Customer Reviews

How to Know Higher Worlds: A Modern Path of Initiation (Classics in Anthroposophy)

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In "How to Know Higher Worlds", Steiner undertakes the task of introducing the reader to the requirements of thought-life needed to percieve the higher processes of life and the cosmos. He provides a path of systematic development, for the faculties latent in each person, by which the development of a specific spiritual sensory organ may be cultivated. Once this is achieved, one is able to distinguish and move about with certainty in the subtle inner world of the human psyche, which is then shown to be interconnected to a vast realm of archetypal and spiritual forces which act upon the development of the cosmos. This book distinguishes itself as one of the definitive references on inner self-transformation, providing a path to a true self-knowledge, and expansion of one's empathetic relationship to the world.

I've read a vast assortment of Steiner's books and lecture series, but this book is far and away the best. There's really more information in Outline of Esoteric Science, but it's not nearly as easy to read and incorporate as How to Know Higher Worlds. This book is an invaluable aid in understanding the place of humanity in our universe.

Although I have not yet fully completed this book, I have to say this has to be one of the greatest books ever written! "How to know higher worlds" has drastically changed the way I consider myself and the world around me. This book is a must have for those searching to enrich their inner (and somewhat outer) lives. Steiner introduces many basic esoteric priciples and clears up a lot of the stigma revolving around modern occultism. This book is a fantastic basis for the beggining occultist to take their first steps into the spiritual world. Most of the books content involves conditioning of the spiritual senses and occult philosophies. So, if you are seriously considering awakening yourself to the spiritual world, Steiner is a fantastic stepping stone and this book is a definite must have.

Steiner explains in this great guide the reasons why we should walk the spiritual path to self-realization and how this happens if we so decide find the courage to do it. He talks about karma, higher beings, higher worlds, reincarnation, initiation, etc based on his own experiences. He also gives many practical excercises in it.

Steiner who had a highly developed intellect and spiritual faculties well-awakened makes use of his genius to explain the path in a simple and easy to understand way. I was shocked at how easy it was for me to read it, compared to some of his other important writings!

This book is essential and extremely important for anyone who is interested in learning about the path and higher worlds.

Also highly recommended is Samael Aun Weor who also wrote extensively as Steiner did.

Even if one is not interested in knowing about and experiencing higher worlds, this book is a great guide to living, full of wisdom and insight. A true spiritual path is also a path toward becoming a mature human being, which may not be terribly exciting to people seeking spiritual fireworks or wanting to promote egoistic aims. This path is one of selflessness and the strengthening of attention; both needed in an self-centered world suffering from an ever increasing attention deficit disorder. Steiner only speaks of what he has experienced personally. He is not a guru and expects no one to take his word for the truth of what he says. He encourages one to be open minded, try the exercises with patience and consistency(harder than one might think)and verify the truth for one's self.

The book is one of the best I have read in my life. If you use, truely use the treasures buried in this book life could change dramatically for you. I have read a lot of books in the field but in this book rudolph steiner brings the reader into a completely new perspective of how the universe is functioning. I have often wondered in this book how could one man have so much wisdom, including the ability to put his thoughts into words.

Steiner's written authorship was limited to a handful of written works and this one is the most accessible and thought-provoking.

With 1000's of lectures some available in book form (catalogued in German with English editions secondary), Steiner himself pointed out that his written works were intended for a reading audience, whereas the lectures were in the oral tradition, originally not intended for print and largely contextual within the time, place and attendence.

This is a great place to start to learn more about this spiritual Da Vinci. It focuses on his spiritual philosphy with supporting excercises. His Theosophy is transitional in that it bridges his roots in Theosophy with his founding of Anthroposophy. His Philsophy of Freedom is helpful in understanding his development. For Steiner the man, see his Autobiography.

From there the inquirer is encouraged to study his lectures as supplements to his basic books.

This book carries you into depths of perception, but uses simplicity as its guide. Steiner appears to believe in slow and easy, yet persistant. If one is willing, this book offers a way into the connection of our higher forces, and how they act upon us, through us, with us. With exact despription of techniques and understanding towards the goal, this literature begs the reader to come to your own comprehension. Out of your own experience, within this framework, on should find the way to higher perception, and contented understanding. If you're for real, this information is for real....give it a try

While this may be described as one of Steiner's "basic" books, the label is a little misleading. Perhaps a better one would be "foundational", in that it forms a foundation for understanding his other works. "How to Know Higher Worlds" is also a classic, originally written between 1904 and 1906, from the point of view of one who has walked the path himself. Highly recommended.

This book contains a series of essays originally published in a Theosophical monthly during 1904 and 1905, when the author was in the process of establishing an esoteric school within the theosophical Society. They were never meant to replace oral teaching and ritual work, which was and is the core in the tradition the book describes. However, the Esoteric School quickly became very popular, admitting about a hundred new students a year, so in 1908 Steiner edits the essays and publishes them as a book with the same title as the series of essays: "How do you attain insights into the higher worlds?" A foreword makes clear that the author realized and accepted that the book indeed would replace being initiated into a real esoteric school for a vast majority of its readers. A comparison of the edited book with the original articles also indicates this.

The essays contained in this book directly followed an earlier series of essays, published in book form under the title "Theosophy - an introduction to the supersensible knowledge of the world and of human destiny." This book is more of a theoretical foundation. In a series of essays previous to "Theosophy", entitled "From the akashic records" (English title: "Cosmic Memory"), the author describes, in vivid detail, human life on Altantis and Lemuria as well as earlier conditions of our planet. So, the question forming the title of the present volume was thoroughly motivated by the previous essays of the author.

After the first edition of the book, however, it received a life of its own, and is now by far the most sold and read book by the author's hand, including the thousands of lectures he gave and which later were committed to print (now found in [..]) and that came to form the basis for the many practical endeavors of the anthroposophical movement (such as the Waldorf School movement) up to this day.

On a personal note: This book has meant more to me than any other book I've ever read. For years it was my only guide and teacher. I simply didn't feel any need for other guidance. Now that I'm older I consider that a paradox and a mixed blessing: we all need guidance from living people: the initiatic tradition can not rely on printed matter or it will die out. Having said that: "when the seeker is ready the teacher will appear" is a true saying, and Steiner alludes to it in this book. Teachers did appear and the living tradition from mouth to ear, soul to soul, spoken of in the book, turned out to be real and alive. Until I found it, this book was my life jacket and I am eternally indebted to its author and the living tradition he represents.