Customer Reviews

East in the Light of the West

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This too-long-out-of-print translation of a set of lectures should probably be updated, but it contains some of the greatest and most amazing gems of Rudolf Steiner's spiritual wisdom, so it is good that it is again available in a reprint. It is not a beginning book, however, and assumes the reader has already worked through some of Steiner's basic written books, such as (at least) Theosophy, How to Know the Higher Worlds, and An Outline of Occult Science. Many of the insights in this book are useful in comparing eastern and western occult paths of spiritual self-development, although Steiner's anthroposophical approach ("spiritual science") represents not a traditional path but a fully modern path for western people in the present day (although in an updated Rosicrucian stream). None of this, of course, to correct an error in a previous post, is taught in the Waldorf schools for children, since it was one of Steiner's pre-eminent principles to always leave people free to test what he said, to accept or reject it. Children are not mature enough for that and Steiner always insisted that no anthroposophy was to be taught in Waldorf schools.

This book contains 9 lectures in which Steiner explores the ancient wisdom of the East and its spiritual metamorphosis as seen through the consciousness of the West. It is very thought provoking but not for everyone. If you haven't seen or have been exposed to something that can't be explained rationally you won't understand this book. Trying to refute it and the new age movement using the Aryan Christ by Richard Knoll is like comparing apples to oranges. Knoll's book is more of a critic about Jung's personality, it tries to link him to Nazism. Knoll goes on and on about critical thinking, yet he focuses on Jung's feelings. Jung had a lot of excellent things to say, though he may not have been perfect like Knoll.

A fascinating view on the myth of Atlantis and Steiner's understanding of its existence and significance. This book was extremely engaging and worth the effort!

I was very excited to receive this copy of an out-of-print Steiner volume, and actually bought two copies, one to give to a friend. I was stunned when I opened the book--apparently the producers scanned the original book using some kind of "robotic" technology, and then proofed it in the same way. The book is UNREADABLE--paragraphs start in the middle of nowhere, words are guessed at (proof that we still need human beings for something, anyway). Helpfully, the publishers then refer you to their website if you need to check the text. Why, after paying twenty dollars for this slim volume, should I have to cart along my laptop to check the meaning of a sentence every paragraph or so?

Additionally, I wonder if this is even legal--have these publishers received permission to copy the original Steiner work and put it out there under their own imprint? I admit I was puzzled that the book wasn't offered on the Steiner Books website, the legitimate website for Steiner's books. The quality of this book tells me why. A HUGE disappointment and kind of incredible.The East in the Light of the West

What a piece of new age Luciferian trash, the likes of Carl Jung, Madame Blavatsky, and Alice Bailey. Only worth the purchase to prove what an occultist he was, as well as his associates, from Madame Blavatsky's Theosophical society to Steiner's Anthroposophical Society. Good for documentation. And this new age garbage lives on in Steiner's Waldorf schools! I'm not sorry I bought the book, as Steiner's own words prove what he was and what he believed. Suggested reading, THE ARYAN CHRIST by Dr. Richard Noll.