The Temple Legend II
GA 93
21 October 1905, Berlin
15. Atoms and the Logos in the Light of Occultism
If we want to appreciate theosophy at its true value, then we need to be imbued with the fundamental perception that in the theosophical stream we receive a widening of the soul, we feel the heart broadened and uplifted for higher tasks, for participating in the affairs of the universe. No one can have an inkling of this who does not know something about occultism.
The great purpose is often discussed, of leading humanity, through the theosophical movement, towards that point when, in the future, a new race of human beings will arise, when our intellectuality, as it now is, will no longer play the leading role in the world, but will be made fertile by Buddhi. We have to work together with this great world current, and therefore we have a great responsibility towards the theosophical movement. The task of the theosophist extends into the distant future. In this we do not withdraw into some cloud-cuckoo-land; for what we learn about so distant a future is invigorating for us, is something productive for us, that is useful also in everyday things. Anyone who allows these great world perspectives to occupy his mind for even only ten minutes a day, will behave differently from someone who is immersed in everyday matters. He can bring something to contemporary life which is new, productive and original. All progress depends on bringing originality into humanity.
We want to start with something which belongs with the influence of the Devas.1 The gods of Devachan, or the heavenly world. Devas are beings who are at a higher stage than man and are able to work on higher levels of existence. Thus we find Devas when we enter the higher planes clairvoyantly. We find Devas on the astral plane, on the Rupa plane, on the Arupa plane, and higher still. What does the influence of the Devas mean for the world in which we ourselves are? We will answer this question by asking another: What is the purpose of our human existence, of this continuing reincarnation? Man would come into this world quite purposelessly, if he learnt no particular lesson, fulfilled no particular task at each coming. Every time [man incarnates] the earth must have changed so much that he meets a situation that he has not encountered before in his earlier incarnations.
A male and female incarnation [together] are occultly reckoned as one incarnation. Between two such connected incarnations lie 2,600 to 3,000 years. The experience, which men undergo during this present stage of earthly evolution are so different in man and woman that it is most necessary for this to be so.
The changes which are brought about in the world between two incarnations of a person are really rather incomprehensible for people outside the theosophical world. Actually, however, people find quite different situations, not only morally, but physically as well. For anyone who looks back occultly, the physical circumstances have fundamentally altered as well, in the last three thousand years. On average, we would encounter our previous incarnations in the time of the ancient Greeks, the Homeric Greeks, 800 B.C. At that time there were quite different geographical and climatic conditions, a basically different plant life and even a different animal world. In these kingdoms, [continual] change is taking place. An outer expression of these changes is the progress of the sun across the vault of heaven. We have twelve signs of the zodiac, and the sun continually moves on from one to another at the vernal equinox. Eight thousand years ago the sun entered the constellation of the Crab for the first time. The time during which the sun traverses a constellation, this time that then elapses, lasts some two thousand six hundred years.2 Later Rudolf Steiner gave more precise figures for this, according to which the precession of the equinox through the whole zodiac takes 12 x 2 x 160 = 25,920 years, which is a Platonic or world year. Human incarnations are generally connected with these epochs of 2,160 years. That is also the time between two human incarnations. At about the turn of the 18th to the 19th century, the sun left the constellation of the Ram for that of the Fishes, so that it now stands in the constellation of the Fishes at the spring [equinox].
Those who still had a feeling for occultism knew something about the connection in man's life with these changes in the firmament. Earlier, before the sun entered the constellation of the Ram, the cult of the Bull (Mithras, Apis) prevailed in Asia. Then began the worship of the Ram, which began when the legend of Jason and the Golden Fleece originated. Christ is called the ’Lamb of God.’ Still earlier one finds the Persian symbol of the Twins. That is connected with the [Persian] culture of that time [and its view] of Good and Evil.
If the sun shines on the earth from a different aspect, then the situation there changes too. Hence the entry of the sun into a new constellation also leads each time to a new incarnation. Above, in the heavens, is the progression of the sun, below, on earth, an alteration in climatic conditions in vegetation and so forth.
Who causes this? The theosophist has to ask this because for him there can be no miracles. There are facts on a higher level, but no miracles. Faced with the question of the connection of the human being to the manifestations of the earth, one must adopt a higher vantage point.
After death, man is in Kamaloka. We do not ask: Do the animals and plants have [any] consciousness? Instead we ask: Where is their consciousness located? We know that the animals have their consciousness in Kamaloka, on the astral plane, the plants on the Rupa Plane, and the minerals on the Arupa Plane. Man has his consciousness on the physical plane. Let us suppose that man now comes to Kamaloka. He will then be in the same place as the consciousness of the animals. He then ascends to Devachan, where the plants have their consciousness. At the present stage of evolution, man is not in a position to exercise any influence on the animal kingdom or plant kingdom. However, he does have such an influence in the lower regions of the Devachanic plane, His companions there are all those who possess a Devachanic consciousness; these are powers, beings, who work out of Devachan to promote the growth and welfare of the plant world. The whole life of the plants is controlled from the Devachanic plane. There, man helps create and transform the plants. Powers develop in him there, so that he can really develop an influence on the vegetation. But the Devas are still there to manage this activity. He is guided by them so that he can help in the transformation of the plant world. He makes use in Devachan of the powers he has gathered in incarnation to reshape the plant world. As the life forces alter during man's time in Devachan, so he [helps to] change the vegetation on earth. From Devachan, man actually changes the surroundings that grow about him.
By remaining a long time in Devachan, [man] also helps transform the physical forces. If one goes back a million years in Germany,3 It is unusual for Rudolf Steiner to give specific figures for such distant events. If we go back in time beyond the end of the Ice Age (10,000 years ago), there is a great discrepancy between the figures given by modern science and those of spiritual science. For instance, modern science sets the date of the commencement of the Ice Age at one million years ago. Spiritual science, on the other hand, puts the commencement of the Ice Age into the middle of Atlantis—‘The cosmos became calculable for the first time around 13,500 B.C. At that time most of Atlantis was already submerged’ (Blavatsky). The trouble with chronology is that modern science still takes present-day conditions as its norm for calculating (e.g., rate of disintegration of matter) and projects it into the past. Spiritual science, on the other hand, calculates according to cosmic rhythms (progression of the sun through the zodiac). one finds volcanic mountains still there, and the Alps as low undulating hills. The subsequent changes were brought about by man [working] from the Arupa Plane, so that he would meet with suitable physical configurations in Europe, later on. The activity of man in the universe is the inner aspect of what we see outwardly in the environment.
Now we come to what will influence transformation in the world from a still higher plane and in another form.
One often reads about the Logos streaming down from above, and asks oneself how this is [to be conceived], how one can come to a conception of the Logos, to a conception that is something more than a mere word. We will now examine the connection between the Logos and the smallest [particles]. I will give you a description—not speculations—of the results of very ancient occult research, as they have been handed down and worked upon specifically in the occult schools of Germany especially from the fourteenth century onward.
If we meditate on the atom, what strikes us is that it is a very tiny thing. Everyone knows that this small thing called the atom has never been seen through any kind of microscope, no matter how sophisticated. Yet occult books give descriptions and pictures of the atom.4 Rudolf Steiner obviously refers here to the representations of atomic structures as they appeared in theosophical literature. Just at the time of these lectures a new edition of Occult Chemistry, written in 1895 by C.W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant had appeared with illustrations. Many of the latter were also depicted in Annie Besant's most popular work: The Ancient Wisdom, 1899. The first to represent atomic forms in this way was the American, Babbit, in his work: The Principle of Light and Colour, 1878, which was referred to in the Besant-Leadbeater study. Where were these pictures obtained? How can one, as an occultist, now know anything about the atom?
Now just imagine it to be possible to make an atom grow continually bigger and bigger until it was as big as the earth; one would then discover a very complicated world. One would perceive many movements, different kinds of phenomena, within this small thing. Keep in mind this analogy of the atom being enlarged to the size of the earth. If it were actually possible to enlarge the atom to that extent, we would be able to observe every single process in it. Only the occultist is in a position to enlarge the atom so much and to contemplate its interior.
Let us next look at the range of human motives on earth, beginning with the lowest human levels of development, with the instincts and passions, rising to moral ideals and religious communities, and so on; we will then see that human beings are, as it were, spinning threads between each other, that weave from person to person, forming continually higher associations: the family, the tribe and further ethnic and political groups, finally religious communities. In this, the activity of higher individualities comes indeed to expression. Such associations have sprung up out of the springs and wells of pure universal wisdom, through a religious founder. All religions agree [in the deeper sense], because they have founders who belong to the great Lodge [of the Masters].
There is a particular White Lodge which has twelve members, of whom seven have a special influence, and this seven indeed founded religious groupings. Such were Buddha, Hermes, Pythagoras, and so on. The great plan for the whole of human evolution has actually been spiritually devised in the White Lodge, which is as old as humanity itself. A coordinated plan for the guidance of all human progress confronts us here. All other associations are only subordinate branches; even family groupings, etc, are all linked up in the great plan which leads us up to the Lodge of the Masters. There the plan according to which all mankind develops is spun and woven.
Let us follow all that subsequently happens. Now we must first become acquainted with a particular plan, namely the plan for our earth. Let us contemplate the fourth Round of the earth in which we now are. It is intended to humanise the mineral kingdom. Think how human understanding has already transformed the mineral world, for example, Cologne Cathedral and modern technology. Our humanity has the task of transforming the whole mineral world into a pure work of art. Electricity already points for us into the occult depths of matter.
When, out of his inner being, man has restructured the mineral world, the end of our earth will then have arrived; the earth is then at the end of its physical evolution. The particular plan by which the mineral world will be reshaped exists in the Lodge of the Masters. This plan is already finished; so that if one studies it one can see what is yet to come by way of wonderful buildings, wonderful machines, and so on. When the earth has reached the end of the physical Globe [state] the whole earth will have an inner structure, an inner articulation, given to it by man himself, so that it will have become a work of art, as planned by the Masters of the White Lodge. That accomplished, then the whole earth will pass over into its astral state. That is something like when a plant begins to fade; the physical vanishes, everything goes into the astral. In passing into the astral world, the physical gradually contracts, becomes a shrinking kernel encircled by the astral, going over into the Rupa state and then the Arupa state, until it vanishes in a sleeplike condition.
What then is left of the physical? When the earth has passed over into the Arupa state, there is then still a quite condensed tiny imprint of the whole physical evolution of what was devised in the Masters' plan; like a tiny miniature version of what the mineral earth once was. That is what goes across [from the physical]; the physical is there only as this tiny miniature version of previous evolution, but the Arupa is large. When it passes over out of the Devachan state, it multiplies itself outwardly into innumerable similar things. And when the earth again passes back into the physical state it is then composed of countless tiny globules, each of which is a print of what the earth previously was. All these globules are however differently arranged, although sharing a common derivation. Thus the new physical earth of the fifth Round 5 In explanation of the terms ‘Round,’ ‘Globe,’ etc., see diagram at end of lecture 10, 23rd December 1904. will consist of innumerable tiny parts, each of which contains the purpose of the mineral world which the Masters have in plan form in their Lodge. Every atom of the fifth Round [of earth evolution] will contain the whole plan of the Masters. Today the Masters are working on the atom of the fifth Round. Everything which precedes, in humanity, is compressed into a result, that is the atom of the fifth Round.
Therefore, if we examine the atom in its present form and then go back in the Akashic Record, we will then see that today's atom is undergoing a process of growth. It is growing more and more, it is becoming more and more separated [Gap in text] ... and contains the interweaving forces of mankind from the third Round of evolution. In that we can consider the plan of the Masters for the third Earth Round. What is at first entirely external becomes quite inward, and in the smallest atom we see mirrored the plans of the Masters. These tiny particular plans are nothing else than a piece of the whole plan for humanity. If one thus considers that the plan of one Round is the atom of the next Round, then one can see the pattern of the great universal plan. The great universal plan develops in continually higher stages, to beings who have continually higher plans for world development. When we contemplate this plan we arrive at the third Logos. The Logos is thus continually slipping into the atom; first it is outside, and becomes the blueprint for the atom, and then the atom becomes an image of this plan. The occultist simply notes the plan from the Akashic Record for the earlier rounds and so studies the atom.
Now from where do the higher beings obtain this plan? We find an answer to this if we consider that there are still higher stages of evolution where the plans are devised. That is where world evolution is worked out. These higher stages are indicated to us by the Ancients, for instance by Dionysius, the pupil of the Apostle Paul 6 Dionysius is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 17, verse 34. Two works appeared under his name at the end of the fifth century in Syria: Concerning the Heavenly Hierarchy and Concerning the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, which were translated from Greek into Latin in the ninth century by John Scotus Erigena. and also by Nicolaus Cusanus.7 Nicholas of Cusa, 1401–1464, German mystic. Compare: Die Mystik im Aufgange des neuzeitlichen Geisteslebens und ihr Verhaltnis zur modernen Weltanschauung, translated variously as: ‘Mysticism and Modern Thought,’ ‘Mystics of the Renaissance’ and ‘Eleven European Mystics.’ His perception was: Higher than all knowledge and perception is the Unperception. But this Unknowing is a higher knowing, and this Unperception is a higher perceiving.
When we stop looking at what we hold in our thinking and concepts of the world, and turn ourselves to what wells up, to our inner powers, then we find something still higher. The Masters can weave the [third] Logos because they have ascended still higher than the nature of thinking. When the higher powers are developed, then, in such beings, thought appears as something different. It is then like a spoken word with us. The thought which constitutes the innermost being for the Masters, can itself be the expression of a higher being, just as the word is the expression of thought [with us]. If we ourselves consider thought as the word of a still higher being, then we come near to the concept of the Logos. Knowledge taken out from thought stands on a still higher level.
When we behold the world we find the atom at the one extreme. It is an image of the plan that proceeded out of the depths of the spirit of the Masters, which is the Logos.
If we now look for the transformation of man himself during the great world epoch- then we are led back again into the world.
Just as man has descended, has plunged down to the physical plane, so is it also with the world as a whole. What man's self has developed lies around him in the world.
But then we are led down to the lower planes, which however, themselves contain the higher planes the Lodge of the Masters.
The Spirit of the Earth is living with the Masters today and this Spirit of the Earth will be the physical clothing of the next planet [the future Jupiter]. The slightest thing we do will affect the smallest atom of the next planet. This feeling gives us first a full connection with the Lodge of the Masters. That should provide a central focus for the Theosophical Society, since we know what the Wise Ones know.
When Goethe speaks of the Spirit of the Earth 8 In the first part of Faust, Scene I. he is expressing a truth. The Spirit of the Earth is weaving the clothing of the next planet. ’In life's floods, in the storm of action’ [In Lebensfluten—im Tatensturm] the Spirit [of the Earth] weaves the clothing for the next planetary Godhead.
Supplement:
Two years later, on 21st October 1907, again at the time of the General Meeting, Rudolf Steiner spoke once more—in an as yet unpublished lecture—about the atom in the context of how spiritual influence passes from one planet to another, how therefore this will be ’between the [Old] Moon and the Earth and again between the Earth and its successor, the [future] Jupiter.’ This lecture is to be published in German in Volume 101 of Rudolf Steiner's complete works.
The relevant extract runs as follows:
You all know that the earth is guided in a particular way by the so-called White Lodge in which highly developed human individualities and individualities of a still higher kind are combined. What do they do there? They work; they lead the evolution of the earth; while leading this evolution, they are devising a quite specific plan. It is really the case that during the evolution of each planet, a specific plan is worked out by the guiding powers. While the earth is evolving, plans for the atom for the evolution of Jupiter—which succeeds the earth—are drawn up in the so-called White Lodge of the Earth. The plan is worked out in full detail. Therein lies the blessing and salvation of progress—in that it is undertaken in harmony with this plan.
Now, when a planetary evolution comes to its end, thus, when our earth has completed its [present] planetary cycle, then the Masters of Wisdom who harmonise perceptions will be ready with the plan that they have to work out for the Jupiter [cycle]. And now, at the end of such an evolution of planets something very special occurs.
This plan will, through a procedure, be endlessly reduced in size, and endlessly multiplied in number; so that in numerable copies of the whole plan for Jupiter are to hand, albeit very much miniaturised. Thus it was on the [Old] Moon, too: the plan of earth evolution existed there. infinitely multiplied and miniaturised. And do you know what they are, these miniaturised plans that have been spiritually developed there? They are the actual atoms which underlie the earth's structure. And the atoms which will underlie the Jupiter [planet] will also be the plan, reproduced in the smallest possible unit—the plan which is now being worked out in the guiding White Lodge. Only he who is aware of this plan can indeed know what an atom is.
If you want to develop your knowledge of this atom, which underlies the earth, you will then, to explore the atom, encounter precisely those mysteries which come from the great Magi of the world.
Naturally, we can now only speak indicatively about these things, but we can at least give something which will impart a concept of what is involved.
The earth is composed of these, its atoms, in a specific way. Everything that is, yourselves included, is composed of these atoms. Hence you exist in harmony with the whole earth evolution, since you carry in you an infinite number of miniaturised [copies] of the plan for earth which was worked out in the past. This plan for the earth could only be evolved in the previous planetary condition of our earth, the [Old] Moon; the guiding beings worked it out in harmony with the whole planetary development through [Old] Saturn, [Old] Sun and [Old] Moon. Now the point in question was to introduce something into this infinite number of atoms which would bring them into the right relationship [with one another], which would arrange them in the right way. To introduce this was only possible for the guiding spirits of the Moon, if, as I have often already said, they managed the evolution of the earth according to a very specific plan.
The way the earth appeared again after the Moon evolution, it was not at first really ’Earth’ but ’Earth plus Sun plus Moon;’ a body such as you would have if you mixed the Earth and the Sun and the Moon together to make one single [heavenly] body. Thus the earth was, at first. Then first the Sun separated itself, taking with it all those forces which were too thin, too spiritual for man, under whose influence he would have spiritualised himself far too quickly. If man had merely stayed under the influence of the forces which were contained in the joint Sun-Moon-Earth body, then he would not have evolved downwards towards physical materiality, and he would not have been able to attain to that consciousness of self, of ego, which he had to attain ...
To the Theme in General
In order to avoid a possible source of grave misunderstanding regarding the various statements made by Rudolf Steiner about the atom and future new forces of nature, it is necessary to point out that these varying statements must be considered in their context. It is especially necessary to differentiate between Rudolf Steiner's criticism of the atomic theory as a philosophy of life and his views about the nature of the atom from an occult point of view.
His criticism of the atomic theory as a philosophy of life was first expressed in his essays: ‘Einzig mogliche Kritik der atomistischen Begriffe’ 1882, (Only possible View of the Atomistic Concepts) and ‘Die Atomistik und ihre Widerlegung’ 1890, (Atomic Theory and its Refutation) which have as their purpose to show that it is impossible to regard the atom as being the ‘basic principle of all existence.’ Just as telegraph wires and electricity are only conveyors of what is the essential, so atoms, too, are only the agents or bearers of effects produced by the spirit. This basic view runs through the whole of Rudolf Steiner's work. Even in one of his last works, in his autobiography (The Course of My Life,Chapter 32) it is stated: ‘Atoms, or atomic structure, can only be the result of spiritual action or organic action.’
Something quite different is involved in the statements about the atom which he made in the present lectures. Here he was speaking from an occult point of view to a very restricted circle about the atom as nature's archetypal building material, in connection with Freemasonry. For, in the same way as nature was to have been sanctified through masonic cultic symbolism, so Rudolf Steiner wished to awaken through the Cultic-Symbolic Section of his Esoteric School, for which these lectures were a preparation, the knowledge that the ‘laboratory table should become the altar of the future’ and that the impulse of selflessness must be implanted into the social order if our utilitarian culture is not to perish through egoism. That is why he published simultaneously with that his ‘Fundamental Social Law’ which states:
‘In a community of human beings working together, the well-being of the community will be the greater, the less the individual claims for himself the proceeds of the work he has himself done; i.e., the more of these proceeds he makes over to his fellow-workers, and the more his own requirements are satisfied, not out of his own work done, but out of work done by the others.’ (Quoted from: Anthroposophy and the Social Question).
The occasion, which was provided not by occult promptings but by external science, was the result of insight into the effects which the latest discoveries of physics at the turn of the nineteenth to twentieth centuries could have for mankind. The perception of the fact that modern science and technology were fast approaching a stage where they could only contribute to the welfare of mankind if human souls are enriched and deepened by a theosophical view of life, prompted Rudolf Steiner to come out in support of the publication of spiritual truths. That the physics of the period was beginning to investigate the connection between the atom, electricity and etheric forces was recognised by Rudolf Steiner as a tremendously important turning point in the development of human thought because, as occultist, he knew that ‘a new point of departure will be made from the atom to the mineral-physical world.’ (See also lecture 9 of 16th December 1904 and note 22 thereto).
For this reason he ascribed tremendous importance to the speech of the then Prime Minister Balfour, which pointed in this direction.
With the prophecy given in the three lectures of 9th, 16th and 23rd December 1904, that man would learn to ‘think into the atom’ and would acquire the ability to make use of its inner force, was combined not only a warning of the grave dangers which would threaten him if this force were not used selflessly in the service of the whole, but also an allusion to the fact that, as something of greatest importance for the future, man will be able to build with atoms as ‘the smallest of building stones’ in the future.
This latter, not further elaborated suggestion, gets a firmer outline through the notes of lecture 15 of 21st October 1905 and the supplementary notes of the lecture of 21st October 1907, according to which the occultist is capable of making the atom ‘grow.’ [Many years later, in a lecture in Berlin on 22nd of June 1915 (in ‘Thoughts for the Times,’ C 39) Rudolf Steiner again came to speak of the atom in connection with the Jupiter evolution and mentioned the above lectures. A literal rendering of what he said there would be as follows: ‘I have spoken formerly about the atom as being built up out of the whole cosmos. You can find it again in those earlier lectures which were held right at the beginning of our Berlin activities.’] At the same time mention is also made of his capacity to make it ‘shrink.’ To his audience at that time these thoughts were not quite new. For in the literature of the Theosophical Society, especially that by C.W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant, there was a great deal concerning the power of growing and shrinking as a faculty particularly to be developed in the case of etheric clairvoyance; this was usually found in connection with a description of the clairvoyant investigation of atoms. It was just in the year 1905 that Annie Besant had spoken and written on this subject on various occasions. There was also a study done by Leadbeater and Besant in collaboration in 1895 which appeared anew at this time under the title Occult Chemistry. Rudolf Steiner rejected this manner of presentation as ‘materialistic spiritualism,’ just as he rejected the atomism of natural science as a basis for a philosophy of life, for in this theosophical literature, too, the atoms were regarded as the underlying principle of all existence, instead of recognising them as being the result and agents of definite spiritual effects.
For the same reason he did not speak about a mere outward technique of etheric enlargement and diminution but about the fact that from the twentieth century onward an etheric clairvoyance would gradually develop as a new natural ability of mankind, whereby the reappearance of Christ in the etheric realms would become perceptible (see: ‘The Etherisation of the Blood’ and ‘The True Nature of the Second Coming.’) Then there will be chemists and physicists who will no longer preach the doctrine that the world consists of only material atoms, but they will teach that matter is built up ‘in the way that Christ arranged it.’ (See: The Spiritual Guidance of Man and Humanity, Chapter 3).
It can be inferred from lecture 20 given on the 2nd of January 1906 (in this volume), that when it is said that man will use the atom in future times for building purposes, that is connected with gaining mastery over the etheric, over the life forces. In a slightly later lecture (Munich, 4th December 1907—published in Volume 98 of the complete edition) this fact is stated again very clearly in the following words:
“... When man has developed himself so far that he has reached the first stage of clairvoyance, then the life of the plants, the laws governing life, will be just as clear to him as the laws of the mineral world are at present.”
‘When you put together a machine or build a house you are acting in accordance with the laws of the mineral world. A machine is constructed according to the laws of the mineral world, but a plant cannot be built in this fashion. If you wish to have a plant you must leave it to those beings who underlie the structure of nature. In future times man will be able to create plants in a laboratory, but only when it has become a sacrament to him, a holy office which he performs. All creation of living things will only be permitted to man when he has become so sincere and pure minded that for him the laboratory bench has become an altar. Before that time not the slightest hint will be revealed to him of how living things are composed. In other words: The ego as an organ of consciousness lives in the mineral world and will ascend to the plant kingdom, which it will learn to understand just as it now understands the mineral world. Later on it will learn to comprehend the laws of the animal kingdom and after that those of the human kingdom. All human beings will learn to comprehend the inner life of plants, of animals and of man; that is a perspective of the future. Whatever one is truly able to comprehend, one can demonstrate—for instance a watch. Present-day man will never be able to demonstrate anything taken from living nature without the help of the beings who stand behind nature—so long as it is not a sacramental operation which he is performing.’
15. Der Logos Und Die Atome Im Lichte Des Okkultismus
Eine Grundempfindung muß uns durchdringen, wenn wir wahres Verständnis für Theosophie haben wollen: daß wir nämlich in der theosophischen Strömung die Seele erweitert erhalten, das Herz umfassender, gehobener fühlen zu höheren Aufgaben, zum Mitwirken an den Angelegenheiten der Welt, wovon man keine Ahnung hat, wenn man nicht etwas weiß vom Okkultismus.
Es wird oft gesprochen von der großen Absicht, durch die theosophische Bewegung hinzulenken die Menschheit auf jenen Punkt, wo in der Zukunft eine neue Menschenrasse aufgehen wird, wo nicht mehr unser jetziger Verstand die Hauptrolle spielen wird in der Welt, sondern wo er befruchtet von Buddhi sein wird. Wir müssen mitarbeiten an dieser großen Weltenströmung und haben dadurch eine große Verantwortlichkeit gegenüber der theosophischen Bewegung. Die Aufgabe des Theosophen erstreckt sich in die ferne Zukunft. Wir begeben uns nicht in ein Wolkenkuckucksheim dabei, sondern was wir erfahren über eine solche ferne Zukunft, das ist in uns kräfteweckend, das ist in uns etwas erzeugend, was wir auch für den Alltag gebrauchen können. Anders handelt jemand, der auch nur zehn Minuten des Tages diese großen Weltenperspektiven durch den Kopf ziehen läßt, als der, der im Alltag aufgeht. Er kann etwas hineinbringen in die Gegenwart, was neu, produktiv und originell ist. Auf dem Hineinbringen von Originellem in die Menschheit beruht alle Entwickelung.
Wir wollen ausgehen von etwas, was sich an das Wirken der Devas anschließt. Devas sind Wesen, welche auf einer höheren Stufe stehen als der Mensch und die imstande sind, auf höheren Stufen des Daseins zu wirken. So finden wir die Devas, wenn wir als Seher die höheren Plane betreten. Wir finden Devas auf dem Astralplan, auf dem Rupaplan, auf dem Arupaplan und weiter hinauf. Was bedeutet das Wirken der Devas für die Welt, in welcher wir selbst sind? Wir gehen bei Beantwortung dieser Frage davon aus, daß wir uns fragen: Was ist der Zweck unseres menschlichen Daseins, dieser fortdauernden Reinkarnationen? Der Mensch käme umsonst und zwecklos in die Welt herein, wenn er nicht bei jeder Hereinkunft eine besondere Lektion lernen, eine besondere Aufgabe erfüllen könnte. Jedesmal muß sich die Erde so weit geändert haben, daß der Mensch eine Situation antrifft, die er bei seiner früheren Verkörperung noch nicht angetroffen hat.
Okkult rechnet man eine Verkörperung aus einer männlichen und einer weiblichen bestehend. Zwischen 2600 bis 3000 Jahren liegen zwei solche zusammengehörige Verkörperungen. Die Erfahrungen, die der Mensch auf der heutigen Stufe der Evolution in der Welt macht, sind so verschieden bei Mann und Weib, daß es sehr notwendig ist, diese zu machen.
Die Veränderungen, die zwischen zwei Inkarnationen eines Menschen in der Welt bewirkt werden, diese Veränderungen sind für einen außerhalb der theosophischen Welt stehenden Menschen eigentlich ziemlich unbegreiflich. Tatsächlich finden aber die Menschen nicht nur moralisch, sondern auch physisch ganz andere Verhältnisse. Für den, der okkult zurückblickt, haben sich in den letzten dreitausend Jahren auch die physischen Verhältnisse wesentlich verändert. In der Zeit der alten Griechen, der Griechen Homers, 800 vor Christus, da würden wir vorhergehende Inkarnationen von uns durchschnittlich antreffen. Damals waren ganz andere geographische und klimatische Verhältnisse, eine wesentlich andere Pflanzenwelt und auch eine andere Tierwelt. In diesen Reichen gehen [ständig] wesentliche Veränderungen vor. Ein äußerer Ausdruck für diese Veränderungen ist das Fortschreiten der Sonne am Himmelsgewölbe. Zwölf Sternbilder haben wir und die Sonne rückt mit dem Frühlingsanfangspunkt immer von einem zum andern vor. Vor 8000 Jahren ging die Sonne zum erstenmal im Sternbild des Krebses auf. Die Zeit, während der die Sonne durch ein Sternbild durchgeht, diese Zeit, die da verfließt, dauert etwa 2600 Jahre. Das ist auch die Zeit zwischen zwei Inkarnationen des Menschen. Ungefähr um die Wende des 18. zum 19. Jahrhundert rückte die Sonne aus dem Sternbild des Widders in das Sternbild der Fische vor, so daß sie jetzt im Frühjahr im Sternbild der Fische aufgeht.1Siehe unter Hinweise.
Die Menschen, die noch Sinn für Okkultismus hatten, wußten etwas von dem Zusammenhang im Leben des Menschen mit diesen Veränderungen am Firmament. Früher, ehe die Sonne in das Zeichen des Widders trat, herrschte in Asien der Stierdienst (Mithras, Apis). Dann folgte die Verehrung des Widders, die damit beginnt, daß die Sage von Jason und dem Goldenen Vlies entsteht. Christus nennt man das «Lamm Gottes». Noch weiter zurück findet man das persische Symbol, die Zwillinge. Dies hängt zusammen mit der damaligen [persischen] Kultur [und ihrer Anschauung] des Guten und des Bösen.
Wenn die Sonne unter anderen Verhältnissen auf die Erde hereinscheint, sind auch immer andere Verhältnisse da. Daher führt das Erstehen der Sonne in einem neuen Sternbild auch jedesmal eine neue Inkarnation herbei. Oben am Himmel das Fortschreiten der Sonne, unten auf der Erde eine Veränderung der klimatischen Verhältnisse, der Vegetation und so weiter.
Wer bewirkt das? Der Theosoph muß es fragen, denn Wunder gibt es für den Theosophen nicht. Es gibt Tatsachen auf höheren Planen, aber keine Wunder. Gegenüber der Frage des Zusammenhanges des Menschen mit den Erscheinungen auf der Erde muß man einen höheren Standpunkt einnehmen.
Nach dem Tode ist der Mensch in Kamaloka. Wir fragen nicht: Haben die Tiere und Pflanzen Bewußtsein, sondern wir fragen: Wo haben sie ihr Bewußtsein? - Wir wissen, daß die Tiere ihr Bewußtsein in Kamaloka, auf dem Astralplan, haben, die Pflanzen auf dem Rupaplan, die Mineralien auf dem Arupaplan. Der Mensch hat sein Bewußtsein auf dem physischen Plan. Man nehme an, der Mensch käme jetzt nach Kamaloka. Dann ist er an demselben Orte, wo die Tiere ihr Bewußtsein haben. Dann steigt er hinauf in das Devachan, wo die Pflanzen ihr Bewußtsein haben. Auf der heutigen Evolutionsstufe ist der Mensch nicht imstande, auf das Reich der Tiere oder auf das Pflanzenreich einen Einfluß auszuüben. Diesen Einfluß hat er aber wohl in den unteren Partien des Devachanplanes. Seine Genossen sind dort alle, die ein devachanisches Bewußtsein haben. Das sind Kräfte, Wesenheiten, die aus dem Devachan heraus schaffen, die das Wachsen und Gedeihen der Pflanzenwelt bewirken. Vom Devachanplan aus wird das ganze Leben der Pflanzen dirigiert. Von dort aus tut der Mensch mit beim Schaffen und Umwandeln der Pflanzen. Es erwachsen ihm dort Kräfte, so daß er tatsächlich auf die Vegetation einen Einfluß gewinnt. Aber zum Regieren dieser Tätigkeit sind nun die Devas da. Er wird gelenkt von ihnen, so daß er mitarbeiten kann an der Transformation der Pflanzenwelt. Die Kräfte, die der Mensch heute in einer Inkarnation gesammelt hat, die benutzt er im Devachan zur Umgestaltung der Pflanzenwelt. Wie sich während der Devachanzeit des Menschen Daseinskräfte ändern, so ändert er mit die Vegetation auf der Erde. Vom Devachan aus ändert der Mensch tatsächlich die Umgebung, die um ihn erwächst.
Die sich lange aufhalten im Devachan, arbeiten auch mit an der Veränderung der physischen Kräfte. Wenn man eine Million Jahre zurückgeht in Deutschland, findet man noch vulkanische Gebirge; die Alpen als niedrige Hügelwellen. Die spätere Veränderung ist durch die Menschen vom Arupaplan aus herbeigeführt worden, damit sie später eine ihnen passende physische Konfiguration in Europa vorfinden. Das Wirken des Menschen im Weltenall ist dasjenige von innen gesehen, was wir in der Umwelt von außen sehen.
Jetzt kommen wir dazu, wie in anderer Gestalt auf noch höheren Planen umgestaltend gewirkt wird in der Welt.
Man liest oft vom Herabströmen des Logos und fragt sich, wie das [vorzustellen] ist, wie man zu einer Vorstellung kommen kann über den Logos, zu einer Vorstellung, die etwas mehr ist als ein bloßes Wort. Wir wollen uns nun den Zusammenhang des Logos mit dem Kleinsten vor Augen führen. Eine Beschreibung - nicht Spekulationen — gebe ich Ihnen von Ergebnissen uralter okkulter Forschungen, wie sie überliefert wurden, namentlich in den okkulten Schulen Deutschlands ausgebildet worden sind, besonders vom 14. Jahrhundert an.
Wenn man über das Atom nachdenkt, so fällt uns ein, daß das ‚Atom ein sehr kleines Ding ist. Jedem ist klar, daß das kleine Ding, das man Atom nennt, niemals von irgendeinem Mikroskop, selbst wenn es sehr vollkommen ist, gesehen worden ist. Die okkulten Bücher geben aber Beschreibungen der Atome, Bilder von Atomen. Wo sind diese Bilder hergenommen? Wie kann man nun als Okkultist etwas über die Atome wissen?
Nun, stellen Sie sich vor, wenn es möglich wäre, das, was ein Atom ist, zum Wachsen zu bringen, so daß es immer größer und größer werden würde, bis es so groß ist wie die Erde, dann würde man eine sehr komplizierte Welt finden. Innerhalb dieses kleinen Dinges würde man viele Bewegungen und mancherlei Erscheinungen wahrnehmen. Man halte diesen Vergleich fest, daß das Atom so vergrößert wäre wie die Erde. Wenn es wirklich möglich wäre, das Atom so zum Wachsen zu bringen, so könnten wir alle einzelnen Vorgänge darin beobachten. Nur der Okkultist ist imstande, das Atom so zum Wachsen zu bringen und es im Inneren zu betrachten.
Betrachten wir zweitens alles menschliche Treiben auf der Erde, von den untersten Bildungsstufen des Menschen angefangen, mit seinen Trieben und Leidenschaften, aufsteigend zu sittlichen Idealen, Religionsgemeinschaften und so weiter, so sehen wir, daß die Menschen gleichsam Fäden zwischen sich spinnen, die sich von Mensch zu Mensch schlingen und immer höhere und höhere Gemeinschaften entstehen: die Familie, der Stamm und weiter ethnische und staatliche Gemeinschaften, und schließlich Religionsgemeinschaften. In diesen kommt schon zum Ausdruck die Wirkung der höheren Individualitäten. Solche Gemeinschaften sind aus der Quelle und dem Born der einheitlichen Weltenweisheit heraus entstanden durch einen Religionsstifter. Die Religionen stimmen alle [im tieferen] überein, weil sie Stifter haben, die zu der großen Loge gehören.
Es gibt eine besondere weiße Loge, welche zwölf Mitglieder hat, von denen sieben besonders wirken, und von diesen werden dann Religionsgemeinschaften begründet. Solche waren Buddha, Hermes, Pythagoras und so weiter. Der große Plan der ganzen Menschheitsentwickelung wird tatsächlich spirituell ausgebaut in der weißen Loge, die so alt wie die ganze Menschheit ist. Ein gleichmäßiger Plan der Führung des ganzen Menschheitsfortschrittes tritt uns da entgegen. Alle anderen Gemeinschaften sind nur Verzweigung; auch Familiengemeinschaften und so weiter sind alle verknüpft mit dem großen Plan, der uns hinaufführt in die Loge der Meister. Da wird gesponnen und gewoben der Plan, nach dem sich die ganze Menschheit entwickelt.
Verfolgen wir alles das, was weiter geschieht. Da müssen wir erst einen Spezialplan, nämlich den Plan unserer Erde, kennenlernen. Betrachten wir die vierte Erdenrunde, in der wir stehen. Sie ist dazu bestimmt, das Reich des Minerals immer mehr und mehr menschlich umzuwandeln. Man bedenke, wie der menschliche Verstand die mineralische Welt schon umgewandelt hat, bis zu der Umwandlung hinauf, die wir im Kölner Dom sehen, bis zur technischen Maschine. Unsere Menschheit hat die Aufgabe, die ganze mineralische Welt zu einem reinen Kunstwerk umzugestalten. Die Elektrizität weist uns schon hin in okkulte Tiefen des Stoffes.
Wenn der Mensch die mineralische Welt neu aufgebaut hat aus seinem Inneren heraus, dann wird das Ende unserer Erde gekommen sein; dann ist die Erde ans Ende der physischen Entwickelung gelangt. Der Spezialplan, nach dem das Mineralreich umgewandelt wird, lebt in der Loge der Meister. Heute ist dieser Plan schon fertig, so daß, wenn man diesen einsieht, man sehen kann, was für Wunderbauten, Wundermaschinen und so weiter aus dieser mineralischen Welt noch entstehen werden. Wenn die Erde am Ende des physischen Globus angelangt sein wird, wird die ganze Erde eine innere Struktur, ein inneres Gefüge haben, das der Mensch selbst ihr gegeben hat, so daß sie ein Kunstwerk geworden ist, nach dem Plane der Meister der weißen Loge. Ist das geschehen, dann geht die Erde in ihren astralen Zustand über. Das ist etwas Ähnliches, wie wenn die Pflanze anfängt zu verwelken. Das Physische vergeht; alles geht ins Astrale hinein. Bei dem Hineingehen in die astrale Welt geht das Physische immer mehr zusammen, wird ein immer kleinerer Kern, der umgeben ist vom Astralischen, in den Rupa- und dann in den Arupazustand übergeht und dann verschwindet in einen schlafähnlichen Zustand.
Was ist dann vom Physischen übrig? Wenn die Erde in den Arupazustand übergegangen ist, so ist darin noch ganz zusammengedrängt ein kleiner Abdruck der ganzen physischen Entwickelung von dem, was unter dem Plane der Meister aufgebaut, gleichsam eine ganz kleine Miniaturausgabe dessen, was die mineralische Erde einstmals war. Dies ist das, was [vom Physischen] herübergeht. Das Physische ist da nur als diese kleine Miniaturausgabe früherer Entwickelungen vorhanden, das Arupa aber groß. Wenn dies herübergeht aus dem Devachanzustande, vermehrt es sich in unzählige gleiche Dinge nach außen. Und wenn die Erde wieder in den physischen Zustand herübergeht, dann besteht sie aus unzähligen solcher kleinen Kügelchen, welche ein Abdruck sind dessen, was die Erde früher war. Aber alle sind verschieden geartete Kügelchen, führen jedoch auf dasselbe zurück. So wird die neue physische Erde der fünften Runde aus solchen unzähligen kleinen Teilen bestehen, welche alles das enthalten, was die Meister als Ziel der mineralischen Welt, als Plan in ihrer Loge haben. Jedes Atom der fünften Runde enthält den ganzen Plan der Meister. Heute arbeiten die Meister das Atom der fünften Runde im großen aus. Alles was in der Menschheit vorgeht, das wird zusammengedrängt in ein Resultat: das ist das Atom der fünften Runde.
Daher, wenn wir den Blick richten auf das Atom, das heute besteht, und gehen zurück in der Akasha-Chronik, dann sehen wir, daß das Atom von heute einen Wachstumsprozeß durchmacht. Es wächst immer mehr und mehr; es geht immer mehr und mehr auseinander ... [Lücke im Text] ... und es enthält die in der dritten Runde durcheinanderwogenden Kräfte der Menschheit. Daran können wir den Plan der Meister der dritten Erdenrunde betrachten. Was erst ganz außerhalb ist, das wird ganz innerhalb, und im kleinsten Atom sehen wir ein Spiegelbild des Planes der Meister. Diese kleinen Spezialplane sind nichts anderes als ein Stück des ganzen Menschheitsplanes. Wenn man das so betrachtet, daß der Plan der einen Runde das Atom der nächsten Runde ist, dann sieht man das Gefüge des großen Weltenplanes. So geht der große Weltenplan hinauf in immer höhere Stufen, zu Wesenheiten, die immer höhere Pläne des Weltenbaues haben. Wenn wir diesen Plan betrachten, so haben wir den dritten Logos. So schlüpft der Logos fortwährend hinein in das Atom. Erst ist er draußen und wird zum Anordnungsplan für das Atom, und dann wird das Atom ein Abbild dieses Planes. Der Okkultist zeichnet einfach den Plan aus der Akasha-Chronik über die früheren Runden auf und erforscht so das Atom.
Woher haben nun höhere Wesen diesen Plan? Darauf bekommen wir eine Antwort, wenn wir bedenken, daß es noch höhere Stufen der Entwickelung gibt, wo die Pläne entworfen werden. Da wird die Weltentwickelung vorgezeichnet. Hingewiesen wird auf die höheten Stufen bei den Alten, zum Beispiel bei Dionysius, dem Schüler des Apostels Paulus, und auch bei Nicolaus Cusanus. Er erkannte: Höher als alles Wissen und Erkennen ist das Nichterkennen. Aber dieses Nichtwissen ist ein Überwissen und dieses Nichterkennen ist ein Übererkennen.
Wenn wir nicht mehr auf das sehen, was wir als Gedanken und Begriffe von der Welt erhalten, sondern uns zu dem wenden, was hinaufsprießt, zu der Kraft im Inneren, dann finden wir etwas noch Höheres. Die Meister können den [dritten] Logos spinnen, weil sie noch höher gestiegen sind, als es die Natur des Denkens ist. Wenn die höheren Kräfte entwickelt sind, dann erscheint das Gedachte bei solchen Wesenheiten als etwas anderes. Es ist dann so wie bei uns das ausgesprochene Wort. Der Gedanke, der für den Meister die innerste Wesenheit ausmacht, kann selbst der Ausdruck einer höheren Wesenheit sein, wie das Wort der Ausdruck des Gedankens ist. Wenn wir selbst den Gedanken ansehen als das Wort eines noch höheren Wesens, dann nähern wir uns dem Begriff des Logos. Das Wissen, aus dem Gedanken herausgeholt, steht auf einem noch höheren Plan.
Auf dem einen Ende der Welt befindet sich das Atom. Es ist ein Abbild des aus der Tiefe des Geistes der Meister hervorgegangenen Planes, der der Logos ist.
Wenn wir nun die Umgestaltung der Menschheit selbst in der großen Weltenperiode suchen, dann werden wir wieder hineingeführt in die Welt.
Wie der Mensch heruntergestiegen ist, hinabgetaucht bis auf den physischen Plan, so ist es auch mit der ganzen Welt. Was das menschliche Selbst vorwärtsbringt, das liegt um den Menschen herum in der Welt.
Dann aber werden wir heruntergeführt in die niederen Pläne, die aber selbst die höheren Pläne enthalten ... die Loge der Meister.
Bei den Meistern lebt heute der Geist der Erde, und dieser Geist der Erde wird sein das physische Kleid des nächsten Planeten. Das Kleinste was wir tun, wird seine Wirkung im kleinsten Atom des nächsten Planeten haben. Dies Gefühl gibt uns erst einen vollen Zusammenhang mit der Loge der Meister. Das soll einen Mittelpunkt der 'Theosophischen Gesellschaft geben, weil wir wissen, was die Wissenden wissen.
Wenn Goethe vom Erdgeist spricht, so spricht er eine Wahrheit. Der Erdgeist, er webt an dem Kleide des nächsten Planeten. «In Lebensfluten - im Tatensturm» webt der Geist [der Erde] das Kleid der nächsten planetarischen Gottheit.
Zur Ergänzung:
Zwei Jahre später, wiederum zur Generalversammlungszeit, sprach Rudolf Steiner im Vortrag Berlin, 21. Oktober 1907 (Bibl.-Nr. 101) noch einmal über das Atom in dem Sinne, wie von einem Planeten geistig auf den anderen herübergewirkt wird, wie also «vom Mond auf die Erde und wiederum von der Erde auf ihren Nachfolger, den Jupiter» herübergewirkt wird.
Der in Frage kommende Auszug lautet:
Sie alle wissen, daß die Erde geführt wird in einer gewissen Beziehung von der sogenannten weißen Loge, in der hochentwickelte Menschen-Individualitäten und Individualitäten noch höherer Art vereinigt sind. Was tun die da? Sie arbeiten; sie führen die Erdenentwickelung; während der Führung der Erdenentwickelung arbeiten sie einen ganz bestimmten Plan aus. Das ist tatsächlich der Fall, daß während der Entwickelung eines jeden Planeten von den führenden Mächten ein bestimmter Plan ausgebildet wird. Während sich die Erde entwickelt, wird in der sogenannten weißen Loge der Erde der Plan für das Einzelnste dessen aufgestellt, wie sich der Jupiter entwickeln muß, der die Erde ablöst. Der ganze Plan wird in allen Einzelheiten entwickelt. Und darin besteht der Segen und das Heil der Fortentwickelung, daß im Einklang mit diesem Plan gehandelt wird.
Wenn nun eine planetarische Entwickelung zu Ende geht, wenn also unsere Erde am Ende ihrer planetarischen Entwickelung angelangt sein wird, dann werden auch die Meister der Weisheit und des Zusammenklanges der Empfindungen fertig sein mit dem Plan, den sie für den Jupiter auszuarbeiten haben. Und jetzt am Ende einer solchen Planetenentwickelung geschieht etwas höchst Eigentümliches.
Dieser Plan wird durch eine Prozedur zu gleicher Zeit unendlich verkleinert und unendlich vervielfältigt. So daß von dem ganzen Jupiterplan unendlich viele Exemplare, aber ganz «en miniature», vorhanden sind. So war es auch auf dem Monde: der Plan der Erdenentwickelung war da, unendlich vervielfältigt und verkleinert. Und wissen Sie, was das ist, dieser verkleinerte Plan, was da im Geistigen ausgearbeitet worden ist? Das sind die wirklichen Atome, die der Erde zugrunde liegen. Und die Atome, die dem Jupiter zugrunde liegen werden, sie werden wiederum der ins Kleinste umgesetzte Plan sein, der jetzt in der führenden weißen Loge ausgearbeitet wird. Nur wer diesen Plan kennt, kann auch wissen, was ein Atom ist.
Wenn Sie dieses Atom, das der Erde zugrunde liegt, nach und nach erkennen wollen, so werden Ihnen zur Erkenntnis dieses Atoms eben diejenigen Weisheiten entgegentreten, die von den großen Magiern der Welt ausgehen.
Nun können wir natürlich über diese Dinge nur andeutungsweise sprechen, aber wir können wenigstens etwas geben, was uns einen Begriff gibt von dem, um was es sich hier handelt.
Die Erde ist in gewisser Weise zusammengesetzt aus diesen ihren Atomen. Ein jedes Wesen, Sie selbst alle sind zusammengesetzt aus diesen Atomen. Und Sie stehen dadurch in Einklang mit der ganzen Erdenentwickelung, daß Sie in unendlicher Zahl den verkleinerten Erdenplan in sich tragen, der früher ausgearbeitet worden ist. Dieser Erdenplan konnte auf dem vorhergehenden planetarischen Zustand unserer Erde, dem Monde, nur dadurch ausgearbeitet werden, daß führende Wesenheiten gewirkt haben in Einklang mit der ganzen planetarischen Entwickelung durch Saturn, Sonne, Mond hindurch. Nun handelte es sich aber darum, den unendlich vielen Atomen das mitzugeben, was sie in die richtigen Verhältnisse bringt, sie in der richtigen Weise zusammenordnet. Ihnen das mitzugeben, war den fühtenden Geistern des Mondes nur möglich, wenn sie die Erdenentwickelung in eine ganz bestimmte Bahn lenkten, was ich öfter schon gesagt habe.
Als die Erde nach der Mondentwickelung wieder hervortrat, da war sie eigentlich noch nicht «Erde», sondern Erde plus Sonne plus Mond; ein Körper, den Sie erhalten würden, wenn Sie die Erde mit Sonne und Mond zusammenrührten und einen einzigen Körper daraus machten. Das war die Erde zunächst. Dann trennte sich zuerst die Sonne und damit auch alle diejenigen Kräfte, die für den Menschen zu dünn und geistig waren und unter deren Einfluß er sich viel zu schnell vergeistigt haben würde. Wenn der Mensch nur gestanden haben würde unter dem Einfluß der Kräfte, die in diesem Sonnen-Monden-Erdenkörper zusammen enthalten waren, dann hätte er sich nicht bis in die physische Materialität herunterentwickelt und er hätte dann nicht jenes Selbst-, jenes Ich-Bewußtsein erlangen können, das er erlangen mußte.
Sonderhinweis zu den in diesen Vorträgen gemachten Äußerungen über das Atom im Zusammenhang mit der Freimaurerei
Im Gesamtwerk Rudolf Steiners finden sich die verschiedensten Äußerungen über Atomismus, das Atom und zukünftige neue Naturkräfte. Sollen nicht schwerwiegende Mißverständnisse entstehen, müssen diese verschiedenen Äußerungen differenziert beurteilt werden. Vor allem muß unterschieden werden seine Kritik der Atomtheorie als Weltanschauung von seinen Äußerungen über die Natur des Atoms vom Standpunkt des Okkultismus.
Die Kritik der Atomtheorie als Weltanschauung, bereits einsetzend in zwei seiner frühesten Abhandlungen «Einzig mögliche Kritik der atomistischen Begriffe» (1882) und «Die Atomistik und ihre Widerlegung» (1890),1Abgedruckt in «Beiträge zur Rudolf Steiner Gesamtausgabe», Nr. 63, Michaeli 1978. zielt darauf, daß es nicht angeht, im Atom «das Grundprinzip allen Daseins» sehen zu wollen. So wie beim Telegramm Draht und Elektrizität nur Vermittler der Sache selbst sind, so könnten auch Atome nur als Vermittler oder Träger von Geistwirkungen verstanden werden. Diese Grundhaltung zieht sich durch sein ganzes Werk. Auch noch in einer seiner letzten Schriften, in seiner Selbstbiographie «Mein Lebensgang» (32. Kapitel), heißt es: «Atome oder atomistische Strukturen können nur Ergebnisse von Geistwirkungen, von organischen Wirkungen sein.»
Um etwas völlig anderes handelt es sich bei den Äußerungen über das ‚Atom in den vorliegenden Vorträgen. Hier wurde für einen sehr kleinen Kreis vom Standpunkt des Okkultismus über das Atom als den Urbaustoff der Natur im Zusammenhang mit der Freimaurerei gesprochen. Denn so, wie durch die freimaurerische Kultsymbolik ursprünglich der Naturdienst geheiligt werden sollte, so wollte Rudolf Steiner durch die von ihm mit diesen Vorträgen vorbereitete kultsymbolische Abteilung seiner Esoterischen Schule Verständnis dafür erwecken, daß «der Laboratoriumstisch künftig zum Altar» werden und dem ganzen Sozialleben der Selbstlosigkeitsimpuls eingepflanzt werden muß, soll unsere vom Nützlichkeitsprinzip beherrschte Kultur nicht im Egoismus untergehen. Daher veröffentlichte er damals gleichzeitig das aus dem Okkultismus heraus aufgewiesene «soziale Hauptgesetz» der Zukunft, das lautet: «Das Heil einer Gesamtheit von zusammenarbeitenden Menschen ist um so größer, je weniger der Einzelne die Erträgnisse seiner Leistungen für sich beansprucht, das heißt je mehr er von diesen Erträgnissen an seine Mitarbeiter abgibt und je mehr seine Bedürfnisse nicht aus seinen Leistungen, sondern aus den Leistungen der andern befriedigt werden.» 2In dem Aufsatz «Theosophie und soziale Frage» (Oktober 1905) in «Luzifer-Gnosis», Bibl.-Nr. 34, auch als Sonderdruck unter dem Titel «Geisteswissenschaft und soziale Frage».
Die nicht aus dem Okkultismus, sondern aus der äußeren Wissenschaft kommende Veranlassung, um über das Atom vom okkulten Standpunkt zu sprechen, resultierte aus der Voraussicht dessen, was durch die neuesten physikalischen Erkenntnisse von der Wende des 19. zum 20. Jahrhundert auf die Menschheit zukommen würde. Die Einsicht, daß die moderne Naturerkenntnis und Technik Entwicklungsstadien zueilt, welche nur dann zum Heile der Menschheit ausschlagen können, wenn die Seelen der Menschen im Sinne der geisteswissenschaftlichen Lebensauffassung vertieft sein werden, hatte Rudolf Steiner grundsätzlich dazu bestimmt, für die öffentliche Verbreitung des Geheimwissens einzutreten. Daß die Physik damals anfing, den Zusammenhang von Atom, Elektrizität und Äther zu erforschen, erkannte Rudolf Steiner als einen ungeheuer wichtigen Wendepunkt in der Entwicklung des menschlichen Denkens, weil er als Okkultist wußte, daß «ein neuer Ausgangspunkt aus dem Atom heraus in die mineralisch-physische Welt hinein» kommen werde. (16. Dezember 1904, in diesem Band.)
Aus diesem Grunde maß er einer in diese Richtung weisenden Rede des damaligen englischen Premierministers Balfour eine außerordentliche Bedeutung bei. Diese Rede, gehalten am 14. August 1904 in der British Association, erschien noch im gleichen Jahr auf deutsch unter dem Titel «Unsere Weltanschauung», Leipzig 1904. Zu der Zeit, als Rudolf Steiner in den Vorträgen vom Dezember 1904 auf diese Rede hinwies, hatte er sie schon in der Novembernummer seiner Zeitschrift «Luzifer-Gnosis» besprochen. (Siehe Bibl.-Nr. 34.)
Mit der Voraussage, in den drei Vorträgen vom 9., 16. und 23. Dezember 1904, daß der Mensch bis in das Atom hinein denken lernen und imstande sein werde, dessen Kraft anzuwenden, ist aber nicht nur die Warnung verbunden vor den schweren Gefahren, die drohen, wenn diese Kraft nicht selbstlos in den Dienst des Ganzen gestellt werde, sondern auch noch der Hinweis darauf, als dem «Wichtigsten für die Zukunft», daß mit den Atomen als «den kleinsten Bausteinen» in zukünftigen Zeiten wird gebaut werden können.
Diese zweite, nicht weiter ausgeführte Andeutung, wird etwas konturierter durch die Notizen vom 21. Oktober 1905 und die angefügte Ergänzung aus dem Vortrag vom 21. Oktober 1907, wonach der Okkultist imstande ist, das Atom «wachsen» zu lassen.3Viele Jahre später, im Vortrag Berlin 22. Juni 1915 in «Menschenschicksale, Völkerschicksale», Bibl.-Nr.157, GA 1960, kam Rudolf Steiner wieder im Zusammenhang mit der Jupiterentwicklung auf die Atome zu sprechen und erwähnt dabei die nun hier veröffentlichten Vorträge. Wörtlich heißt es dort: «Ich habe über das Atom, als zubereitet aus dem ganzen Kosmos heraus, früher einmal gesprochen. In jenen älteren Vorträgen können Sie das wiederfinden, die ganz im Anfange unseres Berliner Wirkens gehalten wurden.» Gleichzeitig ist auch von der Fähigkeit des Verkleinerns die Rede. Den damaligen Zuhörern waren dies nicht völlig unbekannte Gedanken. Denn in der Literatur der Theosophical Society, insbesondere von C. W. Leadbeater und Annie Besant, war viel von der Kraft des Vergrößerns und Verkleinerns als einem besonders auszubildenden Vermögen des ätherischen Hellsehens die Rede; zumeist im Zusammenhang mit der Schilderung hellseherischer Untersuchungen von Atomen. Gerade im Jahre 1905 hatte Annie Besant darüber verschiedentlich gesprochen und geschrieben. Auch war eine von beiden gemeinsam veröffentlichte Studie aus dem Jahre 1895 über «Occult Chemistry» zu dieser Zeit neu erschienen.4Später erweitert und mit dem Titelzusatz «Atomlehre» auch auf deutsch erschienen. Ein Exemplar befindet sich in der Bibliothek Rudolf Steiners. Rudolf Steiner lehnte diese Darstellungsart als materialistischen Spiritualismus genau so ab, wie die naturwissenschaftliche Atomistik als Grundlage einer Weltanschauung, denn auch in dieser theosophischen Literatur wurden die Atome als Grundprinzip des Daseins betrachtet, statt sie als Ergebnisse und Vermittler von konkreten Geistwirkungen zu erkennen.
Aus demselben Grunde sprach er auch nicht über eine nur äußerliche Technik der ätherischen Vergrößerung und Verkleinerung, sondern davon, daß von unserem 20. Jahrhundert ab langsam und allmählich ein ätherisches Hellsehen als eine neue natürliche Fähigkeit der Menschen auftreten werde und dadurch der im Ätherischen wiedererscheinende Christus wird wahrgenommen werden können.5Siehe «Das Ereignis der Christus-Erscheinung in der ätherischen Welt», Bibl.-Nr. 118, GA 1977. Dann werde es auch Chemiker und Physiker geben, die nicht mehr lehren werden, daß es nur stoffliche Atome gibt, sondern daß die Materie aufgebaut ist in dem Sinne, wie «der Christus sie nach und nach angeordnet hat».6Siehe «Die geistige Führung des Menschen und der Menschheit» (Kap. II), Bibl.-Nr.15, GA 1974.
Daß es sich bei der Andeutung - in zukünftigen Zeiten werde mit den Atomen gebaut werden können - um die Bemeisterung der ätherischen, der lebendigen Kräfte handelt, wird deutlich aus dem Vortrag vom 2. Januar 1906 (in diesem Band). In einem etwas später gehaltenen Vortrag (München, 4. Dezember 1907, enthalten in GA 98) findet sich dies noch einmal ganz klar ausgesprochen, wenn es heißt:
«... Wenn der Mensch einmal soweit an sich gearbeitet haben wird, daß er auf der ersten Stufe des Hellsehens ist, dann wird ihm das Leben der Pflanzen, werden ihm die Gesetze des Lebens geradeso klar sein, wie es uns jetzt die Gesetze der mineralischen Welt sind.
Setzen Sie eine Maschine zusammen, bauen Sie ein Haus, so sind diese nach den Gesetzen der mineralischen Welt gebaut. Eine Maschine ist nach den Gesetzen der mineralischen Welt gebaut, eine Pflanze aber können wir nicht so bauen. Wenn Sie eine Pflanze haben wollen, müssen Sie diese Arbeit den Wesenheiten überlassen, die der Natur zugrunde liegen. Später wird man Pflanzen im Laboratorium herstellen können, aber erst dann, wenn das für den Menschen ein Sakrament, eine heilige Handlung sein wird. Alle Herstellung des Lebendigen wird dem Menschen erst dann erlaubt sein, wenn er so ernst und geläutert sein wird, daß ihm der Laboratoriumstisch zum Altar wird. Vorher wird nicht das Geringste davon verraten werden, wie die lebendigen Wesen zusammengefügt sind. Mit anderen Worten: Das Ich als erkennendes lebt im Mineralreich und wird aufsteigen zum Pflanzenreich und wird dieses dann ebenso begreifen lernen wie heute das Mineralreich. Später wird es auch die Gesetzmäßigkeit des Tierreiches und dann die des Menschenreiches begreifen lernen. Alle Menschen werden lernen, das Innere der Pflanze, des Tieres und des Menschen zu begreifen; das sind Zukunftsperspektiven. Was man wirklich begreift, das kann man auch darstellen, zum Beispiel eine Uhr. Der heutige Mensch wird niemals etwas aus der lebendigen Natur darstellen können ohne Hilfe der Wesenheiten, die hinter der Natur stehen, solange es nicht eine sakramentale Handlung für ihn sein wird.»
15. The Logos and Atoms in the Light of Occultism
A fundamental feeling must permeate us if we want to have a true understanding of theosophy: namely, that in the theosophical current we receive an expanded soul, feel our hearts become more comprehensive and elevated to higher tasks, to participate in the affairs of the world, of which one has no idea if one does not know something about occultism.
There is often talk of the great intention of guiding humanity through the theosophical movement to that point in the future where a new human race will emerge, where our present intellect will no longer play the leading role in the world, but where it will be fertilized by Buddhi. We must cooperate in this great world movement and therefore have a great responsibility toward the theosophical movement. The task of the theosophist extends into the distant future. We are not entering a cloud cuckoo land, but what we learn about such a distant future awakens forces within us, creates something within us that we can also use in everyday life. Someone who spends even ten minutes a day thinking about these great world perspectives acts differently from someone who is absorbed in everyday life. They can bring something new, productive, and original into the present. All development is based on bringing something original into humanity.
Let us start from something that is connected with the work of the devas. Devas are beings who stand on a higher level than human beings and are able to work on higher planes of existence. We find the devas when we enter the higher planes as seers. We find devas on the astral plane, on the rupaplan, on the arupaplan, and further up. What does the work of the devas mean for the world in which we ourselves live? In answering this question, we start from the question: What is the purpose of our human existence, of these continuous reincarnations? Human beings would come into the world in vain and without purpose if they could not learn a special lesson or fulfill a special task each time they arrived. Each time, the earth must have changed to such an extent that human beings encounter a situation that they have not yet encountered in their previous incarnation.
Occult science calculates that an incarnation consists of a male and a female. Between 2,600 and 3,000 years lie two such related incarnations. The experiences that humans have in the world at the present stage of evolution are so different for men and women that it is very necessary to have them.
The changes that take place between two incarnations of a human being in the world are actually quite incomprehensible to someone outside the theosophical world. In fact, however, people find themselves in completely different circumstances, not only morally but also physically. For those who look back occultly, physical conditions have also changed significantly over the last three thousand years. In the time of the ancient Greeks, the Greeks of Homer, 800 BC, we would encounter previous incarnations of ourselves on average. At that time, geographical and climatic conditions were completely different, with a significantly different flora and fauna. Essential changes are constantly taking place in these realms. An external expression of these changes is the progression of the sun across the sky. We have twelve constellations, and with the beginning of spring, the sun always moves from one to the next. Eight thousand years ago, the sun rose for the first time in the constellation of Cancer. The time during which the sun passes through a constellation, this time that flows by, lasts about 2,600 years. This is also the time between two incarnations of human beings. Around the turn of the 18th to the 19th century, the sun moved from the constellation of Aries to the constellation of Pisces, so that it now rises in the constellation of Pisces in the spring.1See under Notes.
People who still had a sense of the occult knew something about the connection between human life and these changes in the firmament. In the past, before the sun entered the sign of Aries, the cult of Taurus (Mithras, Apis) prevailed in Asia. This was followed by the worship of Aries, which began with the legend of Jason and the Golden Fleece. Christ is called the “Lamb of God.” Even further back, we find the Persian symbol of the twins. This is connected with the [Persian] culture of that time [and its view] of good and evil.
When the sun shines on the earth under different conditions, different conditions always prevail. Therefore, the rising of the sun in a new constellation always brings about a new incarnation. Above in the sky, the sun progresses; below on earth, there is a change in climatic conditions, vegetation, and so on.
Who causes this? The theosophist must ask, for there are no miracles for the theosophist. There are facts on higher planes, but no miracles. When considering the question of man's connection with the phenomena on earth, one must take a higher standpoint.
After death, man is in Kamaloka. We do not ask: Do animals and plants have consciousness? Instead, we ask: Where do they have their consciousness? We know that animals have their consciousness in Kamaloka, on the astral plane, plants on the rupaplan, and minerals on the arupaplan. Man has his consciousness on the physical plane. Let us assume that a human being now comes to Kamaloka. Then he is in the same place where animals have their consciousness. Then he ascends to Devachan, where plants have their consciousness. At the present stage of evolution, human beings are not capable of exerting any influence on the animal or plant kingdoms. However, they do have this influence in the lower parts of the Devachan plane. All those who have a Devachan consciousness are there. These are forces, beings that create out of Devachan and cause the plant world to grow and flourish. The entire life of plants is directed from the Devachan plane. From there, humans participate in the creation and transformation of plants. Forces arise within them there, enabling them to actually influence vegetation. But the devas are there to govern this activity. Humans are guided by them so that they can participate in the transformation of the plant world. The forces that humans have gathered in an incarnation are used in the Devachan to transform the plant world. As the forces of existence change during the Devachan period, so does the vegetation on Earth. From the Devachan, humans actually change the environment that grows around them.
Those who remain in the Devachan for a long time also work on changing the physical forces. If we go back a million years in Germany, we still find volcanic mountains; the Alps as low rolling hills. The later change was brought about by humans from the Arupa plane so that they would later find a physical configuration in Europe that suited them. The work of humans in the universe is, when seen from within, what we see in the environment from without.
Now we come to how, in a different form, transformative work is carried out in the world on even higher planes.
We often read about the descent of the Logos and wonder how this can be imagined, how we can arrive at a conception of the Logos that is more than just a word. Let us now consider the connection between the Logos and the smallest things. I will give you a description—not speculation—of the results of ancient occult research as it has been handed down, particularly as it was developed in the occult schools of Germany, especially from the 14th century onwards.
When we think about the atom, we realize that it is a very small thing. It is clear to everyone that the tiny thing called an atom has never been seen by any microscope, even the most perfect. However, occult books provide descriptions of atoms, images of atoms. Where do these images come from? How can an occultist know anything about atoms?
Well, imagine if it were possible to make an atom grow so that it became larger and larger until it was as big as the earth. Then you would find a very complicated world. Within this tiny thing, you would perceive many movements and various phenomena. Keep in mind this comparison that the atom would be enlarged to the size of the earth. If it were really possible to make the atom grow like this, we could observe all the individual processes within it. Only the occultist is able to make the atom grow like this and look inside it.
Secondly, if we consider all human activity on Earth, starting from the lowest levels of human development, with its instincts and passions, rising to moral ideals, religious communities, and so on, we see that human beings spin threads between themselves, which intertwine from person to person and give rise to ever higher communities: the family, the tribe, and further ethnic and state communities, and finally religious communities. In these, the effect of higher individualities is already expressed. Such communities have arisen from the source and spring of the unified world wisdom through a religious founder. All religions agree [in the deeper sense] because they have founders who belong to the great lodge.
There is a special white lodge, which has twelve members, seven of whom are particularly active, and from these religious communities are founded. Such were Buddha, Hermes, Pythagoras, and so on. The great plan of the entire development of humanity is actually being spiritually developed in the white lodge, which is as old as humanity itself. We are confronted there with an even plan for the guidance of the entire progress of humanity. All other communities are only offshoots; even family communities and so on are all linked to the great plan that leads us up to the lodge of the masters. There, the plan according to which the whole of humanity develops is spun and woven.
Let us follow everything that happens next. First we must become acquainted with a special plan, namely the plan for our Earth. Let us consider the fourth earth cycle in which we find ourselves. It is destined to transform the mineral kingdom more and more into a human realm. Consider how the human mind has already transformed the mineral world, up to the transformation we see in Cologne Cathedral, up to the technical machine. Our humanity has the task of transforming the entire mineral world into a pure work of art. Electricity already points us to the occult depths of matter.
When human beings have rebuilt the mineral world from within themselves, then the end of our Earth will have come; then the Earth will have reached the end of its physical development. The special plan according to which the mineral kingdom will be transformed lives in the lodge of the masters. Today this plan is already complete, so that if one understands it, one can see what marvelous buildings, marvelous machines, and so on will still arise from this mineral world. When the Earth reaches the end of its physical globe, the whole Earth will have an inner structure, an inner framework that human beings themselves will have given it, so that it will have become a work of art according to the plan of the Masters of the White Lodge. When this has happened, the Earth will pass into its astral state. This is similar to when a plant begins to wither. The physical passes away; everything enters the astral. Upon entering the astral world, the physical increasingly contracts, becoming an ever smaller core surrounded by the astral, which passes into the rupa state and then into the arupa state, and then disappears into a sleep-like state.
What then remains of the physical? When the earth has passed into the arupa state, there remains within it, compressed together, a small imprint of the entire physical development of what was built up under the plan of the Masters, a kind of miniature version of what the mineral earth once was. This is what passes over [from the physical]. The physical is present only as this tiny miniature version of earlier developments, but the Arupa is large. When this passes over from the Devachanic state, it multiplies outward into countless identical things. And when the earth passes back into the physical state, it consists of countless such tiny globules, which are an imprint of what the earth used to be. But all are different kinds of globules, yet they all lead back to the same thing. Thus, the new physical earth of the fifth round will consist of such countless small parts, which contain everything that the Masters have as the goal of the mineral world, as the plan in their lodge. Every atom of the fifth round contains the entire plan of the Masters. Today, the Masters are working out the atom of the fifth round on a large scale. Everything that happens in humanity is compressed into one result: that is the atom of the fifth round.
Therefore, when we look at the atom that exists today and go back in the Akashic Records, we see that today's atom is undergoing a process of growth. It grows more and more; it breaks apart more and more ... [gap in the text] ... and it contains the forces of humanity that were in turmoil in the third round. From this we can see the plan of the Masters of the third earth round. What is first completely outside becomes completely inside, and in the smallest atom we see a reflection of the plan of the Masters. These small special plans are nothing other than a piece of the whole plan for humanity. If we consider that the plan of one cycle is the atom of the next cycle, then we see the structure of the great world plan. In this way, the great world plan ascends to ever higher levels, to beings who have ever higher plans for the construction of the world. When we consider this plan, we have the third Logos. Thus, the Logos continually slips into the atom. First it is outside and becomes the plan for the atom, and then the atom becomes a reflection of this plan. The occultist simply draws the plan from the Akashic Chronicle of the previous rounds and thus investigates the atom.
Where do higher beings get this plan? We get an answer to this when we consider that there are even higher stages of development where the plans are drawn up. There, the development of the world is pre-drawn. Reference is made to the highest stages among the ancients, for example, Dionysius, the disciple of the Apostle Paul, and also Nicolaus Cusanus. He recognized that higher than all knowledge and recognition is non-recognition. But this non-knowledge is super-knowledge, and this non-recognition is super-recognition.
When we no longer look at what we receive from the world as thoughts and concepts, but turn to what springs up, to the power within, then we find something even higher. The masters can spin the [third] Logos because they have risen higher than the nature of thinking. When the higher powers are developed, then what is thought appears to such beings as something else. It is then like the spoken word for us. The thought, which for the master constitutes the innermost essence, can itself be the expression of a higher being, just as the word is the expression of the thought. When we ourselves regard the thought as the word of an even higher being, we approach the concept of the Logos. The knowledge extracted from the thought stands on an even higher plane.
At one end of the world is the atom. It is a reflection of the plan that emerged from the depths of the spirit of the masters, which is the Logos.
If we now seek the transformation of humanity itself in the great world period, we are led back into the world.
Just as the human being descended, plunged down to the physical plane, so it is with the whole world. What drives the human self forward lies around the human being in the world.
But then we are led down into the lower planes, which themselves contain the higher planes ... the lodge of the masters.
The spirit of the earth lives today with the Masters, and this spirit of the earth will be the physical garment of the next planet. The smallest thing we do will have its effect in the smallest atom of the next planet. This feeling gives us a full connection with the Lodge of the Masters. This should be the center of the Theosophical Society, because we know what the knowledgeable know.
When Goethe speaks of the Earth Spirit, he speaks the truth. The Earth Spirit weaves the garment of the next planet. “In floods of life, in storms of action,” the spirit [of the Earth] weaves the garment of the next planetary deity.
Addendum:
Two years later, again at the time of the General Assembly, Rudolf Steiner spoke once more about the atom in the sense of how one planet influences another spiritually, how “from the moon to the earth and again from the earth to its successor, Jupiter.”
The relevant excerpt reads:
You all know that the Earth is guided in a certain relationship by the so-called white lodge, in which highly developed human individualities and individualities of an even higher order are united. What do they do there? They work; they guide the development of the Earth; while guiding the development of the Earth, they work out a very specific plan. It is indeed the case that during the development of every planet, a specific plan is formulated by the guiding powers. While the Earth is developing, the plan for the most minute details of how Jupiter, which will replace the Earth, must develop is drawn up in the so-called White Lodge of the Earth. The entire plan is developed in every detail. And it is the blessing and salvation of further development that everything is done in accordance with this plan.
When a planetary development comes to an end, when our Earth reaches the end of its planetary development, then the Masters of Wisdom and Harmony of Feelings will also have completed the plan they have to work out for Jupiter. And now, at the end of such a planetary development, something highly peculiar happens.
This plan is simultaneously reduced to infinity and multiplied infinitely through a process. So that there are infinitely many copies of the entire Jupiter plan, but entirely “in miniature.” It was the same on the moon: the plan for the development of the Earth was there, infinitely multiplied and reduced. And do you know what this reduced plan is, what has been worked out in the spiritual realm? These are the real atoms that form the basis of the Earth. And the atoms that will form the basis of Jupiter will in turn be the plan reduced to the smallest possible form, which is now being worked out in the leading white lodge. Only those who know this plan can also know what an atom is.
If you want to gradually recognize this atom that forms the basis of the earth, you will encounter the wisdom that emanates from the great magicians of the world.
Now, of course, we can only speak of these things in hints, but we can at least give something that gives us an idea of what we are talking about here.
The earth is, in a certain sense, composed of these atoms. Every being, all of you yourselves, are composed of these atoms. And you are in harmony with the whole development of the earth because you carry within you, in infinite numbers, the miniature earth plan that was worked out earlier. This earth plan could only be worked out on the previous planetary state of our earth, the moon, through the activity of leading beings in harmony with the entire planetary evolution through Saturn, Sun, and Moon. Now, however, it was a matter of imparting to the infinitely many atoms that which brings them into the right relationships, arranges them in the right way. The leading spirits of the moon could only do this if they steered Earth's development along a very specific path, as I have often said before.
When the Earth reappeared after the Moon's development, it was not yet really “Earth,” but Earth plus Sun plus Moon; a body that you would obtain if you mixed the Earth with the Sun and Moon and made a single body out of them. That was the Earth at first. Then the Sun separated first, and with it all those forces that were too thin and spiritual for human beings and under whose influence they would have become spiritualized much too quickly. If human beings had remained under the influence of the forces contained in this sun-moon-earth body, they would not have degenerated into physical materiality and would not have been able to attain the self-consciousness, the ego consciousness, that they needed to attain.
Special Note on Statements made in these Lectures about the Atom in Connection with Freemasonry
In Rudolf Steiner's complete works, there are a wide variety of statements about atomism, the atom, and future new forces of nature. To avoid serious misunderstandings, these various statements must be evaluated in a differentiated manner. Above all, a distinction must be made between his criticism of atomic theory as a worldview and his statements about the nature of the atom from the standpoint of occultism.
The criticism of atomic theory as a worldview, already beginning in two of his earliest treatises, “The Only Possible Criticism of Atomic Concepts” (1882) and “Atomism and Its Refutation” (1890),1Printed in “Beiträge zur Rudolf Steiner Gesamtausgabe,” No. 63, Michaeli 1978. aims to show that it is not possible to see the atom as “the fundamental principle of all existence.” Just as in a telegram, wire and electricity are only mediators of the thing itself, so atoms can only be understood as mediators or carriers of spiritual effects. This basic attitude runs through his entire work. Even in one of his last writings, his autobiography Mein Lebensgang (My Life, chapter 32), he states: “Atoms or atomistic structures can only be the results of spiritual effects, of organic effects.”
The statements about the atom in the present lectures are something completely different. Here, for a very small circle, the atom was discussed from the point of view of occultism as the primordial building material of nature in connection with Freemasonry. For just as the Masonic cult symbolism was originally intended to sanctify the service of nature, Rudolf Steiner wanted to awaken an understanding through the cult-symbolic section of his Esoteric School, which he prepared with these lectures, that “the laboratory table must become the altar” and that the impulse of selflessness must be implanted in the whole of social life, lest our culture, dominated by the principle of utility, perish in egoism. For this reason, he published at the same time the “social law” of the future, which he derived from occultism and which reads: “The salvation of a community of people working together is greater the less the individual claims the fruits of his labor for himself, that is, the more he gives of these fruits to his fellow workers and the more his needs are satisfied not by his own labor but by the labor of others.” 2In the essay “Theosophy and the Social Question” (October 1905) in “Luzifer-Gnosis,” Bibl. No. 34, also available as a special edition under the title “Spiritual Science and the Social Question.”
The impetus to speak about the atom from an occult point of view came not from occultism but from external science, and resulted from the foresight of what would be in store for humanity as a result of the latest physical discoveries at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century. The insight that modern knowledge of nature and technology are rushing toward stages of development that can only benefit humanity if people's souls are deepened in the sense of a spiritual scientific view of life had fundamentally determined Rudolf Steiner to advocate the public dissemination of secret knowledge. Rudolf Steiner recognized that the fact that physics was beginning to investigate the connection between atoms, electricity, and ether was an enormously important turning point in the development of human thinking, because as an occultist he knew that “a new starting point would emerge from the atom into the mineral-physical world.” (December 16, 1904, in this volume.)
For this reason, he attached extraordinary importance to a speech pointing in this direction by the then British Prime Minister Balfour. This speech, delivered on August 14, 1904, at the British Association, appeared in German in the same year under the title “Unsere Weltanschauung” (Our Worldview), Leipzig 1904. At the time when Rudolf Steiner referred to this speech in his lectures of December 1904, he had already discussed it in the November issue of his magazine “Luzifer-Gnosis.” (See Bibl. No. 34.)
However, the prediction made in the three lectures of December 9, 16, and 23, 1904, that human beings would learn to think down to the atom and be able to use its power, is not only connected with a warning of the grave dangers that threaten if this power is not selflessly placed at the service of the whole, but also the indication that the “most important thing for the future” is that atoms, as “the smallest building blocks,” will be used for construction in future times.
This second, unexplained hint is somewhat more clearly outlined in the notes of October 21, 1905, and the addition from the lecture of October 21, 1907, according to which the occultist is able to make the atom “grow.” 3Many years later, in his lecture in Berlin on June 22, 1915, in “Menschenschicksale, Völkerschicksale” (Human Destiny, the Destiny of Nations), Bibl. No. 157, GA 1960, Rudolf Steiner returned to the subject of atoms in connection with the development of Jupiter and mentioned the lectures now published here. The exact wording is: “I have spoken before about the atom as being prepared out of the whole cosmos. You can find this again in those earlier lectures that were given at the very beginning of our work in Berlin.” At the same time, there is also mention of the ability to shrink. These ideas were not entirely unknown to the listeners at that time. For in the literature of the Theosophical Society, especially by C. W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant, there was much talk of the power of enlargement and reduction as a faculty of etheric clairvoyance that needed to be specially trained, mostly in connection with the description of clairvoyant investigations of atoms. Annie Besant had spoken and written about this on several occasions in 1905. A study published jointly by the two in 1895 on “Occult Chemistry” had also been reissued at that time. A copy can be found in the Rudolf Steiner Library. Rudolf Steiner rejected this type of representation as materialistic spiritualism, just as he rejected scientific atomism as the basis of a worldview, because even in this theosophical literature, atoms were regarded as the fundamental principle of existence instead of being recognized as the results and mediators of concrete spiritual effects.
For the same reason, he did not speak of a merely external technique of etheric enlargement and reduction, but of the fact that, starting in our 20th century, etheric clairvoyance would slowly and gradually emerge as a new natural ability of human beings, enabling them to perceive Christ reappearing in the ether. 5See “The Event of the Christ Appearance in the Ethereal World,” Bibl. No. 118, GA 1977. Then there will also be chemists and physicists who will no longer teach that there are only material atoms, but that matter is structured in the sense that “Christ has gradually arranged it.”6See “The Spiritual Guidance of Man and Humanity” (chap. II), Bibl. No. 15, GA 1974.
The fact that the suggestion that in future times it will be possible to build with atoms refers to the mastery of the etheric, living forces, becomes clear from the lecture of January 2, 1906 (in this volume). In a lecture given somewhat later (Munich, December 4, 1907, contained in GA 98), this is once again clearly stated when it says:“... Once human beings have worked on themselves to the point where they have reached the first stage of clairvoyance, then the life of plants and the laws of life will be as clear to them as the laws of the mineral world are to us now.”
If you assemble a machine or build a house, these are constructed according to the laws of the mineral world. A machine is built according to the laws of the mineral world, but we cannot build a plant in the same way. If you want to have a plant, you must leave this work to the beings that underlie nature. Later, it will be possible to produce plants in the laboratory, but only when this becomes a sacrament, a sacred act for human beings. All creation of living beings will only be permitted to humans when they are so serious and purified that the laboratory table becomes an altar to them. Before that, not the slightest detail of how living beings are put together will be revealed. In other words, the ego as a knowing entity lives in the mineral kingdom and will ascend to the plant kingdom, where it will learn to understand it just as it understands the mineral kingdom today. Later, it will also learn to understand the laws of the animal kingdom and then those of the human kingdom. All people will learn to understand the inner life of plants, animals, and human beings; these are the prospects for the future. What one truly understands, one can also represent, for example, a clock. Today's human being will never be able to represent anything from living nature without the help of the beings behind nature, as long as it is not a sacramental act for him.”