Anthroposophy says nothing that is not in fact inscribed deep within every human soul

Often when the difficulty and incomprehensibility of anthroposophy is spoken of, it is not because the understanding itself is so difficult, but because the modern world of thought feels alienated by what is said by the anthroposophists. And then the listeners or readers don’t say that these things are unusual for them, but they simply say: we don’t understand this.

Not pre-education, but open-mindedness is what is often lacking in this respect. For anthroposophy says nothing that is not in fact deeply inscribed in every human soul. And to bring that out, it is not scholarship that is needed, but goodwill above all.

Source (German): Rudolf Steiner – GA 034 – GRUNDLEGENDE AUFSÄTZE ZUR ANTHROPOSOPHIE UND BERICHTE aus den Zeitschriften «Luzifer» und «Lucifer – Gnosis» (page 400-401)

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Summerheat – Art of Nesta Carsten-Krüger 

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Not only what eyes see and hands can grasp is reality

It comes down to finding the spirit within the reality that surrounds people. It is not reality that is spiritless, but man who cannot find the spirit. Just as one does not look for electricity, light and other natural forces outside the world, neither does the true anthroposophical disposition do so with spiritual forces. Properly understood, anthroposophy is the recognition of such spiritual forces and laws within the world. 

Not only what eyes can see and hands can grasp is a force in the world, but also what is accessible only to the eyes of the soul and what no instrument but the power of the spirit can control and turn into reality, if it has knowledge of it.

Technology is based on man subjecting the sensory forces to his understanding; and anthroposophy can lead to a spiritual technique that places the higher forces at the service of humanity. From this point of view, the anthroposophical disposition will lead not to worldliness, but to an active role in life, indeed to the noblest, most understanding practice. For its stage is not a workshop where material products are provided, but life itself as it takes place between man and man.

Source (German): Bron: Rudolf Steiner – GA 034 – GRUNDLEGENDE AUFSÄTZE ZUR ANTHROPOSOPHIE UND BERICHTE aus den Zeitschriften «Luzifer» und «Lucifer – Gnosis» (page 170)

Translated by DeepL

Striving – Art of Nesta Carsten-Krüger 

Not the most important question is: How can I know a lot?

All knowledge, all knowledge is a means of human perfection and ennoblement. A higher ethics, a noble morality, is the result of anthroposophy. Not the most important question is: How can I know a lot? But: How do I become a more perfect person, how do I get closer to my destiny? The insights provide the way to this goal. The most important thing in Anthroposophy is the ennoblement of the soul, the purification of the lower nature.

The great law of karma, for example, is not there to satisfy a higher curiosity; it should show us how to approach life in order to become better people. We learn by the law of karma what to do. And so it is with everything that anthroposophy wants to teach. Everything results in anthroposophical ethics. It is quite right: What would it help me if I gained the whole world by knowledge, and did nothing for the ennoblement of my soul? Anthroposophy must give the ideals for our way of life.

Source (German): Rudolf Steiner – GA 034 – GRUNDLEGENDE AUFSÄTZE ZUR ANTHROPOSOPHIE UND BERICHTE aus den Zeitschriften «Luzifer» und «Lucifer – Gnosis»: Theosophie und moderne Naturwissenschaft – February 1904 (page 447-448)

Translated by DeepL

Sophia – Art of Nesta Carsten-Krüger 

Opinions have no value

Those who have experience of succeeding in the following, know the tremendous effect it has: The human being has myriads of opinions. However, it is not important whether A or B holds something about this or that to be true. The wise as well as the fool believes something under certain circumstances to be right. Each holds his own opinion for infinitely important, and he wants his viewpoint to triumph above all other viewpoints. This is why you so often hear people say: I believe this, I believe that.

Try to look back and to realise, how insignificant it is when someone puts forward his own opinion at every opportunity; it may be the least important, the most incorrect opinion because what we believe usually depends on our own pleasure and displeasure. When we succeed in holding back our own view, then we practice something of great significance and at the same time gain tremendous power.

Every suppressed expression of own being, every time we remain silent, we collect new strength towards insight.

The more we are able to listen and not express our own opinion, the sooner we rise to immediate insight and direct spiritual sight. For someone who does not understand the effect on the human soul of this holding back of one’s own opinion, this is unbelievable. But in the same way that power is collected in a battery, we can collect forces in our souls, when we suppress our opinions. It will result in inner power and strength.

One who has opinions about everything will develop slowly; he who can be silent, who can let the things themselves speak to him, will soon rise to higher knowledge. There is a golden rule in connection with insight and knowledge: If we don’t utter opinions about the things we encounter, then the things will start to speak to us of themselves. A very important statement of the occult doctrine is: I have learned much from those above me; I’ve learned much from those who are equal to me; and I have learned the most from those underneath me! – It is the learning from those who stand underneath us, the learning by listening and by suppressing our own opinions, that brings us further in our development. And we learn most if we let nature speak to us and we can listen to it. Then we reach what is to be achieved, namely the power to suspend our opinions.

Source (German): Rudolf Steiner – GA 266a – Aus den Inhalten der esoterischen Stunden – Berlin, 21 February 1904 (p 41-42)

Translated by Nesta Carsten-Krüger

Reverence – Art of Nesta Carsten-Krüger 

Previously posted on 1 January 2015

Without a foundation of spiritual life no material civilization can prosper

It is obvious to deeper insight that without a foundation of spiritual life, no material civilization can prosper. No state, no community has ever endured without a religious foundation. Let someone earnestly try to found a community consisting solely of people whose interests are purely materialistic, that is people with no knowledge of spiritual things, who accept as valid only materialistic views. Things would not deteriorate into chaos straightaway only because people would still have a vestige of ideas and ideals.

No social system can endure unless it is built upon the foundation of religious wisdom. An individual is a bad practitioner who believes that practical minds are enough to ensure success. A person who wants to see material conditions continue to make progress must recognize that a foundation of spiritual insight and religion is imperative.

If we want to give a human being bread, we must also give him something that will nourish the soul. In the periodical Lucifer, I once wrote that no one should be given bread without receiving also a world outlook that to give bread without giving also spiritual sustenance could only do harm. At first sight, this statement may not seem valid, but in the article it is substantiated.

Source: Rudolf Steiner – GA 55 – Supersensible Knowledge – Lecture I: TheSignificance of Supersensible Knowledge Today – Berlin, 11th October 1906

Translated by Rita Stebbing

Parcival’s shame – Art of Nesta Carsten-Krüger 

Previously posted on 4 januari 2019