| Title | : | An Outline of Occult Science |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 184 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1910 |
The anthroposophy of Rudolf Steiner is not a theoretical system but the results of research based on direct observation. Because his research was so vast and conducted over such a long period of time, no single book can be said to contain the whole of his spiritual teaching. However, of all his books, this one perhaps comes closest. Steiner even referred to it as "an epitome of anthroposophical spiritual science." In a systematic way, he lays out fundamental facts concerning the nature and constitution of the human being and, in chronological order, the history of the universe and humankind.
Whereas the findings of natural science are derived from observations made through the senses, the findings of spiritual science are "occult," inasmuch as they arise from direct observation of realities hidden to ordinary human perception. Nevertheless, these elements of humanity and the universe form the foundation of the sensory world. A substantial part of this important work describes the basic training needed to make such spiritual observations.
Although Occult Science is not all-inclusive, it is indispensable to any serious student who wishes to master Steiner's extraordinary philosophy and methods of inner development.
An Outline of Occult Science Reviews
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3.5 stars
the first 2/3 of this book is so heavy, dry and wordy that it is a slog. the last third is written a little more accessible and readable. interesting read but not light pr quick -
Really difficult to settle on how many stars to give this. For the importance, significance, and originality of the material he presents, it should be a solid 5 stars; but friendly as I am to spacey, way-out-there, New Age material, I found this to be a lot to swallow--particularly the long chapter about the spiritual evolutionary history of humanity and planet Earth. According to Steiner, the material is derived from his own direct inspection of the spiritual history itself, the so-called akashic records. I have no trouble in believing this, but part of me wonders why "the heavens" is limited to the visible planets of our own solar system, and whether the appearance of Jesus Christ was actually the central event in the salvation history of humanity as a whole. I wonder: would an Asian Buddhist (say), following the same spiritual exercises Steiner describes, end up "seeing" the same things? And, if not, what would they be? And what would the difference in spiritual vision imply about the underlying reality?
I'll leave these questions open in my mind. But I find Rudolf Steiner to be a fascinating and inspiring figure, one who fearlessly stands against the prevailing materialism and "scientism" of our modern technological era. There is much more to the human enterprise than bodies made of atoms seeking to acquire goods made of other atoms. We are spiritual beings with a spiritual purpose, and Steiner's whole oeuvre is devoted to investigating and explaining exactly what those things mean. This book is probably his major work, and is well worth reading by anyone who is interested in understanding the "supersensible reality" in which we all truly live. -
"The way to knowledge of the supersensible worlds, which is described here, is one that every human being can follow, no matter what the situation in which he may find himself within the present-day conditions of life. When describing such a path we must consider that the goal of knowledge and truth is the same in all ages of Earth evolution, but that starting points of man have been different in different ages."
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This is truly a life changing book, not once, but every time you read it.
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Steiner is fascinating [he was the founder of Waldorf Schools] but his prose is very dense.
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Utter nonsense. Unreadable drivel.
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This is probably the driest, dullest thing I've ever read that would still be cool as fuck to trip balls to
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A curious mixture of incredibly profound insight and rambling hokum. A frustrating but, at times, fascinating book.
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This probably the best book by Steiner which delves into his esoteric philosophy. Though with any book Steiner wrote, it is a very tough read and takes quite a while to get into it. His writing style is an old style that most may not follow the flow of, but it is good if you can persevere. If you are looking for a book which gets into Theosophy and other occult topics outside of Blavatsky, then this may be for you. I enjoyed this book but I would find it a bit too much to read it a second time. In saying that, I learned a lot from Steiner in this book.
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As with most literature on this topic, Steiner’s deceptively entitled book is a mixed bag, with some valuable insights for readers. Less an outline, it is more an apologist piece to rationalists with some evangelism thrown in. The chapter on the disciplines of study and the training is very valuable, and Steiner has clearly worked hard and received the training. I will read that chapter again, and took lots of notes from it. As always, keep your bullshit filters up and active, keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out.
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Quite the plod!
But then, the topic was such.
Can't say that I enjoyed/understood every word and concept but to use Steiner's own example :
It was the way one enjoys a painting without necessarily grasping the method, strokes, mediums and myriad styles. As always, was blown away by the richness of the language, Steiner's mastery over it and the clarity of thought and matter.
Being on the path is rewarding enough and certainly enjoyed the journey! -
Steiner makes a lot of great points, but really has some 'way out' theories. You'd better be prepared before you try reading these books by him, with an open mind and plenty of spare time to speculate.
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It's been a bit but I really like Steiner's work. Will go into more detail once I have more time
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Good book
I liked it. It was interesting, just a little dry at times honestly. I've read better books and worse ones. -
There are better books on this out there
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Lettura densa e pregna di significato. Illuminante e che apre la mente sotto molti aspetti.
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As the title suggests, this is an opus of initiation to the worldview of late great Rudolf Steiner, founder of the Waldorf school and an all-around academic DIY man of sorts. The more he tries to explain and rationalise his vision of 20th century "scientific occultism", the more other-worldly and fantastic his concepts of the universe and its origins end up being. The flow of the text is fluent yet predictable, and while there are some pleasant nods to Goethe and eastern philosophies, the descriptions and examples could be more vivid and naturalistic – and Mr J. Christ could be left to a lesser value or dropped out altogether. On this same sphere of thought, Huxley prefers the metaphysical, Crowley leaves room for gibberish and splendour, and LaVey for fun and games. Based on this piece of work, I'd recommend them over Steiner. (Ok, maybe not LaVey – read Satan on War by Robert DeGrimston instead of the infamous Satanic Bible. Or, maybe both.)
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The second book we read in teacher training. Cosmic, evolution of the world. Our world has been created, destroyed, held in suspension, then recreated several times. Steiner starts with the Saturnian man, following evolution throught Atlantean, Lemurian, etc. epochs. The pralayas are the in between times. Fascinating. When I saw the Matrix, it reminded me of this book. Powerful, but dense. You have to be serious to read this one, but it's one of my faves. I <3 Steiner.
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An absolute essential book for everyone interested in anthroposophy, spirituality and self-growth. Things depicted in this book should be taught in schools and I'm sure they will one day. But these times are still far away.
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Written by the first true Initiate after the age of Science. Don't agree with his description of the planet's evolution etc., but there's a lot of real Wisdom in this one. Advanced Students will be pleasantly surprised.
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ok, this was one of the coolest of Steiner! Don't let the title fool ya! Mainstream think of "occult" as being satanic. Give up the outdated, ignorant notions!
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My Review
This book was amazing. I would definitely recommend it to all of my friends. In fact I would recommend it to everyone!
