 Self-Education
Autobiographical Reflections 1861-1893
A lecture by
Rudolf Steiner
Self-Education -
Autobiographical Reflections 1861-1893 is a single lecture given
by Rudolf Steiner in response to rumours that had been
circulating about him in 1912/13 that his teachings were
influenced by a Christian training he had supposedly received
from Jesuits in his youth.
From the beginning of
Rudolf Steiner's public presentation of spiritual knowledge,
he placed the Deed of Christ and its powerful and continuing
influence at the very centre of his teachings of human and
world evolution. Like all of his descriptions, this was simply
a result of what presented itself to his highly disciplined
clairvoyant faculties, and not a product of any form of
indoctrination. Though he grew up within a
European Christian culture, his own influences and interests during his
formative years were distinctly centred on independent enquiry
and self-wrought knowledge. He had little interest in Church
dogma, though he states that the rituals and church music had a
powerful effect on his soul.*
When he accepted the the
position of Secretary of the German Section of the Theosophical
Society in 1902, it was on the proviso that he could only
speak and write from his own spiritual examinations and must
be granted the independence to do so. This being accepted
Steiner then developed the gamut of spiritual knowledge which
later became known as Anthroposophy.
The Theosophical Society,
ostensibly embracing all religions, had a distinctly Asiatic
(Indian) spiritual perspective, and from the time of Blavatsky
onward, also gave a devaluing bias to the Judaeo-Christian
outlook. With Steiner's prodigious spiritual output and his
increasing popularity, his giving such pre-eminence to the
advent of Christ in human evolution did not sit well with the
leading lights of the Theosophical Society. Around 1912 a
variety of rumours were circulating that Steiner had been
trained in an educational institute run by Jesuits. These
rumours were also echoed in a Jesuit journal which attacked
Theosophy and stated that Steiner was a "renegade priest", and
this was then taken up by Annie Besant, President of the
Theosophical Society, who stated in a theosophical publication
that he "was trained by Jesuits" and that he had not been able
to free himself sufficiently from this training.
To make clear the falsehood
of these statements, Steiner gave this lecture in Berlin in
February 1913, which outlines his childhood development and
includes all of the educational and social influences that he
underwent until his early thirties - with scarcely a Jesuit to
be found, even in the background. Included are many
interesting anecdotes, including the beginnings of his
clairvoyant experiences and reference to the later systematic
development of these faculties. Above all, what is
evident is his self-education driven by his intense interest
in understanding the riddles of existence, something which led
him far from embracing any religious dogma but towards what
eventually resulted in his primary philosophical-spiritual
work:
The Philosophy of Freedom, as well as to the results of
all of his spiritual examinations of the world.
* Rudolf Steiner - An
Autobiography, pp33-4
Mercury Press
One lecture, 4 Feb 1913, Berlin
Paperback booklet; 45pp
ISBN: 0-936132-72-8
To purchase this title,
please click here:
Self-Education - Autobiographical
Reflections - Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925)
called his spiritual philosophy 'anthroposophy', meaning
'wisdom of the human being'. As a highly developed seer, he
based his work on direct knowledge and perception of spiritual
dimensions. He initiated a modern and universal 'science of
spirit', accessible to anyone willing to exercise clear and
unprejudiced thinking.
From his spiritual
investigations Steiner provided suggestions for the renewal of
many activities, including education (both general and
special), agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture,
science, philosophy, religion and the arts. Today there are
literally thousands of schools, clinics, farms and other
organizations involved in practical work based on his
principles. His many published works feature his research into
the spiritual nature of the human being, the evolution of the
world and humanity, and methods of personal development.
Steiner wrote some 30 books and delivered over 6,000 lectures
across Europe. In 1924 he founded the General Anthroposophical
Society, which today has branches throughout the world.
Prompt
delivery within the United Kingdom and overseas.
Copyright © 2005 Skylark Books
|
