Rudolf Steiner

3 lectures, edited and rewritten by Rudolf Steiner in 1911 (CW 15) Steiner begins this work by pointing to our awareness of a second self that guides us through life. It guides us as infants and children as we attain vertical balance in space, learn to communicate in community, and begin to think in the world. Through this initial wisdom (which is still connected to the spiritual hierarchies) we enter the physical realm and then, as we grow, we exchange it for self-awareness and memory. What--or who--is this wisdom? Steiner suggests that it is connected with the "higher self" of humankind that lived in Jesus between his baptism and the Crucifixion. Even if there were no Gospels to tell us of the Christ, we can know of it through human nature. Looking within ourselves and at human history, we are able to understand the spiritual guidance of humanity and human beings. Christ's sacrifice for humanity is only part of the cosmic, spiritual participation of beings of every level and kind in human evolution. Steiner's written works differ from his lectures in their directness, depth, and ramifications, and it was rare for him to take time from his busy schedule to rewrite any of his numerous lectures for publication. However, Steiner considered these lectures essential and important for our understanding of the foundations of spiritual science. This volume is a translation of Die geistige F hrung des Menschen und der Menschheit (GA 15).

Steiner tells us that Mark was especially able to reveal Christ as a cosmic being of his greatness and power, because, after having been a pupil of Peter, he moved to Alexandria during a time when Jewish philosophy and theology was at it's peak. There he absorbed the best aspects and views of pagan gnosis. Mark was able to learn how humankind came arose from the spiritual world and how the luciferic and ahrimanic forces are taken into the human soul. Mark was able to accept everything that was told to him by pagan gnosis concerning our human origin out of the cosmos when our planet came into being. But he could also see, especially from his perspective in Egypt, the strong contrast between our original human destiny and what humankind had become during his time. This lecture cycle, like the Gospel itself, is a work of art in its own right.

"This is one of the meanings of the Mystery of Golgotha: the attainment of the unity of humanity from within. Externally, human beings are becoming more and more different. The result will be not sameness but difference over the Earth, and human beings must exert all the more force from within to attain unity" --Rudolf Steiner (lecture 4) In this collection, Rudolf Steiner describes the evolutionary task facing contemporary humanity in preparing to enter the sixth epoch. In the past, human souls felt a strong connection with the group soul to which they belonged. Today, all "group soul" characteristics--such as race and nation--must be stripped away. Rudi Lissau wrote of the last lecture: "No anthroposophist should approach racial problems without first pondering this lecture and its implications." Steiner also explains that we must overcome such preconception as are formed by our normal notions and feelings of good and evil: "Most people picture Ahriman and Lucifer as evil beings--albeit much more intensely evil than human beings. But this is not true; we must keep in mind that certain earthly feelings we associate with our concepts lose their meaning when we go beyond the earthly realm. Thus, we cannot say that there are good gods on the one hand and evil gods Ahriman and Lucifer on the other.... The opposing forces were created by the good gods themselves in an earlier period so that they would be able to bring to bear their full force for the development I have described. --Rudolf Steiner (lecture 4) CONTENTS: Individuality and the Group Soul The God Within and the God of Outer Revelation The Lord of the Soul The Universal Human: The Unification of Humanity through the Christ Impulse

9 lectures, Dornach, February 1923 (CW 221)There is a great difference between the meaning of "know yourself" in the ancient mystery centers and its meaning today. In ancient times, one tried to achieve after death what one can now attain during earthly life. In order to reach higher stages of development after we die, we must become fully human during life on Earth. Such matters have changed over millennia of human and earthly evolution. At the center of the evolution human consciousness is the Christ event. Today, we must experience the Christ within ourselves as light, life, and love. By adopting the appropriate path of knowledge, we can become citizens of the universe rather than "hermits" on the Earth. These lectures are crucial reading for a deeper understanding of the anthroposophic view of our place as human beings in the cosmos. This volume is a translation of Erdenwissen und Himmelserkenntnis (GA 221). READ BOBBY MATHERNE'S REVIEW OF THIS BOOK

7 lectures, various cities, April 17-May 26, 1914 (CW 154) What is the relationship between those who have died and those who remain alive on Earth? Can we help those now in the spiritual world? Can they help us? In these talks, Rudolf Steiner deals with the spiritual relationships that the living can have with those who have crossed over the threshold between life and death. In a realistic, practical way, he shows how an understanding of our spiritual nature reveals ways of knowing a world undreamed of by materialists. The tone of these talks is warm and moving, clearly drawn from Steiner's own experience and the lives of those who had died and who were personally known to him--Robert Hamerling, Christian Morgenstern, and others. This is an important work for those who are coming to terms with the death of a love one. C O N T E N T S Forewords 1. Understanding the Spiritual World, part 12. Understanding the Spiritual World, part 23. Awakening Spiritual Thoughts4. The Presence of the Dead in Our Life5. The Blessing of the Dead6. Faith and Knowledge7. Robert Hamerling: Poet and Thinker This book is a translation from German of Wie erwirbt man sich Verst ndnis f r die geistige Welt? Das Einflie en geistiger Impulse aus der Welt der Verstorbenen (GA 154).