The Threshold of the Spiritual World
GA 17
Introductory Remarks
[ 1 ] In this book there are given in an aphoristic form some descriptions of those parts of the universe and of the human being which come into view when spiritual knowledge crosses the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds. It has not been sought to give either a systematic or in any way a complete account, but merely a few descriptions of spiritual experiences without any fixed plan. In this respect the present work, like my book, A Road to Self-Knowledge (published with this), is intended to complete and amplify my other writings. Yet it has also been sought to give the description in such a way that it may be read independently, without any knowledge of these other works.
[ 2 ] One who really means to work his way to a knowledge of spiritual science will feel the necessity of continually contemplating the spiritual side of life from continually fresh points of view. It is indeed only natural that a certain one-sidedness should be connected with every presentation of this kind. This must be the case much more with descriptions of the spiritual sphere than with those of the physical world. And if we rest satisfied with merely one account, we cannot be said to be pursuing spiritual knowledge seriously. My desire, by such writings as this, is to be of use to those who are really in earnest in seeking knowledge of the spiritual world. On this account I try to present spiritual facts again and again from fresh points of view in spite of my having described them from other points of view in other works. Such accounts are complementary of each other, like photographs of a person or an event taken from various points.
[ 3 ] In every such description, made from a certain standpoint, there is an opportunity for communicating knowledge which is not attainable from the other points of view. There are again in this book formulae for meditation for those who are seeking spiritual sight for themselves. Those who are looking for such formulae wherewith to develop the life of their soul will easily find them here.
RUDOLF STEINER
August 1912.
Einleitende Bemerkungen
[ 1 ] In dieser Schrift werden in aphoristischer Form einige Schilderungen gegeben derjenigen Teile der Welt und der menschlichen Wesenheit, die geschaut werden, wenn die geistige Erkenntnis die Grenze überschreitet, welche Sinneswelt von Geisteswelt trennt. Es ist weder eine systematische Darstellung noch in irgendeiner Beziehung Vollständigkeit angestrebt, sondern es sind in freier Art einige Beschreibungen versucht von geistigen Erlebnissen. In dieser Beziehung soll auch diese Schrift, wie die im vorigen Jahre veröffentlichte «Ein Weg zur Selbsterkenntnis des Menschen» meine anderen Schriften ergänzen und erweitern. Doch ist auch hier versucht, die Darstellung so zu geben, daß die Schrift für sich selbst, ohne die Kenntnis der andern, gelesen werden kann.
[ 2 ] Derjenige, welcher in die Erkenntnisse der Geisteswissenschaft wahrhaft eindringen will, wird die Notwendigkeit empfinden, das geistige Gebiet des Lebens von immer neuen Seiten betrachten zu können. Es ist ja nur naturgemäß, daß jeder solchen Darstellung eine Einseitigkeit anhaftet. Es muß bei Schilderungen des geistigen Gebietes dies viel mehr eintreten als bei solchen der Sinneswelt. Daher kann es dem nicht wahrhaft ernst zu tun sein um geistige Erkenntnis, der sich mit einer einmal hingenommenen Darstellung zufrieden gibt. Ich möchte mit solchen Schriften, wie diese eine ist, demjenigen dienen, welcher es in der angedeuteten Art ernst meint mit seinem Suchen nach Erkenntnis der geistigen Welt. Deshalb versuche ich, geistige Tatsachen, welche ich in meinen Schriften von gewissen Gesichtspunkten aus geschildert habe, von anderen Gesichtspunkten aus immer wieder darzustellen. Solche Darstellungen ergänzen sich gegenseitig wie Bildaufnahmen von einer Person oder einem Vorgange, die von verschiedenen Punkten aus gemacht werden.
[ 3 ] Man hat bei jeder solchen Schilderung, die von einem gewissen Gesichtspunkte aus gemacht wird, Gelegenheit, Erkenntnisse auszusprechen, welche von einem anderen Gesichtspunkte aus sich nicht ergeben. Für denjenigen, welcher selbst die Geistesschau sucht, bieten sich auch in dieser Schrift wieder Anhaltspunkte für Meditationsstoffe. Man wird das bemerken, wenn man diese Anhaltspunkte sucht, um sie in entsprechender Art im seelischen Leben anzuwenden.
München, im August 1913
Rudolf Steiner
Introductory remarks
[ 1 ] In this paper some descriptions are given in aphoristic form of those parts of the world and of the human being that are seen when spiritual cognition crosses the boundary that separates the world of the senses from the world of the spirit. Neither a systematic presentation nor completeness in any respect is aimed at, but rather some descriptions of spiritual experiences are attempted in a free manner. In this respect, this writing, like the one published last year, "Ein Weg zur Selbsterkenntnis des Menschen", is intended to supplement and extend my other writings. But here, too, an attempt has been made to present the writing in such a way that it can be read on its own, without knowledge of the others.
[ 2 ] Those who truly wish to penetrate the insights of spiritual science will feel the necessity of being able to view the spiritual realm of life from ever new angles. It is only natural that a one-sidedness is inherent in every such description. This must occur much more in descriptions of the spiritual realm than in those of the sensory world. Therefore, one cannot be truly serious about spiritual knowledge if he is satisfied with an account once it has been accepted. With writings such as this one, I would like to serve those who are serious about their search for knowledge of the spiritual world in the manner indicated. That is why I try to present spiritual facts, which I have described in my writings from certain points of view, again and again from other points of view. Such depictions complement each other like pictures of a person or a process taken from different points of view.
[ 3 ] In every such description, which is made from a certain point of view, one has the opportunity to express insights that do not arise from another point of view. For those who seek spiritual insight themselves, this writing again offers points of reference for meditation. One will notice this if one seeks these points of reference in order to apply them in an appropriate way in one's spiritual life.
Munich, August 1913
Rudolf Steiner