dent is told to set aart moments in his dail5 life in !hi*h to !ithdra! into himself62ietl5 and alone- He is not to o**25 himself at s2*h moments !ith the affairs of his o!nego- This !o2ld res2lt in the *ontrar5 of !hat is intended- He sho2ld rather let hise,erien*es and the messages from the o2ter !orld re+e*ho !ithin his o!n *omletel5 silentself- At s2*h silent moments e.er5 flo!er e.er5 animal e.er5 a*tion !ill 2n.eil to himse*rets 2ndreamt of- And th2s he !ill reare himself to re*ei.e 62ite ne! imressions of theo2ter !orld thro2gh 62ite different e5es- The desire to enBo5 imression after imressionmerel5 /l2nts the fa*2lt5 of *ognition the latter ho!e.er is n2rt2red and *2lti.ated if theenBo5ment on*e e,erien*ed is allo!ed to re.eal its message- Th2s the st2dent m2st

a**2stom himself not merel5 to let the enBo5ment

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re.er/erate as it !ere /2t rather to reno2n*e an5 f2rther enBo5ment and !ork 2on the aste,erien*e- The eril here is .er5 great- Instead of !orking in!ardl5 it is .er5 eas5 to fallinto the oosite ha/it of tr5ing to e,loit the enBo5ment- ;et no one 2nderestimate the fa*tthat immense so2r*es of error here *onfront the st2dent- He m2st ass thro2gh a host of


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temters of his so2l- The5 !o2ld all harden his ego and imrison it !ithin itself- He sho2ldrather oen it !ide to all the !orld- It is ne*essar5 that he sho2ld seek enBo5ment for onl5thro2gh enBo5ment *an the o2ter !orld rea*h him- If he /l2nts himself to enBo5ment he is likea lant !hi*h *annot an5 longer dra! no2rishment from its en.ironment- "et if he stosshort at the enBo5ment he sh2ts himself 2 !ithin himself- He !ill onl5 /e something tohimself and nothing to the !orld- Ho!e.er m2*h he ma5 li.e !ithin himself ho!e.er

intensel5 he ma5 *2lti.ate his ego++the !orld !ill reBe*t him- To the !orld he is dead- Thest2dent of higher kno!ledge *onsiders enBo5ment onl5 as a means of enno/ling himself forthe !orld- EnBo5ment is to him like a s*o2t informing him a/o2t the !orld /2t on*einstr2*ted

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/5 enBo5ment he asses on to !ork- He does not learn in order to a**2m2late learning as hiso!n treas2re /2t in order that he ma5 de.ote his learning to the ser.i*e of the !orld-

In all sirit2al s*ien*e there is a f2ndamental rin*ile !hi*h *annot /e transgressed !itho2tsa*rifi*ing s2**ess and it sho2ld /e imressed on the st2dent in e.er5 form of esoteri*training- It r2ns as follo!s All kno!ledge 2rs2ed merel5 for the enri*hment of ersonallearning and the a**2m2lation of ersonal treas2re leads 5o2 a!a5 from the ath /2t allkno!ledge 2rs2ed for gro!th to rieness !ithin the ro*ess of h2man enno/lement and*osmi* de.eloment /rings 5o2 a ste for!ard- This la! m2st /e stri*tl5 o/ser.ed and nost2dent is gen2ine 2ntil he has adoted it as a g2ide for his !hole life- This tr2th *an /ee,ressed in the follo!ing short senten*e E.er5 idea !hi*h does not /e*ome 5o2r ideal sla5sa for*e in 5o2r so2l e.er5 idea !hi*h /e*omes 5o2r ideal *reates !ithin 5o2 life+for*es-

Inner Tran62ilit5

At the .er5 /eginning of his *o2rse the st2dent is dire*ted to the ath of .eneration and the

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de.eloment of the inner life- Sirit2al s*ien*e no! also gi.es him ra*ti*al r2les /5o/ser.ing !hi*h he ma5 tread that ath and de.elo that inner life- These ra*ti*al r2lesha.e no ar/itrar5 origin- The5 rest 2on an*ient e,erien*e and an*ient !isdom and are

gi.en o2t in the same manner !heresoe.er the !a5s to higher kno!ledge are indi*ated- Alltr2e tea*hers of the sirit2al life are in agreement as to the s2/stan*e of these r2les e.entho2gh the5 do not al!a5s *lothe them in the same !ords- This differen*e !hi*h is of aminor *hara*ter and is more aarent than real is d2e to *ir*2mstan*es !hi*h need not /ed!elt 2on here-

No tea*her of the sirit2al life !ishes to esta/lish a master5 o.er other ersons /5 means ofs2*h r2les- He !o2ld not tamer !ith an5ones indeenden*e- Indeed none rese*t and


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*herish h2man indeenden*e more than the sirit2all5 e,erien*ed- It !as stated in there*eding ages that the /ond of 2nion em/ra*ing all initiates is sirit2al and that t!o la!sform as it !ere *lass /5 !hi*h the *omonent arts of this /ond are held together-Whene.er the initiate lea.es

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his en*losed sirit2al shere and stes forth /efore the !orld he m2st immediatel5 take athird la! into a**o2nt- It is this Adat ea*h one of 5o2r a*tions and frame ea*h one of 5o2r!ords in s2*h a !a5 that 5o2 infringe 2on no ones free+!ill-

The re*ognition that all tr2e tea*hers of the sirit2al life are ermeated thro2gh and thro2gh!ith this rin*ile !ill *on.in*e all !ho follo! the ra*ti*al r2les roffered to them that the5need sa*rifi*e none of their indeenden*e-

One of the first of these r2les *an /e e,ressed some!hat in the follo!ing !ords of o2r

lang2age Pro.ide for 5o2rself moments of inner tran62ilit5 and in these moments learn todisting2ish /et!een the essential and the non+essential- It is said ad.isedl5 Fe,ressed in the!ords of o2r lang2age-F Originall5 all r2les and tea*hings of sirit2al s*ien*e !ere e,ressedin a s5m/oli*al sign+lang2age some 2nderstanding of !hi*h m2st /e a*62ired /efore its!hole meaning and s*oe *an /e reali7ed- This 2nderstanding is deendent on the first stesto!ard higher kno!ledge and these stes res2lt from the e,a*t

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o/ser.ation of s2*h r2les as are here gi.en- Dor all !ho earnestl5 !ill the ath stands oen to

tread-

Simle in tr2th is the a/o.e r2le *on*erning moments of inner tran62ilit5 e62all5 simle isits o/ser.ation- :2t it onl5 a*hie.es its 2rose !hen it is o/ser.ed in as earnest and stri*t amanner as it is in itself simle- Ho! this r2le is to /e o/ser.ed !ill therefore /e e,lained!itho2t digression-

The st2dent m2st set aside a small art of his dail5 life in !hi*h to *on*ern himself !ithsomething 62ite different from the o/Be*ts of his dail5 o**2ation- The !a5 also in !hi*h heo**2ies himself at s2*h a time m2st differ entirel5 from the !a5 in !hi*h he erforms therest of his dail5 d2ties- :2t this does not mean that !hat he does in the time th2s set aart has

no *onne*tion !ith his dail5 !ork- On the *ontrar5 he !ill soon find that B2st these se*l2dedmoments !hen so2ght in the right !a5 gi.e him f2ll o!er to erform his dail5 task- Norm2st it /e s2osed that the o/ser.an*e of this r2le !ill reall5 en*roa*h 2on the timeneeded for the erforman*e of his d2ties- Sho2ld an5one reall5 ha.e

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no more time at his disosal fi.e min2tes a da5 !ill s2ffi*e- It all deends on the manner in


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!hi*h these fi.e min2tes are sent-


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resen*e !ithin them the5 !ere ne.er a!are-

And no *hange need take la*e in the o2t!ard life of the st2dent in *onse62en*e of this ne!r2le- He erforms his d2ties and at first feels the same Bo5s sorro!s and e,erien*es as/efore-

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#aragrah *ontin2es In no !a5 *an it estrange him from life he *an rather de.ote himselfthe more thoro2ghl5 to this life for the remainder of the da5 ha.ing gained a higher life inthe moments set aart- ;ittle /5 little this higher life !ill make its infl2en*e felt on hisordinar5 life- The tran62ilit5 of the moments set aart !ill also affe*t e.er5da5 e,isten*e- Inhis !hole /eing he !ill gro! *almer he !ill attain firm ass2ran*e in all his a*tions and *easeto /e 2t o2t of *o2ntenan*e /5 all manner of in*idents- :5 th2s ad.an*ing he !ill grad2all5/e*ome more and more his o!n g2ide and allo! himself less and less to /e led /5*ir*2mstan*es and e,ternal infl2en*es- He !ill soon dis*o.er ho! great a so2r*e of strength is

a.aila/le to him in these moments th2s set aart- He !ill /egin no longer to get angr5 atthings !hi*h formerl5 anno5ed him *o2ntless things he formerl5 feared *ease to alarm him-He a*62ires a ne! o2tlook on life- Dormerl5 he ma5 ha.e aroa*hed some o**2ation in afainthearted !a5- He !o2ld sa5 FOh I la*k the o!er to do this as !ell as I *o2ld !ish-FNo! this tho2ght does not o**2r to him /2t rather a 62ite different tho2ght- Hen*eforth hesa5s

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to himself FI !ill s2mmon all m5 strength to do m5 !ork as !ell as I ossi/l5 *an-F And he

s2resses the tho2ght !hi*h makes him faint+hearted for he kno!s that this .er5 tho2ghtmight /e the *a2se of a !orse erforman*e on his art and that in an5 *ase it *annot*ontri/2te to the imro.ement of his !ork- And th2s tho2ght after tho2ght ea*h fra2ght!ith ad.antage to his !hole life flo!s into the st2dents o2tlook- The5 take the la*e of thosethat had a hamering !eakening effe*t- He /egins to steer his o!n shi on a se*2re *o2rsethro2gh the !a.es of life !hereas it !as formerl5 /attered to and fro /5 these !a.es-

This *alm and serenit5 rea*t on the !hole /eing- The5 assist the gro!th of the inner manand !ith the inner man those fa*2lties also gro! !hi*h lead to higher kno!ledge- Dor it is/5 his rogress in this dire*tion that the st2dent grad2all5 rea*hes the oint !here he himselfdetermines the manner in !hi*h the imressions of the o2ter !orld shall affe*t him- Th2s he

ma5 hear a !ord soken !ith the o/Be*t of !o2nding or .e,ing him- Dormerl5 it !o2ldindeed ha.e !o2nded or .e,ed him /2t no! that he treads

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the ath to higher kno!ledge he is a/le++/efore the !ord has fo2nd its !a5 to his inner self++to take from it the sting !hi*h gi.es it the o!er to !o2nd or .e,- Take another e,amle- Weeasil5 /e*ome imatient !hen !e are ket !aiting /2t++if !e tread the ath to higher


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kno!ledge++!e so stee o2rsel.es in o2r moments of *alm !ith the feeling of the 2selessnessof imatien*e that hen*eforth on e.er5 o**asion of imatien*e this feeling is immediatel5resent !ithin 2s- The imatien*e that !as a/o2t to make itself felt .anishes and an inter.al!hi*h !o2ld other!ise ha.e /een !asted in e,ressions of imatien*e !ill /e filled /5 2sef2lo/ser.ations !hi*h *an /e made !hile !aiting-

No! the s*oe and signifi*an*e of these fa*ts m2st /e reali7ed- We m2st /ear in mind thatthe higher man !ithin 2s is in *onstant de.eloment- :2t onl5 the state of *alm and serenit5here des*ri/ed renders an orderl5 de.eloment ossi/le- The !a.es of o2t!ard life *onstrainthe inner man from all sides if instead of mastering this o2t!ard life it masters him- S2*h aman is like a lant !hi*h tries to e,and in a *left in the ro*k and is st2nted in gro!th 2ntilne!

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sa*e is gi.en it- No o2t!ard for*es *an s2l5 sa*e to the inner man- It *an onl5 /e

s2lied /5 the inner *alm !hi*h man himself gi.es to his so2l- O2t!ard *ir*2mstan*es *anonl5 alter the *o2rse of his o2t!ard life the5 *an ne.er a!aken the inner sirit2al man- Thest2dent m2st himself gi.e /irth to a ne! and higher man !ithin himself-

This higher man no! /e*omes the inner r2ler !ho dire*ts the *ir*2mstan*es of the o2ter man!ith s2re g2idan*e- As long as the o2ter man has the 2er hand and *ontrol this inner manis his sla.e and therefore *annot 2nfold his o!ers- If it deends on something other thanm5self !hether I sho2ld get angr5 or not I am not master of m5self or to 2t it /etter I ha.enot 5et fo2nd the r2ler !ithin m5self- I m2st de.elo the fa*2lt5 of letting the imressions ofthe o2ter !orld aroa*h me onl5 in the !a5 in !hi*h I m5self determine then onl5 do I

/e*ome in the real sense a st2dent- And onl5 in as far as the st2dent earnestl5 seeks thiso!er *an he rea*h the goal- It is of no imortan*e ho! far an5one *an go in a gi.en time theoint is that he sho2ld earnestl5 seek- 9an5 ha.e stri.en for 5ears !itho2t noti*ing

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an5 are*ia/le rogress /2t man5 of those !ho did not desair /2t remained 2nshakenha.e then 62ite s2ddenl5 a*hie.ed the inner .i*tor5-

No do2/t a great effort is re62ired in man5 stations of life to ro.ide these moments of inner*alm /2t the greater the effort needed the more imortant is the a*hie.ement- In sirit2al

s*ien*e e.er5thing deends 2on energ5 in!ard tr2thf2lness and 2n*omromisingsin*erit5 !ith !hi*h !e *onfront o2r o!n sel.es !ith all o2r deeds and a*tions as a*omlete stranger-

:2t onl5 one side of the st2dents inner a*ti.it5 is *hara*teri7ed /5 this /irth of his o!nhigher /eing- Something else is needed in addition- E.en if he *onfronts himself as a strangerit is onl5 himself that he *ontemlates he looks on those e,erien*es and a*tions !ith !hi*hhe is *onne*ted thro2gh his arti*2lar station of life- He m2st no! disengage himself from it


20/119

and rise /e5ond to a 2rel5 h2man le.el !hi*h no longer has an5thing to do !ith his o!nse*ial sit2ation- He m2st ass on to the *ontemlation of those things !hi*h !o2ld *on*ernhim as a h2man /eing e.en if he li.ed 2nder 62ite different *ir*2mstan*es

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and in 62ite a different sit2ation- In this !a5 something /egins to li.e !ithin him !hi*hranges a/o.e the 2rel5 ersonal- His ga7e is dire*ted to !orlds higher than those !ith!hi*h e.er5+da5 life *onne*ts him- And th2s he /egins to feel and reali7e as an innere,erien*e that he /elongs to those higher !orlds- These are !orlds *on*erning !hi*h hissenses and his dail5 o**2ation *an tell him nothing- Th2s he no! shifts the *entral oint ofhis /eing to the inner art of his nat2re- He listens to the .oi*es !ithin him !hi*h seak tohim in his moments of tran62ilit5 he *2lti.ates an inter*o2rse !ith the sirit2al !orld- He isremo.ed from the e.er5+da5 !orld- Its noise is silen*ed- All aro2nd him there is silen*e- He2ts a!a5 e.er5thing that reminds him of s2*h imressions from !itho2t- Calm in!ard*ontemlation and *on.erse !ith the 2rel5 sirit2al !orld fill his so2l-++S2*h tran62il

*ontemlation m2st /e*ome a nat2ral ne*essit5 in the life of the st2dent- He is no! l2ngedin a !orld of tho2ght- He m2st de.elo a li.ing feeling for this silent tho2ght+a*ti.it5- Hem2st learn to lo.e !hat the sirit o2rs into him- He !ill soon *ease to feel that this tho2ght+!orld is

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less real than the e.er5+da5 things !hi*h s2rro2nd him- He /egins to deal !ith his tho2ghtsas !ith things in sa*e and the moment aroa*hes !hen he /egins to feel that !hi*hre.eals itself in the silent in!ard tho2ght+!ork to /e m2*h higher m2*h more real than the

things in sa*e- He dis*o.ers that something li.ing e,resses itself in this tho2ght+!orld- Hesees that his tho2ghts do not merel5 har/or shado!+i*t2res /2t that thro2gh them hidden/eings seak to him- O2t of the silen*e see*h /e*omes a2di/le to him- Dormerl5 so2nd onl5rea*hed him thro2gh his ear no! it reso2nds thro2gh his so2l- An inner lang2age an inner!ord is re.ealed to him- This moment !hen first e,erien*ed is one of greatest rat2re forthe st2dent- An inner light is shed o.er the !hole e,ternal !orld and a se*ond life /egins forhim- Thro2gh his /eing there o2rs a di.ine stream from a !orld of di.ine rat2re-

This life of the so2l in tho2ght !hi*h grad2all5 !idens into a life in sirit2al /eing is *alled/5 8nosis and /5 Sirit2al S*ien*e 9editation (*ontemlati.e refle*tion)- This meditation isthe means to s2ersensi/le kno!ledge- :2t the

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st2dent in s2*h moments m2st not merel5 ind2lge in feelings he m2st not ha.e indefinitesensations in his so2l- That !o2ld onl5 hinder him from rea*hing tr2e sirit2al kno!ledge-His tho2ghts m2st /e *lear shar and definite and he !ill /e heled in this if he does not*ling /lindl5 to the tho2ghts that rise !ithin him- Rather m2st he ermeate himself !ith theloft5 tho2ghts /5 !hi*h men alread5 ad.an*ed and ossessed of the sirit !ere insired at


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s2*h moments- He sho2ld start !ith the !ritings !hi*h themsel.es had their origin in B2sts2*h re.elation d2ring meditation- In the m5sti* gnosti* and sirit2al s*ientifi* literat2re oftoda5 the st2dent !ill find s2*h !ritings and in them the material for his meditation- Theseekers of the sirit ha.e themsel.es set do!n in s2*h !ritings the tho2ghts of the di.ines*ien*e !hi*h the Sirit has dire*ted his messengers to ro*laim to the !orld-

Thro2gh s2*h meditation a *omlete transformation takes la*e in the st2dent- He /egins toform 62ite ne! *on*etions of realit5- All things a*62ire a fresh .al2e for him- It *annot /ereeated too often that this transformation

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does not alienate him from the !orld- He !ill in no !a5 /e estranged from his dail5 tasksand d2ties for he *omes to reali7e that the most insignifi*ant a*tion he has to a**omlish themost insignifi*ant e,erien*e !hi*h offers itself to him stands in *onne*tion !ith *osmi*/eings and *osmi* e.ents- When on*e this *onne*tion is re.ealed to him in his moments of

*ontemlation he *omes to his dail5 a*ti.ities !ith a ne! f2ller o!er- Dor no! he kno!sthat his la/or and his s2ffering are gi.en and end2red for the sake of a great sirit2al *osmi*!hole- Not !eariness /2t strength to li.e srings from meditation-

With firm ste the st2dent asses thro2gh life- No matter !hat it ma5 /ring him he goesfor!ard ere*t- In the ast he kne! not !h5 he la/ored and s2ffered /2t no! he kno!s- It iso/.io2s that s2*h meditation leads more s2rel5 to the goal if *ond2*ted 2nder the dire*tionof e,erien*ed ersons !ho kno! of themsel.es ho! e.er5thing ma5 /est /e done and theirad.i*e and g2idan*e sho2ld /e so2ght- Tr2l5 no one loses his freedom there/5- What !o2ldother!ise /e mere 2n*ertain groing in the dark /e*omes 2nder this dire*tion 2rosef2l

!ork- All !ho

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al5 to those ossessing kno!ledge and e,erien*e in these matters !ill ne.er al5 in.ain onl5 the5 m2st reali7e that !hat the5 seek is the ad.i*e of a friend not the dominationof a !o2ld+/e r2ler- It !ill al!a5s /e fo2nd that the5 !ho reall5 kno! are the most modest ofmen and that nothing is f2rther from their nat2re than !hat is *alled the l2st for o!er-

When /5 means of meditation a man rises to 2nion !ith the sirit he /rings to life theeternal in him !hi*h is limited /5 neither /irth nor death- The e,isten*e of this eternal /eing

*an onl5 /e do2/ted /5 those !ho ha.e not themsel.es e,erien*ed it- Th2s meditation is the!a5 !hi*h also leads man to the kno!ledge to the *ontemlation of his eternalindestr2*ti/le essential /eing and it is onl5 thro2gh meditation that man *an attain to s2*hkno!ledge- 8nosis and Sirit2al S*ien*e tell of the eternal nat2re of this /eing and of itsrein*arnation- The 62estion is often asked Wh5 does a man kno! nothing of his e,erien*es/e5ond the /orders of life and death? Not th2s sho2ld !e ask /2t rather Ho! *an !e attains2*h kno!ledge? In right meditation the ath is oened- This alone *an


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re.i.e the memor5 of e,erien*es /e5ond the /order of life and death- E.er5one *an attainthis kno!ledge in ea*h one of 2s lies the fa*2lt5 of re*ogni7ing and *ontemlating foro2rsel.es !hat gen2ine 95sti*ism Sirit2al S*ien*e Anthroosoh5 and 8nosis tea*h- Onl5the right means m2st /e *hosen- Onl5 a /eing !ith ears and e5es *an arehend so2nds and

*olors nor *an the e5e er*ei.e if the light !hi*h makes things .isi/le is !anting- Sirit2alS*ien*e gi.es the means of de.eloing the sirit2al ears and e5es and of kindling thesirit2al light and this method of sirit2al training ($) Prearation this de.elos thesirit2al senses- (0) Enlightenment this kindles the sirit2al light- (4) Initiation thisesta/lishes inter*o2rse !ith the higher sirit2al /eings-

>no!ledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment /5 R2dolh Steiner #$%&' at sa*red+te,ts-*om

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II

THE STAGES OF INITIATION

THE information gi.en in the follo!ing *haters *onstit2tes stes in an esoteri* training thename and *hara*ter of !hi*h !ill /e 2nderstood /5 all !ho al5 this information in theright !a5- It refers to the three stages thro2gh !hi*h the training of the sirit2al life leads to a*ertain degree of initiation- :2t onl5 so m2*h !ill here /e e,lained as *an /e 2/li*l5imarted- These are merel5 indi*ations e,tra*ted from a still deeer and more intimatedo*trine- In esoteri* training itself a 62ite definite *o2rse of instr2*tion is follo!ed- Certaine,er*ises ena/le the so2l to attain to a *ons*io2s inter*o2rse !ith the sirit2al !orld- Thesee,er*ises /ear a/o2t the same relation to !hat !ill /e imarted in the follo!ing ages as theinstr2*tion gi.en in

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a higher stri*tl5 dis*ilined s*hool /ears to the in*idental training- :2t imatient da//lingde.oid of earnest erse.eran*e *an lead to nothing at all- The st2d5 of Sirit2al S*ien*e *anonl5 /e s2**essf2l if the st2dent retain !hat has alread5 /een indi*ated in the re*eding*hater and on the /asis of this ro*eed f2rther-

The three stages !hi*h the a/o.e+mentioned tradition se*ifies are as follo!s ($)rearation (0) enlightenment (4) initiation- It is not altogether ne*essar5 that the first ofthese three stages sho2ld /e *omleted /efore the se*ond *an /e /eg2n nor that the se*ondin t2rn /e *omleted /efore the third /e started- In *ertain rese*ts it is ossi/le to artake ofenlightenment and e.en of initiation and in other rese*ts still /e in the rearator5 stage-"et it !ill /e ne*essar5 to send a *ertain time in the stage of rearation /efore an5enlightenment *an /egin and at least in some rese*ts enlightenment m2st /e *omleted/efore it is e.en ossi/le to enter 2on the stage of initiation- :2t in des*ri/ing them it

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is ne*essar5 for the sake of *larit5 that the three stages /e made to follo! in order-

Prearation

Prearation *onsists in a stri*t and definite *2lti.ation of the life of tho2ght and feelingthro2gh !hi*h the s5*ho+sirit2al /od5 /e*omes e62ied !ith higher senses and organs ofa*ti.it5 in the same !a5 that nat2ral for*es ha.e fitted the h5si*al /od5 !ith organs /2ilto2t of indeterminate li.ing matter-


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To /egin !ith the attention of the so2l is dire*ted to *ertain e.ents in the !orld thats2rro2nds 2s- S2*h e.ents are on the one hand life that is /2dding gro!ing andflo2rishing and on the other hand all henomena *onne*ted !ith fading de*a5ing and!ithering- The st2dent *an o/ser.e these e.ents sim2ltaneo2sl5 !here.er he t2rns his e5esand on e.er5 o**asion the5 nat2rall5 e.oke in him feelings and tho2ghts /2t in ordinar5*ir*2mstan*es he does not de.ote himself s2ffi*ientl5 to them- He h2rries on too 62i*kl5 from

imression to imression- It is ne*essar5 therefore that he sho2ld fi, his attention

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intentl5 and *ons*io2sl5 2on these henomena- Where.er he o/ser.es a definite kind of/looming and flo2rishing he m2st /anish e.er5thing else from his so2l and entirel5s2rrender himself for a short time to this one imression- He !ill soon *on.in*e himself thata feeling !hi*h heretofore in a similar *ase !o2ld merel5 ha.e flitted thro2gh his so2l no!s!ells o2t and ass2mes a o!erf2l and energeti* form- He m2st no! allo! this feeling tore.er/erate 62ietl5 !ithin himself !hile keeing in!ardl5 62ite still- He m2st *2t himself off

from the o2ter !orld and siml5 and solel5 follo! !hat his so2l tells him of this /lossomingand flo2rishing-

"et it m2st not /e tho2ght that m2*h rogress *an /e made if the senses are /l2nted to the!orld- Dirst look at the things as keenl5 and as intentl5 as 5o2 ossi/l5 *an then onl5 let thefeeling !hi*h e,ands to life and the tho2ght !hi*h arises in the so2l take ossession of5o2- The oint is that the attention sho2ld /e dire*ted !ith erfe*t inner /alan*e 2on /othhenomena- If the ne*essar5 tran62ilit5 /e attained and 5o2 s2rrender 5o2rself to the feeling!hi*h e,ands to life in the so2l then in d2e time the follo!ing e,erien*e

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!ill ens2e- Tho2ghts and feelings of a ne! kind and 2nkno!n /efore !ill /e noti*ed 2risingin the so2l- Indeed the more often the attention /e fi,ed alternatel5 2on something gro!ing/lossoming and flo2rishing and 2on something else that is fading and de*a5ing the more.i.id !ill these feelings /e*ome- And B2st as the e5es and ears of the h5si*al /od5 are /2ilt/5 nat2ral for*es o2t of li.ing matter so !ill the organs of *lair.o5an*e /2ild themsel.es o2tof the feelings and tho2ghts th2s e.oked- A 62ite definite form of feeling is *onne*ted !ithgro!th and e,ansion and another e62all5 definite !ith all that is fading and de*a5ing- :2tthis is onl5 the *ase if the effort /e made to *2lti.ate these feelings in the !a5 indi*ated- It isossi/le to des*ri/e aro,imatel5 !hat these feelings are like- A f2ll *on*etion of them is

!ithin the rea*h of all !ho 2ndergo these inner e,erien*es-

If the attention /e fre62entl5 fi,ed on the henomena of gro!ing /looming and flo2rishinga feeling remotel5 allied to the sensation of a s2nrise !ill ens2e !hile the henomena offading and de*a5ing !ill rod2*e an e,erien*e *omara/le in the same !a5 to the slo!rising of the

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moon on the hori7on- :oth these feelings are for*es !hi*h !hen d2l5 *2lti.ated andde.eloed to e.er in*reasing intensit5 lead to the most signifi*ant sirit2al res2lts- A ne!!orld is oened to the st2dent if he s5stemati*all5 and deli/eratel5 s2rrenders himself tos2*h feelings- The so2l+!orld the so+*alled astral lane /egins to da!n 2on him- 8ro!thand de*a5 are no longer fa*ts !hi*h make indefinite imressions on him as of old /2t rather

the5 form themsel.es into sirit2al lines and fig2res of !hi*h he had re.io2sl5 s2se*tednothing- And these lines and fig2res ha.e for the different henomena different forms- A/looming flo!er an animal in the ro*ess of gro!th a tree that is de*a5ing e.oke in his so2ldifferent lines- The so2l !orld (astral lane) /roadens o2t slo!l5 /efore him- These lines andfig2res are in no sense ar/itrar5- T!o st2dents !ho ha.e rea*hed the *orresonding stage ofde.eloment !ill al!a5s see the same lines and fig2res 2nder the same *onditions- 2st as aro2nd ta/le !ill /e seen as ro2nd /5 t!o normal ersons and not as ro2nd /5 one ands62are /5 the other so too at the sight of a flo!er the same sirit2al fig2re is resented tothe so2l- And B2st as the

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forms of animals and lants are des*ri/ed in ordinar5 nat2ral histor5 so too the sirit2als*ientist des*ri/es or dra!s the sirit2al forms of the ro*ess of gro!th and de*a5 a**ordingto se*ies and kind-

If the st2dent has rogressed so far that he *an er*ei.e the sirit2al forms of thosehenomena !hi*h are h5si*all5 .isi/le to his e,ternal sight he is then not far from the stage!here he !ill /ehold things !hi*h ha.e no h5si*al e,isten*e and !hi*h therefore remainentirel5 hidden (o**2lt) from those !ho ha.e not re*ei.ed s2ita/le instr2*tion and training-

It sho2ld /e emhasi7ed that the st2dent m2st ne.er lose himself in se*2lations on themeaning of one thing or another- S2*h intelle*t2ali7ing !ill onl5 dra! him a!a5 from theright road- He sho2ld look o2t on the !orld !ith keen health5 senses and 62i*kened o!erof o/ser.ation and then gi.e himself 2 to the feeling that arises !ithin him- He sho2ld nottr5 to make o2t thro2gh intelle*t2al se*2lation the meaning of things /2t rather allo! thethings to dis*lose themsel.es- It sho2ld /e remarked that artisti* feeling !hen *o2led !ith a62iet introse*ti.e

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nat2re forms the /est reliminar5 *ondition for the de.eloment of sirit2al fa*2lties- Thisfeeling ier*es thro2gh the s2erfi*ial ase*t of things and in so doing to2*hes their se*rets-

A f2rther oint of imortan*e is !hat sirit2al s*ien*e *alls orientation in the higher !orlds-This is attained !hen the st2dent is ermeated thro2gh and thro2gh !ith the *ons*io2sreali7ation that feelings and tho2ghts are B2st as m2*h .erita/le realities as are ta/les and*hairs in the !orld of the h5si*al senses- In the so2l and tho2ght !orld feelings andtho2ghts rea*t 2on ea*h other B2st as do h5si*al o/Be*ts in the h5si*al !orld- As long as


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the st2dent is not .i.idl5 ermeated !ith this *ons*io2sness he !ill not /elie.e that a !rongtho2ght in his mind ma5 ha.e as de.astating an effe*t 2on other tho2ghts that sread life inthe tho2ght !orld as the effe*t !ro2ght /5 a /2llet fired at random 2on the h5si*al o/Be*tsit hits- He !ill erhas ne.er allo! himself to erform a h5si*all5 .isi/le a*tion !hi*h he*onsiders to /e !rong tho2gh he !ill not shrink from har/oring !rong tho2ghts andfeelings for these aear harmless to the rest of the !orld- There *an /e no rogress

ho!e.er on

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the ath to higher kno!ledge 2nless !e g2ard o2r tho2ghts and feelings in B2st the same !a5!e g2ard o2t stes in the h5si*al !orld- If !e see a !all /efore 2s !e do not attemt todash right thro2gh it /2t t2rn aside- In other !ords !e g2ide o2rsel.es /5 the la!s of theh5si*al !orld- There are s2*h la!s too for the so2l and tho2ght !orld onl5 the5 *annotimose themsel.es on 2s from !itho2t- The5 m2st flo! o2t of the life of the so2l itself- This*an /e attained if !e for/id o2rsel.es to har/or !rong tho2ghts and feelings- All ar/itrar5

flitting to and fro in tho2ght all a**idental e//ing and flo!ing of emotion m2st /e for/iddenin the same !a5- In so doing !e do not /e*ome defi*ient in feeling- On the *ontrar5 if !ereg2late o2r inner life in this !a5 !e shall soon find o2rsel.es /e*oming ri*h in feelings and*reati.e !ith gen2ine imagination- In the la*e of ett5 emotionalism and *ari*io2s flightsof tho2ght there aear signifi*ant emotions and tho2ghts that are fr2itf2l- Deelings andtho2ghts of this kind lead the st2dent to orientation in the sirit2al !orld- He gains a rightosition in relation to the things of the sirit2al !orld a distin*t and definite res2lt *omesinto effe*t in his fa.or-

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#aragrah *ontin2es 2st as he as a h5si*al man finds his !a5 among h5si*al things sotoo his ath no! leads him /et!een gro!th and de*a5 !hi*h he has alread5 *ome to kno!in the !a5 des*ri/ed a/o.e- On the one hand he follo!s all ro*esses of gro!ing andflo2rishing and on the other of !ithering and de*a5ing in a !a5 that is ne*essar5 for hiso!n and the !orlds ad.an*ement-

The st2dent has also to /esto! a f2rther *are on the !orld of so2nd- He m2st dis*riminate/et!een so2nds that are rod2*ed /5 the so+*alled inert (lifeless) /odies for instan*e a /ellor a m2si*al instr2ment or a falling mass and those !hi*h ro*eed from a li.ing *reat2re (ananimal or a h2man /eing-) When a /ell is str2*k !e hear the so2nd and *onne*t a leasant

feeling !ith it /2t !hen !e hear the *r5 of an animal !e *an /esides o2r o!n feeling dete*tthro2gh it the manifestation of an in!ard e,erien*e of the animal !hether of leas2re orain- It is !ith the latter kind of so2nd that the st2dent sets to !ork- He m2st *on*entrate his!hole attention on the fa*t that the so2nd tells him of something that lies o2tside his o!nso2l- He m2st immerse himself in this foreign thing- He m2st *losel5

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2nite his o!n feeling !ith the leas2re or ain of !hi*h the so2nd tells him- He m2st get/e5ond the oint of *aring !hether for him the so2nd is leasant or 2nleasant agreea/le ordisagreea/le and his so2l m2st /e filled !ith !hate.er is o**2rring in the /eing from !hi*hthe so2nd ro*eeds- Thro2gh s2*h e,er*ises if s5stemati*all5 and deli/eratel5 erformed thest2dent !ill de.elo !ithin himself the fa*2lt5 of intermingling as it !ere !ith the /eingfrom !hi*h the so2nd ro*eeds- A erson sensiti.e to m2si* !ill find it easier than one !ho

is 2nm2si*al to *2lti.ate his inner life in this !a5 /2t no one sho2ld s2ose that a meresense for m2si* *an take the la*e of this inner a*ti.it5- The st2dent m2st learn to feel in this!a5 in the fa*e of the !hole of nat2re- This imlants a ne! fa*2lt5 in his !orld of tho2ghtand feeling- Thro2gh her reso2nding tones the !hole of nat2re /egins to !hiser her se*retsto the st2dent- What !as hitherto merel5 in*omrehensi/le noise to his so2l /e*omes /5 thismeans a *oherent lang2age of nat2re- And !hereas hitherto he onl5 heard so2nd from the so+*alled inanimate o/Be*ts he no! is a!are of a ne! lang2age of the so2l- Sho2ld he ad.an*ef2rther

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in this inner *2lt2re he !ill soon learn that he *an hear !hat hitherto he did not e.ens2rmise- He /egins to hear !ith the so2l-

To this one thing more m2st /e added /efore the highest oint in this region *an /e attained-Of .er5 great imortan*e for the de.eloment of the st2dent is the !a5 in !hi*h he listens toothers !hen the5 seak- He m2st a**2stom himself to do this in s2*h a !a5 that !hilelistening his inner self is a/sol2tel5 silent- If someone e,resses an oinion and anotherlistens assent or dissent !ill generall5 seaking stir in the inner self of the listener- 9an5eole in s2*h *ases feel themsel.es imelled to an e,ression of their assent or more

ese*iall5 of their dissent- In the st2dent all s2*h assent or dissent m2st /e silen*ed- It is notimerati.e that he sho2ld s2ddenl5 alter his !a5 of li.ing /5 tr5ing to attain at all times tothis *omlete inner silen*e- He !ill ha.e to /egin /5 doing so in se*ial *ases deli/eratel5sele*ted /5 himself- Then 62ite slo!l5 and /5 degrees this ne! !a5 of listening !ill *reeinto his ha/its as of itself- In sirit2al resear*h this is s5stemati*all5 ra*ti*ed- The st2dentfeels it his d2t5 to listen /5 !a5 of ra*ti*e at *ertain

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times to the most *ontradi*tor5 .ie!s and at the same time /ring entirel5 to silen*e allassent and more ese*iall5 all ad.erse *riti*ism- The oint is that in so doing not onl5 all

2rel5 intelle*t2al B2dgment /e silen*ed /2t also all feelings of disleas2re denial or e.enassent- The st2dent m2st at all times /e arti*2larl5 !at*hf2l lest s2*h feelings e.en !hennot on the s2rfa*e sho2ld still l2rk in the innermost re*ess of the so2l- He m2st listen fore,amle to the statements of eole !ho are in some rese*ts far /eneath him and 5et!hile doing so s2ress e.er5 feeling of greater kno!ledge or s2eriorit5- It is 2sef2l fore.er5one to listen in this !a5 to *hildren for e.en the !isest *an learn in*al*2la/l5 m2*hfrom *hildren- The st2dent *an th2s train himself to listen to the !ords of others 62iteselflessl5 *omletel5 sh2tting do!n his o!n erson and his oinions and !a5 of feeling-


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When he ra*ti*es listening !itho2t *riti*ism e.en !hen a *omletel5 *ontradi*tor5 oinionis ad.an*ed !hen the most hoeless mistake is *ommitted /efore him he then learns little/5 little to /lend himself !ith the /eing of another and /e*ome identified !ith it- Then hehears thro2gh the !ords into

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the so2l of the other- Thro2gh *ontin2ed e,er*ise of this kind so2nd /e*omes the rightmedi2m for the er*etion of so2l and sirit- Of *o2rse it imlies the .er5 stri*test self+dis*iline /2t the latter leads to a high goal- When these e,er*ises are ra*ti*ed in *onne*tion!ith the other alread5 gi.en dealing !ith the so2nds of nat2re the so2l de.elos a ne!sense of hearing- She is no! a/le to er*ei.e manifestations from the sirit2al !orld !hi*hdo not find their e,ression in so2nds er*eti/le to the h5si*al ear- The er*etion of theFinner !ordF a!akens- 8rad2all5 tr2ths re.eal themsel.es to the st2dent from the sirit2al!orld- He hears see*h 2ttered to him in a sirit2al !a5- Onl5 to those !ho /5 selflesslistening train themsel.es to /e reall5 re*eti.e from !ithin in stillness 2nmo.ed /5

ersonal oinion or feeling onl5 to s2*h *an the higher /eings seak of !hom sirit2als*ien*e tells- As long as one h2rls an5 ersonal oinion or feeling against the seaker to!hom one m2st listen the /eings of the sirit2al !orld remain silent-

All higher tr2ths are attained thro2gh s2*h in!ardl5 instilled see*h and !hat !e hear

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from the lis of a tr2e sirit2al tea*her has /een e,erien*ed /5 him in this manner- :2t thisdoes not mean that it is 2nimortant for 2s to a*62aint o2rsel.es !ith the !ritings of

sirit2al s*ien*e /efore !e *an o2rsel.es hear s2*h in!ardl5 instilled see*h- On the*ontrar5 the reading of s2*h !ritings and the listening to the tea*hings of sirit2al s*ien*eare themsel.es means of attaining ersonal kno!ledge- E.er5 senten*e of sirit2al s*ien*e !ehear is of a nat2re to dire*t the mind to the oint !hi*h m2st /e rea*hed /efore the so2l *ane,erien*e real rogress- To the ra*ti*e of all that has here /een indi*ated m2st /e added theardent st2d5 of !hat the sirit2al resear*hers imart to the !orld- In all esoteri* training s2*hst2d5 /elongs to the rearator5 eriod and all other methods !ill ro.e ineffe*ti.e if d2ere*eti.it5 for the tea*hings of the sirit2al resear*her is la*king- Dor sin*e these instr2*tionsare *2lled from the li.ing inner !ord from the li.ing in!ardl5 instilled see*h the5 arethemsel.es gifted !ith sirit2al life- The5 are not mere !ords the5 are li.ing o!ers- And!hile 5o2 follo! the !ords of one !ho kno!s !hile 5o2 read a /ook that srings from real

inner

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e,erien*e o!ers are at !ork in 5o2r so2l !hi*h make 5o2 *lair.o5ant B2st as nat2ralfor*es ha.e *reated o2t of li.ing matter 5o2r e5es and 5o2r ears-


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Enlightenment

Enlightenment ro*eeds from .er5 simle ro*esses- Here too it is a matter of de.eloing*ertain feelings and tho2ghts !hi*h sl2m/er in e.er5 h2man /eing and m2st /e a!akened- Itis onl5 !hen these simle ro*esses are *arried o2t !ith 2nfailing atien*e *ontin2o2sl5 and

*ons*ientio2sl5 that the5 *an lead to the er*etion of the inner light+forms- The first ste istaken /5 o/ser.ing different nat2ral o/Be*ts in a arti*2lar !a5 for instan*e a transarentand /ea2tif2ll5 formed stone (a *r5stal) a lant and an animal- The st2dent sho2ldendea.or at first to dire*t his !hole attention to a *omarison of the stone !ith the animal inthe follo!ing manner- The tho2ghts here mentioned sho2ld ass thro2gh his so2la**omanied /5 .i.id feelings and no other tho2ght no other feeling m2st mingle !iththem and dist2r/ !hat sho2ld /e an intensel5

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attenti.e o/ser.ation- The st2dent sa5s to himself FThe stone has a form the animal also hasa form- The stone remains motionless in its la*e- The animal *hanges its la*e- It is instin*t(desire) !hi*h *a2ses the animal to *hange its la*e- Instin*ts too are ser.ed /5 the form ofthe animal- Its organs and lim/s are fashioned in a**ordan*e !ith these instin*ts- The form ofthe stone is not fashioned in a**ordan*e !ith desires /2t in a**ordan*e !ith desireless for*e-F(The fa*t here mentioned in its /earing on the *ontemlation of *r5stals is in man5 !a5sdistorted /5 those !ho ha.e onl5 heard of it in an o2t!ard e,oteri* manner and in this !a5s2*h ra*ti*es as *r5stal+ga7ing ha.e their origin S2*h mani2lations are /ased on amis2nderstanding- The5 ha.e /een des*ri/ed in man5 /ooks /2t the5 ne.er form the s2/Be*tof gen2ine esoteri* tea*hing-)

:5 sinking deel5 into s2*h tho2ghts and !hile doing so o/ser.ing the stone and the animal!ith rat attention there arise in the so2l t!o 62ite searate kinds of feelings- Drom the stonethere flo!s into the so2l the one kind of feeling and from the animal the other kind- Theattemt

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!ill ro/a/l5 not s2**eed at first /2t little /5 little !ith gen2ine and atient ra*ti*e thesefeelings ens2e- Onl5 this e,er*ise m2st /e ra*ti*ed o.er and o.er again- At first the feelingsare onl5 resent as long as the o/ser.ation lasts- ;ater on the5 *ontin2e and then the5 gro!

to something !hi*h remains li.ing in the so2l- The st2dent has then /2t to refle*t and /othfeelings !ill al!a5s arise e.en !itho2t the *ontemlation of an e,ternal o/Be*t- O2t of thesefeelings and the tho2ghts that are /o2nd 2 !ith them the organs of *lair.o5an*e areformed- If the lant sho2ld then /e in*l2ded in this o/ser.ation it !ill /e noti*ed that thefeeling flo!ing from it lies /et!een the feelings deri.ed from the stone and the animal in/oth 62alit5 and degree- The organs th2s formed are sirit2al e5es- The st2dents grad2all5learns /5 their means to see something like so2l and sirit *olors- The sirit2al !orld !ithits lines and fig2res remains dark as long as he has onl5 attained !hat has /een des*ri/ed as


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rearation thro2gh enlightenment this !orld /e*omes light- Here it m2st also /e noted thatthe !ords FdarkF and FlightF as !ell as the other e,ressions 2sed onl5 aro,imatel5des*ri/e !hat is meant-

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#aragrah *ontin2es This *annot /e other!ise if ordinar5 lang2age is 2sed for thislang2age !as *reated to s2it h5si*al *onditions- Sirit2al s*ien*e des*ri/es that !hi*h for*lair.o5ant organs flo!s from the stone as /l2e or /l2e+red and that !hi*h is felt as *omingfrom the animal as red or red+5ello!- In realit5 *olors of a sirit2al kind are seen- The *olorro*eeding the lant is green !hi*h little /5 little t2rns into a light ethereal ink- The lant isa*t2all5 that rod2*t of nat2re !hi*h in higher !orlds resem/les in *ertain rese*ts its*onstit2tion in the h5si*al !orld- The same does not al5 to the stone and the animal- Itm2st no! /e *learl5 2nderstood that the a/o.e+mentioned *olors onl5 reresent the rin*ialshades in the stone lant and animal kingdom- In realit5 all ossi/le intermediate shades areresent- E.er5 stone e.er5 lant e.er5 animal has its o!n arti*2lar shade of *olor- In

addition to these there are also the /eings of the higher !orlds !ho ne.er in*arnateh5si*all5 /2t !ho ha.e their *olors often !onderf2l often horri/le- Indeed the !ealth of*olor in these higher !orlds is immeas2ra/l5 greater than in the h5si*al !orld-

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On*e the fa*2lt5 of seeing !ith sirit2al e5es has /een a*62ired one then en*o2nters sooneror later the /eings here mentioned some of them higher some lo!er than man himself++/eings that ne.er enter h5si*al realit5-

If this oint has /een rea*hed the !a5 to a great deal lies oen- :2t it is inad.isa/le toro*eed f2rther !itho2t a5ing *aref2l heed to !hat is said or other!ise imarted /5 thesirit2al resear*her- And for that too !hi*h has /een des*ri/ed attention aid to s2*he,erien*ed g2idan*e is the .er5 /est thing- 9oreo.er if a man has the strength and theend2ran*e to tra.el so far that he f2lfills the elementar5 *onditions of enlightenment he !illass2redl5 seek and find the right g2idan*e-

:2t in an5 *ir*2mstan*es one re*a2tion is ne*essar5 failing !hi*h it !ere /etter to lea.e2ntrodden all stes on the ath to higher kno!ledge- It is ne*essar5 that the st2dent sho2ldlose none of his 62alities as a good and no/le man or his re*eti.it5 for all h5si*al realit5-Indeed thro2gho2t his training he m2st *ontin2all5 in*rease his moral strength his inner

2rit5 and his o!er of o/ser.ation- To gi.e an e,amle

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d2ring the elementar5 e,er*ises on enlightenment the st2dent m2st take *are al!a5s toenlarge his s5math5 for the animal and the h2man !orlds and his sense for the /ea2t5 ofnat2re- Dailing this *are s2*h e,er*ises !o2ld *ontin2all5 /l2nt that feeling and that sensethe heart !o2ld /e*ome hardened and the senses /l2nted and that *o2ld onl5 lead to


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erilo2s res2lts-

Ho! enlightenment ro*eeds if the st2dent rises in the sense of the foregoing e,er*ises fromthe stone the lant and the animal 2 to man and ho! after enlightenment 2nder all*ir*2mstan*es the 2nion of the so2l !ith the sirit2al !orld is effe*ted leading to initiation++!ith these things the follo!ing *haters !ill deal in as far as the5 *an and ma5 do so-

In o2r time the ath to sirit2al s*ien*e is so2ght /5 man5- It is so2ght in man5 !a5s andman5 dangero2s and e.en desi*a/le ra*ti*es are attemted- It is for this reason that the5!ho *laim to kno! something of the tr2th in these matters la*e /efore others the ossi/ilit5of learning something of esoteri* training- Onl5 so m2*h is here imarted as a**ords !ith thisossi/ilit5- It is ne*essar5 that something of the tr2th

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sho2ld /e*ome kno!n in order to re.ent error *a2sing great harm- No harm *an *ome to

an5one follo!ing the !a5 here des*ri/ed so long as he does not for*e matters- Onl5 onething sho2ld /e noted no st2dent sho2ld send more time and strength 2on these e,er*isesthan he *an sare !ith d2e regard to his station in life and to his d2ties nor sho2ld he *hangean5thing for the time /eing in the e,ternal *onditions of his life thro2gh taking this ath-Witho2t atien*e no gen2ine res2lts *an /e attained- After doing an e,er*ise for a fe!min2tes the st2dent m2st /e a/le to sto and *ontin2e 62ietl5 his dail5 !ork and notho2ght of these e,er*ises sho2ld mingle !ith the da5s !ork- No one is of 2se as an esoteri*st2dent or !ill e.er attain res2lts of real .al2e !ho has not learned to !ait in the highest and/est sense of the !ord-

The Control of Tho2ghts and Deelings

When the st2dent seeks the ath leading to higher kno!ledge in the !a5 des*ri/ed in there*eding *hater he sho2ld not omit to fortif5 himself thro2gho2t his !ork !ith one e.erresent

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tho2ght- He m2st ne.er *ease reeating to himself that he ma5 ha.e made 62ite *onsidera/le

rogress after a *ertain inter.al of time tho2gh it ma5 not /e aarent to him in the !a5 heerhas e,e*ted other!ise he *an easil5 lose heart and a/andon all attemts after a shorttime- The o!ers and fa*2lties to /e de.eloed are of a most s2/tle kind and differ entirel5in their nat2re from the *on*etions re.io2sl5 formed /5 the st2dent- He had /eena**2stomed to o**25 himself e,*l2si.el5 !ith the h5si*al !orld the !orld of sirit andso2l had /een *on*ealed from his .ision and *on*ets- It is therefore not s2rrising if he doesnot immediatel5 noti*e the o!ers of so2l and sirit no! de.eloing in him- In this rese*tthere is a ossi/ilit5 of dis*o2ragement for those setting o2t on the ath to higher kno!ledge


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if the5 ignore the e,erien*e gathered /5 resonsi/le in.estigators- The tea*her is a!are ofthe rogress made /5 his 2il long /efore the latter is *ons*io2s of it He kno!s ho! thedeli*ate sirit2al e5es /egin to form themsel.es long /efore the 2il is a!are of this and agreat art of !hat he has to sa5 is *o2*hed in s2*h terms as to re.ent the 2il from losingatien*e

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and erse.eran*e /efore he *an himself gain kno!ledge of his o!n rogress- The tea*her as!e kno! *an *onfer 2on the 2il no o!ers !hi*h are not alread5 latent !ithin him andhis sole f2n*tion is to assist in the a!akening of sl2m/ering fa*2lties- :2t !hat he imarts o2tof his o!n e,erien*e is a illar of strength for the one !ishing to enetrate thro2gh darknessto light- 9an5 a/andon the ath to higher kno!ledge soon after ha.ing set foot 2on it/e*a2se their rogress is not immediatel5 aarent to them- And e.en !hen the firste,erien*es /egin to da!n 2on the 2il he is at to regard them as ill2sions /e*a2se hehad formed 62ite different *on*etions of !hat he !as going to e,erien*e- He loses *o2rage

either /e*a2se he regards these first e,erien*es as /eing of no .al2e or /e*a2se the5 aearto him to /e so insignifi*ant that he *annot /elie.e the5 !ill lead him to an5 are*ia/leres2lts !ithin a meas2ra/le time- Co2rage and self+*onfiden*e are t!o /ea*ons !hi*h m2stne.er /e e,ting2ished on the ath to higher kno!ledge- No one !ill e.er tra.el far !ho*annot /ring himself to reeat o.er and o.er

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again an e,er*ise !hi*h has failed aarentl5 for a *o2ntless n2m/er of times-

;ong /efore an5 distin*t er*etion of rogress there rises in the st2dent from the hiddendeths of the so2l a feeling that he is on the right ath- This feeling sho2ld /e *herished andfostered for it *an de.elo into a tr2st!orth5 g2ide- A/o.e all it is imerati.e to e,tiratethe idea that an5 fantasti* m5sterio2s ra*ti*es are re62ired for the attainment of higherkno!ledge- It m2st /e *learl5 reali7ed that a start has to /e made !ith the tho2ghts andfeelings !ith !hi*h !e *ontin2all5 li.e and that these feelings and tho2ghts m2st merel5 /egi.en a ne! dire*tion- E.er5one m2st sa5 to himself FIn m5 o!n !orld of tho2ght andfeeling the deeest m5steries lie hidden onl5 hitherto I ha.e /een 2na/le to er*ei.e them-FIn the end it all resol.es itself into the fa*t that man ordinaril5 *arries /od5 so2l and sirita/o2t !ith him and 5et is *ons*io2s in a tr2e sense onl5 of his /od5 and not of his so2l andsirit- The st2dent /e*omes *ons*io2s of so2l and sirit B2st as the ordinar5 erson is

*ons*io2s of his /od5- Hen*e it is highl5 imortant to gi.e the

#- 1

roer dire*tion to tho2ghts and feelings for then onl5 *an the er*etion /e de.eloed of allthat is in.isi/le in ordinar5 life- One of the !a5s /5 !hi*h this de.eloment ma5 /e *arriedo2t !ill no! /e indi*ated- Again like almost e.er5thing else so far e,lained it is 62ite asimle matter- "et its res2lts are of the greatest *onse62en*e if the ne*essar5 de.otion and


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s5math5 /e alied-

;et the st2dent la*e /efore himself the small seed of a lant and !hile *ontemlating thisinsignifi*ant o/Be*t form !ith intensit5 the right kind of tho2ghts and thro2gh thesetho2ghts de.elo *ertain feelings- In the first la*e let him *learl5 gras !hat he reall5 sees!ith his e5es- ;et him des*ri/e to himself the shae *olor and all other 62alities of the seed-

Then let his mind d!ell 2on the follo!ing train of tho2ght FO2t of the seed if lanted inthe soil a lant of *omle, str2*t2re !ill gro!-F ;et him /2ild 2 this lant in hisimagination and refle*t as follo!s FWhat I am no! i*t2ring to m5self in m5 imagination!ill later on /e enti*ed from the seed /5 the for*es of earth and light- If I had /efore me anartifi*ial o/Be*t !hi*h imitated the seed to

#- $

s2*h a de*eti.e degree that m5 e5es *o2ld not disting2ish it from a real seed no for*es ofearth or light *o2ld a.ail to rod2*e from it a lant-F If the st2dent thoro2ghl5 grass this

tho2ght so that it /e*omes an in!ard e,erien*e he !ill also /e a/le to form the follo!ingtho2ght and *o2le it !ith the right feeling FAll that !ill 2ltimatel5 gro! o2t of the seed isno! se*retl5 enfolded !ithin it as the for*e of the !hole lant- In the artifi*ial imitation of theseed there is no s2*h for*e resent- And 5et /oth aear alike to m5 e5es- The real seedtherefore *ontains something in.isi/le !hi*h is not resent in the imitation-F It is on thisin.isi/le something that tho2ght and feeling are to /e *on*entrated- (An5one o/Be*ting that ami*ros*oi*al e,amination !o2ld re.eal the differen*e /et!een the real seed and theimitation !o2ld onl5 sho! that he had failed to gras the oint- The intention is not toin.estigate the h5si*al nat2re of the o/Be*t /2t to 2se it for the de.eloment of s5*ho+sirit2al for*es-)

;et the st2dent f2ll5 reali7e that this in.isi/le something !ill transm2te itself later on into a.isi/le lant !hi*h he !ill ha.e /efore him in its

#- 0

shae and *olor- ;et him onder on the tho2ght FThe in.isi/le !ill /e*ome .isi/le- If I *o2ldnot think then that !hi*h !ill onl5 /e*ome .isi/le later on *o2ld not alread5 make itsresen*e felt to me-F Parti*2lar stress m2st /e laid on the follo!ing oint !hat the st2dentthinks he m2st also feel !ith intensit5- In inner tran62ilit5 the tho2ght mentioned a/o.em2st /e*ome a *ons*io2s inner e,erien*e to the e,*l2sion of all other tho2ghts and

dist2r/an*es- And s2ffi*ient time m2st /e taken to allo! the tho2ght and the feeling !hi*h is*o2led !ith it to /ore themsel.es into the so2l as it !ere- If this /e a**omlished in theright !a5 then after a time++ossi/l5 not 2ntil after n2mero2s attemts++an inner for*e !illmake itself felt- This for*e !ill *reate ne! o!ers of er*etion- The grain of seed !ill aearas if en.eloed in a small l2mino2s *lo2d- In a sensi/le+s2ersensi/le !a5 it !ill /e felt as akind of flame- The *enter of this flame e.okes the same feeling that one has !hen 2nder theimression of the *olor lila* and the edges as !hen 2nder the imression of a /l2ish tone-What !as formerl5 in.isi/le no! /e*omes .isi/le for it is *reated /5 the o!er of the


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tho2ghts and feelings

#- 4

!e ha.e stirred to life !ithin o2rsel.es- The lant itself !ill not /e*ome .isi/le 2ntil later sothat the h5si*all5 in.isi/le no! re.eals itself in a sirit2all5 .isi/le !a5-

It is not s2rrising that all this aears to man5 as ill2sion- FWhat is the 2se of s2*h .isionsFthe5 ask Fand s2*h hall2*inations?F And man5 !ill th2s fall a!a5 and a/andon the ath- :2tthis is re*isel5 the imortant oint not to *onf2se sirit2al realit5 !ith imagination at thisdiffi*2lt stage of h2man e.ol2tion and f2rthermore to ha.e the *o2rage to ress on!ard andnot /e*ome timoro2s and faint+hearted- On the other hand ho!e.er the ne*essit5 m2st /eemhasi7ed of maintaining 2nimaired and of eret2all5 *2lti.ating that health5 so2ndsense !hi*h disting2ishes tr2th from ill2sion- D2ll5 *ons*io2s self+*ontrol m2st ne.er /e lostd2ring all these e,er*ises and the5 m2st /e a**omanied /5 the same sane so2nd thinking!hi*h is alied to the details of e.er5+da5 life- To lase into re.eries !o2ld /e fatal- The

intelle*t2al *larit5 not to sa5 the so/riet5 of tho2ght m2st ne.er for a moment /e d2lled- Thegreatest mistake !o2ld /e made if the st2dents mental /alan*e

#- &

!ere dist2r/ed thro2gh s2*h e,er*ises if he !ere hamered in B2dging the matters of hisdail5 life as sanel5 and as so2ndl5 as /efore- He sho2ld e,amine himself again and again tofind o2t if he has remained 2naltered in relation to the *ir*2mstan*es among !hi*h he li.esor !hether he ma5 erhas ha.e /e*ome 2n/alan*ed- A/o.e all stri*t *are m2st /e taken notto drift at random into .ag2e re.eries or to e,eriment !ith all kinds of e,er*ises- The trains

of tho2ght here indi*ated ha.e /een tested and ra*ti*ed in esoteri* training sin*e the earliesttimes and onl5 s2*h are gi.en in these ages- An5one attemting to 2se others de.ised /5himself or of !hi*h he ma5 ha.e heard or read at one la*e or another !ill ine.ita/l5 goastra5 and find himself on the ath of /o2ndless *himera-

As a f2rther e,er*ise to s2**eed the one B2st des*ri/ed the follo!ing ma5 /e taken ;et thest2dent la*e /efore him a lant !hi*h has attained the stage of f2ll de.eloment- No! lethim fill his mind !ith the tho2ght that the time !ill *ome !hen this lant !ill !ither anddie- FNothing !ill /e left of !hat I no! see /efore me- :2t this lant !ill ha.e de.eloedseeds !hi*h in their t2rn

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!ill de.elo to ne! lants- I again /e*ome a!are that in !hat I see something lies hidden!hi*h I *annot see- I fill m5 mind entirel5 !ith the tho2ght this lant !ith its form and*olors !ill in time /e no more- :2t the refle*tion that it rod2*es seeds tea*hes me that it !illnot disaear into nothing- I *annot at resent see !ith m5 e5es that !hi*h g2ards it fromdisaearan*e an5 more than I re.io2sl5 *o2ld dis*ern the lant in the grain of seed- Th2sthere is something in the lant !hi*h m5 e5es *annot see- If I let this tho2ght li.e !ithin me


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and if the *orresonding feeling /e *o2led !ith it then in d2e time there !ill againde.elo in m5 so2l a for*e !hi*h !ill rien into a ne! er*etion-F O2t of the lant thereagain gro!s a kind of sirit2al flame+form !hi*h is of *o2rse *orresondingl5 larger thanthe one re.io2sl5 des*ri/ed- The flame *an /e felt as /eing greenish+/l2e in the *enter and5ello!ish+red at the o2ter edge-

It m2st /e e,li*itl5 emhasi7ed that the *olors here des*ri/ed are not seen as the h5si*ale5es see *olors /2t that thro2gh sirit2al er*etion the same feeling is e,erien*ed as in the*ase of a h5si*al *olor+imression- To arehend /l2e

#-

sirit2all5 means to ha.e a sensation similar to the one e,erien*ed !hen the h5si*al e5erests on the *olor /l2e- This fa*t m2st /e noted /5 all !ho intend to rise to sirit2aler*etion- Other!ise the5 !ill e,e*t a mere reetition of the h5si*al in the sirit2al- This*o2ld onl5 lead to the /itterest de*etion-

An5one ha.ing rea*hed this oint of sirit2al .ision is the ri*her /5 a great deal for he *aner*ei.e things not onl5 in their resent state of /eing /2t also in their ro*ess of gro!th andde*a5- He /egins to see in all things the sirit of !hi*h h5si*al e5es *an kno! nothing- Andthere!ith he has taken the first ste to!ard the grad2al sol2tion thro2gh ersonal .ision ofthe se*ret of /irth and death- Dor the o2ter senses a /eing *omes into e,isten*e thro2gh /irthand asses a!a5 thro2gh death- This ho!e.er is onl5 /e*a2se these senses *annot er*ei.ethe *on*ealed sirit of the /eing- Dor the sirit /irth and death are merel5 a transformationB2st as the 2nfolding of the flo!er from the /2d is a transformation ena*ted /efore o2rh5si*al e5es- :2t if !e desire to learn this thro2gh ersonal .ision !e m2st

#- '

first a!aken the re62isite sirit2al sense in the !a5 here indi*ated-

In order to meet another o/Be*tion !hi*h ma5 /e raised /5 *ertain eole !ho ha.e somes5*hi* e,erien*e let it at on*e /e admitted that there are shorter and simler !a5s andthat there are ersons !ho ha.e a*62ired kno!ledge of the henomena of /irth and deaththro2gh ersonal .ision !itho2t first going thro2gh all that has here /een des*ri/ed- Thereare in fa*t eole !ith *onsidera/le s5*hi* gifts !ho need /2t a slight im2lse in order tofind themsel.es alread5 de.eloed- :2t the5 are the e,*etions and the methods des*ri/ed

a/o.e are safer and al5 e62all5 to all- It is ossi/le to a*62ire some kno!ledge of *hemistr5in an e,*etional !a5 /2t if 5o2 !ish to /e*ome a *hemist 5o2 m2st follo! the re*ogni7edand relia/le *o2rse-

An error fra2ght !ith serio2s *onse62en*es !o2ld ens2e if it !ere ass2med that the desiredres2lt *o2ld /e rea*hed more easil5 if the grain of seed or the lant mentioned a/o.e !eremerel5 imagined !ere merel5 i*t2red in the imagination- This might lead to res2lts /2t notso s2rel5


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as the method here- The .ision th2s attained !o2ld in most *ases /e a mere fragment of theimagination the transformation of !hi*h into gen2ine sirit2al .ision !o2ld still remain to/e a**omlished- It is not intended ar/itraril5 to *reate .isions /2t to allo! realit5 to *reate

them !ithin oneself- The tr2th m2st !ell 2 from the deths of o2r o!n so2l it m2st not /e*onB2red forth /5 o2r ordinar5 ego /2t /5 the /eings themsel.es !hose sirit2al tr2th !e areto *ontemlate-

On*e the st2dent has fo2nd the /eginnings of sirit2al .ision /5 means of s2*h e,er*ises hema5 ro*eed to the *ontemlation of man himself- Simle henomena of h2man life m2stfirst /e *hosen- :2t /efore making an5 attemt in this dire*tion it is imerati.e for the st2dentto stri.e for the a/sol2te 2rit5 of his moral *hara*ter- He m2st /anish all thro2gh of e.er2sing kno!ledge gained in this !a5 for his o!n ersonal /enefit- He m2st /e *on.in*ed thathe !o2ld ne.er 2nder an5 *ir*2mstan*es a.ail himself in an e.il sense of an5 o!er he ma5

gain o.er his fello!+*reat2res- Dor this reason all !ho seek to dis*o.er thro2gh ersonal.ision the se*rets in

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Knowledge of the Higher Worlds - Rudolf Steiner

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