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Outline of Esoteric Science (Classics in Anthroposophy)

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They say that this is Steiner's major work, his Magnum Opus.

Outline of Esoteric Science offers the reader a cosmic view of creation and evolution, completely contrary to Darwin, Haeckel and all futile and materialistic modern anthropologists.

Steiner peers into the terrifying lost nights of the ages with bright clarity, equivalent to a high powered flashlight in a pitch black gloomy forest. What he looked into was the memory of nature otherwise known as the "Akasic Records". He did this with a superior faculty in the brain related to sight called "clairvoyance".

He tells us of The Polar race, The Hyperborean race, The Lemurian race, The Atlantian race and the Post-Atlantian races (us today).He also talks about spiritual beings that have helped in the creation of the world and in the movements of the planetary races.

The last section of the book deals with those who wish to find out more about the spiritual worlds and what they need to do to train themselves to reach higher states and develop superior faculties latent within.

This book is a marvel. It will benefit scientists very well to know about this book and it content.

And there are others that have talked about occult history, for example Madamme Blavatsky in her 2nd Volume of The Secret Doctrine called Anthropogenesis, Max Heindel in his book The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception, and Samael Aun Weor in his books: Gnostic Anthropology, The Revolution of Beelzebub, and The Revolution of the Dialectic.

If you are serious about knowing Who We Are, Where We Are Coming From and Where We Are Going then this book will help you realize those things that have been a gigantic mystery and a terrible plague on modern minds for generations!

You get a basic outline of spiritual science. For me, there were certain areas that are difficult to understand (eg the evolution chapter). This book introduces you to think in a way that you are not used to. Sometimes you feel like saying, this guy is crazy - but he's not. So read this book - it gives you a good general introduction to spiritual science.

Rudolph Steiner's works, like the writings of H. P. Blavatsky, open windows into a hidden world most people do not even know exists. Although the ideas they brought forth are claimed to be older than history itself, they set the scene for the "New Age" movement of the last century. Rudolph wrote about what he called the "supersensible" worlds, the hidden realities beyond the world of form and substance or this material universe and its immutable laws of nature. He speaks of invisible worlds and invisible energies and of the origins and genesis of all things, both the hidden and the familiar. What he teaches is the "perennial philosophy," the most ancient of spiritual traditions that come to light periodically when such light is most needed. The ancient wisdom Steiner reveals come from his readings and interpretations of the imperishable Akashic records of all that is and all that ever was.

When Steiner and Blavatsky were so bold as to reveal these ancient teachings to a materialistic society with what Steiner called its "sense-bound" scientists, they were met with scornful resistence and ridicule by both the scientific community and established religion. Unfortunately, far too much of the book is a repetitious defence against the attackers of his day. The book itself, however, is a classic and a treasure.

"An outline of esoteric science" isn't a general or popularized overview of Rudolf Steiner's teachings, which I assumed when ordering it. Rather, it's an incredibly torpid, boring and extensive survey of just a few aspects of Anthroposophy.

Steiner describes, in almost impossible detail, the "cosmic evolution" of humanity through various re-incarnated versions of planet Earth (!), which he calls Saturn, Sun and Moon. Apparently, further re-incarnated Earths await us in the future, including a Vulcan incarnation. The other planets of our present solar system are inhabited by spiritual beings on different levels of evolutionary accomplishment. Many of these ideas are obviously derived from Madame Blavatsky's Theosophy, but have been subtly altered by Steiner in various ways.

Humanity emerged (sort of) during the Old Saturn incarnation of Earth, with some aid from various angelic beings. A kind of cosmic fall or mistake took place when the Moon separated from Earth. The details escape me, but because of this evolutionary mishap, humans are influenced by two alien spirits known as Lucifer and Ahriman. Of these, Ahriman seems to be the worst. The Christ being is a solar spirit who works to reverse the negative developments, a process which will take millennia.

But how are we to know that Steiner isn't making it all up? The second half of the book deals with this question. Steiner believes that anyone can develop the clairvoyance necessary to see and confirm his "esoteric science". This part of his work is truly fascinating! Thus, Steiner claims that those who *don't* have visions identical to his own, are being deluded by their own subjective consciousness or perhaps by evil spirits. To get the right kind of visions, the student should prepare himself by reading Steiner's books, so he knows what awaits him. The student should also feel reverence for true and accomplished spiritual teachers. Steiner himself, perhaps?

It's obvious even to a casual reader, that Steiner's spiritual "science" is really a form of dogmatic self-suggestion. The author also writes that everyone on the true path will meet his own double in the spirit-world (the guardian on the threshold) and eventually the Christ himself - obviously another attempt to induce the right kind of visionary experiences in his followers. Incidentally, this particular work only mentions one meditation technique, and Steiner therefore refers interested chelas to his more well-known work "How to know higher worlds".

I have no doubt that Dr. Steiner's methods do work. A defector from the Anthroposophical Society in Sweden even says in one of his books that he saw *Steiner himself* during one particularly vivid vision caused by meditation. He even spoke to the man (Steiner, of course, died already in 1925).

I'm beginning to understand why C.S. Lewis was a wee bit sceptical to Owen Barfield's life long entanglement with this curious and even somewhat bizarre new religious movement! But perhaps Clive and me just don't have the chakras necessary for esoteric science?

I am currently reading this in a Waldorf Teacher training class. I am finding it easier to read then some of his other books like "Theosophy". If your interested in learning more about Anthroposophy I highly recommend this book.

General overview of ideas of Rudolf Steiner. His first book written, and first attempt to record his ideas, make it a vague book.
As Rudolf Steiner became more accustomed to spiritual research his explantions became more clear and defined.
This book, however, is somewhat vague, not very detailed and therefore hard to get a fix on what Rudolf Steiner had perceived.

I recommend other books by Steiner:
1) Egyptian Myths and Mysteries ISBN 0880101989
2) Spiritual Hierarchies and the physical world ISBN 0880104406

A difficult but fascinating introduction to human development from the Akashic Record.