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The Rudolf Steiner Archive

a project of Steiner Online Library, a public charity

The Principle of Spiritual Economy
GA 109, 111

These talks reveal a particular aspect of how humankind has been guided spiritually throughout history — by the life forces and astral bodies of the great initiates and avatars that were preserved, duplicated, and interwoven with the leading personalities of history. Steiner gives numerous examples of this process, but he says that such inspired people are rare today. Nevertheless, we have the possibility of elevating ourselves in the future to the point where we can receive into ourselves the ‘I-being’ of the Christ, which is indeed our greatest goal — ‘not I but Christ in me.’

They reveal one aspect of how humanity has been guided spiritually throughout history: the etheric and astral bodies of great Initiates and avatars were preserved, duplicated, and woven into leading personalities of history. Steiner gives numerous examples of this process but says that such inspired people are now a rarity. We have, however, the possibility to elevate ourselves in future times to where we can receive into ourselves the Christ-Ego. This, indeed, is humanity's greatest goal.

The eleven lectures presented here were given between January and May of 1909. In the Collected edition of Rudolf Steiner's works, the German text is called Das Prinzip der spirituellen Okonomie im Zusammenhang mit Wiederverkorperungsfragen. This volume, along with Rosicrucian Esotericism, completes the bulk of the German volume GA 109.

Introduction
I.The Principle of Spiritual Economy in Connection with Questions of Reincarnation: An Aspect of the Spiritual Guidance of Mankind January 21, 1909
II.Christianity in Human Evolution, Leading Individualities and Avatar Beings February 15, 1909
III.More Intimate Aspects of Reincarnation March 07, 1909
IV.Results of Spiritual Scientific Investigations of the Evolution of Humanity I (GA 111) March 29, 1909
V.Results of Spiritual Scientific Investigations of the Evolution of Humanity II (GA 111) March 31, 1909
VI.On the Occasion of the Dedication of the Francis of Assisi Branch April 06, 1909
VII.The Macrocosmic and Microcosmic Fire. The Spiritualization of Breath and Blood April 10, 1909
VIII.The Event of Golgotha. The Brotherhood of the Holy Grail. The Spiritualized Fire April 11, 1909
IX.Ancient Revelations and Learning: How to Ask Modern Questions May 16, 1909
X.The God of the Alpha and the God of the Omega May 25, 1909
XI.From Buddha to Christ May 31, 1909