The Effects Of Esoteric Development
10 lectures by Rudolf Steiner

On February 3, 1913, the first General Meeting of the newly formed Anthroposophical Society was convened in Berlin. Six weeks later, in Holland, Rudolf Steiner spoke for the first time to an anthroposophical audience in a detailed, intimate way of the esoteric schooling of the individual human being in earthly life. In the lecture series, The Effects of Esoteric Development, Steiner discusses the subtle effects of spiritual development at every level of the human being.

Beginning with straightforward questions relating to the body’s experience of foodstuffs—meat, coffee, alcohol, and so forth—he unfolds the universe of anthroposophical spiritual striving until it includes direct perception of Paradise and the Holy Grail, as well as the role of the human being as evolving between the forces of Lucifer and Ahriman. Also included as a prologue is Steiner’s crucial lecture on “The Being of Anthroposophy,” which has never before appeared in English. This edition also includes Steiner’s “introductory words,” previously available only in German typescript.

Trans: A. H. Parker, J. Gates (10 lectures, the Hague 20 - 29 Mar 1913, GA145, plus 1 lecture, Berlin 3 Feb 1913); 192pp
Anthroposophic Press
0 88010 420 1; paperback

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) called his spiritual philosophy 'anthroposophy', which he defined as 'the consciousness of one's humanity', and the disciplined methods of studying this he termed ‘spiritual science’.  As a highly developed clairvoyant and spiritual initiate, he spoke from his direct cognition of the spiritual world. However, he did not see his work as religious or sectarian, but rather sought to found a universal 'science of the spirit'.

His many published works (written books and lectures) - which include his research into the spiritual nature of the human being, the evolution of the world and humanity, and methods of personal development - invite readers to develop their own spiritual faculties.  He also provided indications for the renewal of many human activities, including education - both general and special - agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, philosophy, religion and the arts. He wrote some 30 books and delivered over 6000 lectures across Europe, and in 1924 founded the General Anthroposophical Society which today has branches throughout the world.
 

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