The Way of Initiation or, How to Attain Knowledge of the Higher Worlds E-Book

Rudolf Steiner

• Herausgeber: Enhanced Media Publishing
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Rudolf Steiner was a philosopher, social thinker, architect, and esotericist. His philosophical work, which he termed spiritual science, sought to provide a connection between the cognitive path of Western philosophy and the inner and spiritual needs of the human being. In  The Way of Initiation, Steiner details the exercises and moral qualities to be cultivated on the path to a conscious experience of ‘supersensible’ realities. His short but powerful book is intended as a guide for achieving spiritual vision.

Leseprobe

The Way of Initiation or, How to Attain Knowledge of the Higher Worlds

By Rudolf Steiner

Table of Contents

Title Page

The Way of Initiation or, How to Attain Knowledge of the Higher Worlds

I: THE SUPERPHYSICAL WORLD AND ITS GNOSIS

II: HOW TO ATTAIN KNOWLEDGE OF THE HIGHER WORLDS

III: THE PATH OF DISCIPLESHIP

IV: PROBATION

V: ENLIGHTENMENT

VI: INITIATION

VII: THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF THE SOUL

VIII: THE CONDITIONS OF DISCIPLESHIP

Further Reading: Early Writings of Aleister Crowley

The Way of Initiation or, How to Attain Knowledge of the Higher Worlds by Rudolf Steiner, translated by Max Gysi. First published in 1908. This edition published 2017 by Enhanced Media Publishing. All rights reserved.

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ISBN:  978-1-387-02982-2.

I: THE SUPERPHYSICAL WORLD AND ITS GNOSIS

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In this practical age and because of the many various claims of the day, it is but natural that people, who hear of transcendentalism should at once ask the question: "How may we for ourselves know the truth of such statements?" Indeed, it is noticeable, as a characteristic of the majority, that they will accept nothing on faith, or mere "authority," but wish rather to rely entirely upon their own judgment. Therefore, when a mystic undertakes to explain something of the superphysical nature of man, and of the destiny of the human soul and spirit before birth and after death, he is at once confronted with that fundamental demand. Such doctrine, they seem to think is important only when you have shown them the way by which they may convince themselves of its truth.

This critical inquiry is quite justified; and no true mystic or occultist will dispute its fairness, yet it is unfortunate that with many who make the demand, there exists a feeling of skepticism or antagonism toward the mystic or any attempt on his part to explain anything occult. This feeling becomes especially marked when the mystic intimates how the truths which he has described may be attained. For they say, "Whatever is true may be demonstrated; therefore, prove to us what you assert." They demand that the truth must be something clear and simple, something which an ordinary intellect may comprehend. "Surely," they add, "this knowledge cannot be the possession of a chosen few, to whom it is given by a special revelation." And in this way the real messenger of transcendental truth is frequently confronted with people who reject him, because—unlike the scientist, for example, he can produce no proofs for his assertions, of such a nature as they are able to understand. Again, there are those who cautiously reject any information pertaining to the superphysical because to them it does not seem reasonable. Thereupon they partially satisfy themselves, by claiming that we cannot know anything of what lies beyond birth or death, or of anything which cannot be perceived through our five ordinary physical senses.