This discussion covers pages 100 to 120 in the Adams translation of Occult Science, addressing the last segment of the "Sleep and Death" chapter and the beginning of Ch. 4: "Man and the Evolution of the World". Steiner emphasizes the importance of specific, detailed explanations over vague generalities when discussing spirituality. He introduces the concept of developing spiritual organs of perception beyond the sense-bound intellect to understand spiritual causation. Steiner suggests we first consider reincarnation as a hypothesis. Even if not clairvoyant, adopting this hypothesis can transform one's perspective and behavior significantly. He illustrates this by highlighting how a deep acceptance of reincarnation allows one to understand life's challenges as self-inflicted, aiding in coping with life's vicissitudes.
Today's explorations were so beautiful, moving, delicate, and important; thank you all for your presence and contributions-- they will be reverberating here for a while 🙏🏽💚🌍🌎🌏✨️🪽❣️
Thanks for your presence and participation today everyone! To help us better coordinate our reading for this cycle, below is a schedule for our remaining meetings with page numbers of the George and Mary Adams translation that Matt and I are using as well as paragraph numbers from the Creeger version.
Session 7: pages 121-141 or paragraphs (Chapter 4) 14-29.
Session 8: pgs 141-161 or para. (ch4) 30-46.
Session 9: pgs 161-181 or para (ch4) 47-60.
Session 10: pgs 181-201 or para (ch4) 61-73.
Session 11: pgs 201-221 or para (ch4) 74-93.
Session 12: pgs 221-240 or para (ch4) 94-105.
Session 13: pgs 240-261 or para (ch4) 106- (ch5) para 8.
Session 14: pgs 261-281 or para (ch5) 9-25.
Session 15: pgs 281-300 or para (ch5) 26-38.
Session 16: pgs 300-323 or para (ch5) 39-50.
Session 17: pgs 323-340 or para 51 and remainder of Chapter 5.
Session: all of Chapter 6.
Session 19: all of Chapter 7 + appendix/supplementary notes.
Thank you for these reflections. They carry a fresh and actualised view on Steiner’s proposal that is satisfying for this reader. Working in mental health with a background in Steiner’s cosmology (better said, in the western esoteric tradition with Steiner as one illustrious spokesperson) I agree with what you mentioned regarding the “trauma” centred approach we are now experiencing and its limitations. I take this as an historical phenomenon. Collectively the West is going through an awareness of evil, one might say, and working through the wounds - and naming the wounded and the wounding is part of that process. Of course, there are some risks of fixation but they are always present in the process of growing up. Speaking for myself I acknowledge how much more there is to learn about what transformation actually entails, from cosmic bodies to societies, including the human self…
The danish writer and mystic, Martinus on the experience of suffering:
"Why are there so many good and loving people who are currently afflicted by illnesses, accidents, or other sufferings and discomforts? That question is encountered time and time again. Because these people's desire to live in the life element of neighborly love and peace is about to be fulfilled and can only be fully realized when the seed they have sown in the life element of unkindness is harvested as the experiences that form the spiritual organs for the new life element. That is to say, when the necessary imagination of danger, conscience, and understanding of and compassion with other living beings have become an essential basis for human unfoldment. It is even an initiation, a test of spiritual maturity. If a person can take the difficulties and overcome them without bitterness and irritation, their consciousness becomes more and more one with the thought climate of love or the life element that Christ called 'the kingdom of heaven'."
I wasn't able to attend this last session and wanted to further some contemplation about the issue of karma. I do believe Steiner said when it comes to thinking about supersensible ideas, we need "a healthy suspension of disbelief". We can do this by the example Matt has shown by what Mani said through mildness and do it through love. Finally I will leave a quote I was made aware of through Angus by Spinoza from On the Improvement of the Understanding: "But love towards a thing eternal and infinite feeds the mind wholly with joy, and is itself unmingled with any sadness, wherefore it is greatly to be desired and sought for with all our strength."
Today's explorations were so beautiful, moving, delicate, and important; thank you all for your presence and contributions-- they will be reverberating here for a while 🙏🏽💚🌍🌎🌏✨️🪽❣️
Thanks for your presence and participation today everyone! To help us better coordinate our reading for this cycle, below is a schedule for our remaining meetings with page numbers of the George and Mary Adams translation that Matt and I are using as well as paragraph numbers from the Creeger version.
Session 7: pages 121-141 or paragraphs (Chapter 4) 14-29.
Session 8: pgs 141-161 or para. (ch4) 30-46.
Session 9: pgs 161-181 or para (ch4) 47-60.
Session 10: pgs 181-201 or para (ch4) 61-73.
Session 11: pgs 201-221 or para (ch4) 74-93.
Session 12: pgs 221-240 or para (ch4) 94-105.
Session 13: pgs 240-261 or para (ch4) 106- (ch5) para 8.
Session 14: pgs 261-281 or para (ch5) 9-25.
Session 15: pgs 281-300 or para (ch5) 26-38.
Session 16: pgs 300-323 or para (ch5) 39-50.
Session 17: pgs 323-340 or para 51 and remainder of Chapter 5.
Session: all of Chapter 6.
Session 19: all of Chapter 7 + appendix/supplementary notes.
Thank you for these reflections. They carry a fresh and actualised view on Steiner’s proposal that is satisfying for this reader. Working in mental health with a background in Steiner’s cosmology (better said, in the western esoteric tradition with Steiner as one illustrious spokesperson) I agree with what you mentioned regarding the “trauma” centred approach we are now experiencing and its limitations. I take this as an historical phenomenon. Collectively the West is going through an awareness of evil, one might say, and working through the wounds - and naming the wounded and the wounding is part of that process. Of course, there are some risks of fixation but they are always present in the process of growing up. Speaking for myself I acknowledge how much more there is to learn about what transformation actually entails, from cosmic bodies to societies, including the human self…
I mentioned a blog reply to me from William Irwin Thompson regarding evil. Here's the link to his comments: https://footnotes2plato.com/2023/10/25/william-irwin-thompsons-thoughts-on-evil/
The danish writer and mystic, Martinus on the experience of suffering:
"Why are there so many good and loving people who are currently afflicted by illnesses, accidents, or other sufferings and discomforts? That question is encountered time and time again. Because these people's desire to live in the life element of neighborly love and peace is about to be fulfilled and can only be fully realized when the seed they have sown in the life element of unkindness is harvested as the experiences that form the spiritual organs for the new life element. That is to say, when the necessary imagination of danger, conscience, and understanding of and compassion with other living beings have become an essential basis for human unfoldment. It is even an initiation, a test of spiritual maturity. If a person can take the difficulties and overcome them without bitterness and irritation, their consciousness becomes more and more one with the thought climate of love or the life element that Christ called 'the kingdom of heaven'."
I wasn't able to attend this last session and wanted to further some contemplation about the issue of karma. I do believe Steiner said when it comes to thinking about supersensible ideas, we need "a healthy suspension of disbelief". We can do this by the example Matt has shown by what Mani said through mildness and do it through love. Finally I will leave a quote I was made aware of through Angus by Spinoza from On the Improvement of the Understanding: "But love towards a thing eternal and infinite feeds the mind wholly with joy, and is itself unmingled with any sadness, wherefore it is greatly to be desired and sought for with all our strength."
Another beautiful picture of what we were discussing: https://open.substack.com/pub/jpibiodynamics/p/the-dynamics-of-becoming-like-a-plant?r=2c7gpr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
and another one: https://www.rudolfsteiner.org/fileadmin/user_upload/regions/western/western-news/bh19-TAltgelt-life-cycle.pdf
Perfect timing for this this little gem in my personal studies and experiences of the season, et al. Thank you.