Customer Reviews

Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and its Attainment: An Esoteric Spiritualism Initiation (Forgotten Books)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rudolph Steiner, a Theosophist, wrote this book. The content of this book largely revolves around Steiner's knowledge of the Higher Worlds. They are very complex and involve deep reading. Written in a very intellectual manner, Steiner straightforwardly passes on how he perceives the universe to work. The universe is a manifestation of many worlds, of many inhabitants, and Steiner states it is possible to attain to these worlds through both being knowledgeable of them and actively striving for further spiritual attainment. For many, this book has served as a key to spiritual advancement. I do not recommend it for the initiating Theosophist, the content is too complex without having read a background of Theosophy. For intermediate spiritualists and occultists and anyone who has a fairly good understanding and willingness to KNOW and to UNDERSTAND the universe as Steiner sees it, this book is a godsend and may possibly change your own view of life in general.

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.

Clearly the best "how to" book dealing with meditation! I got the sense that I was be talked to by one who had "been there, done that" and was clearly out to make sure my experience was a safe and sane one. The fact that this book was written early this century doesn't in any way diminish its currency. The audio book is unabridged and a wonderful way to revisit important passages again and again.

This book is a new edition of the classic Knowledge of the Higher Worlds: How Is It Achieved, first published in two parts in 1909 and 1910. There have been a number of English and German editions over the last century, and this 1947 edition is one of the most readable: an important point since Steiner can be notoriously difficult, both in German and in English.

This remains a superb introduction to Steiner's methods, but there are two important points about this edition. The first is one that I made in a review of his book Anthroposophy in Everyday Life: that the difficult - sometimes tortuous - language appears to be a deliberate attempt to get the listener or reader to get out of his or her comfort zone.

The second problem is more serious: as this edition was typeset, the original references to pages in the book were not re-edited. As a result there are references to pages that make no sense at all. For example on page 128 there is a reference to something on page 131. Yet the book finishes on page 129! The reason is, I think, that this book is a print on demand from the "Forgottenbooks" website, where you can find a large number of books to read on line, and they will print copies that they sell on Amazon.

So if all that you are looking for are the words, this is a nice inexpensive edition. If you are trying to let Steiner's language help your development, go to one of the other editions available on the Amazon website, and if you plan to do some serious study of the material, avoid this edition, which will have soon have you pulling out your hair.

The book gets five stars for content, four for translation and only two for the production.

Richard G. Petty, MD, author of Healing, Meaning and Purpose: The Magical Power of the Emerging Laws of Life

A must read for any student or disciple embarking on the occult path - this book will help delineate what's involved on the road to higher awareness and what signs to look for on the way - whether it be in your dreams or through rigorous spiritual training. This is an awesome and powerful book for anyone looking to gain a higher spiritual awareness and sense of personal power in their lives!

I think this work is seminal, and while Steiner is never easy t read, it is quite important. This is a rather straight forward approach to how anyone can work on themselves and the world. I highly recommend it.

A serious book... not easy reading, but manageable, and the information is worth the it's time in thought and meditation. Shares specific excercises to teach how to sense the metaphysical world and elightnement. not an over night read by any means.

A great explanation of the Higher Worlds for those who have not experienced Cosmic Consciousness.

Berlin 1903. The 19th century is finally over and nobody knows what is upcoming, people are really open. Rudolf Steiner is known all over German Theosophy for writing and lecturing, rather concretely, rather graphiclly on subjects like Atlantis, Lemuria, cosmic evolution and the Akashic Records - esoteric stuff indeed. Does he really know what he is talking about? How can you know things like that? Can you? Then C W Leadbeater publishes a series of essays on how to know higher worlds in the English periodical The Theosophist. Steiner latches on and writes his version in the German theo periodical that he himself edits. A series of essays entitled "How can you attain knowledge of the higher worlds?" Not a word there about Atlantis och anything, only brief information about what kind of exercises and processes you can expect to find in an occult school such as the one Steiner intends to make available. The success is immediate, both for the essays and the school, which assigns an average of appx. 100 new students, or should we say disciples, a year until the WWI breaks out and the school has to close down (more about the nature and function of said school in the volume "Freemasonry and Ritual Work", see separate review). The essays contained in this slim but rock solid volume stretch from 1904 to 1905. In 1908 they are collected and published - slightly edited by the author himself - in book form, also in English translation. In 1914 the Esoteric School itself is closed down but the book continues to sell and is by far the most read of all Steiner's 370 volumes in print. It even received the Subba Row Medal, a price for the best theosophical book.

Feeling he was perhaps not going to be able to re-start the Esoteric School (he actually did start a re-starting: "The Soverign School for Spiritual Science" in 1924 but fell ill and died upon completing the curriculum for a first third of the introductory class), Steiner added a post script to the new edition after the ending of the war in 1918, saying that in want of a live teacher or school, the book itself woud do - although in the text itself it becomes clear that any written instruction only will do up to a certain point. Be that as it may, the book is wonderful and has helped thousands of seekers in each generation to get going on the path, myself included.

Rudolf Steiner was more than a theosophist or philosopher. He was the founder of Anthroposophy, and was the most important figure in creating a science of the spirit.
If you are interested in learning about spirit and the deeper aspects of existence, so to speak, without vague mystical ideals based on feeling and ego then I highly suggest Steiner's works. That is to say, if you want to cut through all the bs, and get to a true understanding of who you are, why you are here, and what reality is in the deepest sense, then I suggest Rudolf Steiner.
This book is also a good starting point to his works. It offers a clear and concise path to follow for developing your self and your higher, more subtle, abilities to perceive and act in "higher worlds"
When it comes to spiritual development, Rudolf Steiner was more than a teacher, he was a teachers teacher; and has presented the most in depth and enlightening material that has enriched my life beyond description.