The Life and Work of Rudolf Steiner
Survey
The years 1923 and 1924 crowned the lifework of Rudolf Steiner. In the sense of the survey already given, three times three seven-year periods had now come to an end. The first life epoch had been devoted to establishing the foundation in science and in spiritual cognition; he had been working as a spiritual teacher since the turn of the century. The essence of this activity had been made available in a unique multiplicity of works, so that every human being in the world could participate in the substance of his spiritual knowledge, if there was a will to do this. For most great personalities in the fields of science and art, research and literature, this would have constituted the completion of a lifework. Rudolf Steiner, as spiritual leader, created still another work which could not be brought into the form of a book—a social work, the creation of the General Anthroposophical Society as a spiritual Community of human beings for whom Anthroposophy is the content of life. To them were entrusted not only knowledge and research in the spirit of The Philosophy of Spiritual Activity, Theosophy, Occult Science—An Outline, and the numerous other books and cycles of lectures of their creator, but also this Community which is to guard and foster this work, to bear it across to the end of the twentieth century, for which future period Rudolf Steiner announced new impulses and spiritual tasks.
These last years of life, which saw the laying of the Foundation Stone of the General Anthroposophical Society, with which he himself united in his entire being, creative work, and destiny, were years of fulfillment during which—bestowing, bringing into order, founding, direction-giving— he could establish germinally in the circle of his fellow workers what is necessary for the future. Thus did he create the spiritual organism of the Society and its heart, the School, in the spirit of Michael at the Goetheanum. His published works, constituting the foundation for the activity of the Society and the School, for the reuniting of science, art, and religion, he entrusted in the Christmas Conference of 1923 to this creation of his for the continuance of their life-course. The Anthroposophical Society had now been constituted as a world society. He had given to the members of the Vorstand (the Central Council) their functions in the administration of the Society, the School, and its several Sections. A new stream of activity had been inaugurated in all the Branches in various countries of the General Anthroposophical Society, and this had been fostered through the esoteric work, the fundamental cycles of lectures for the year 1924 at the Goetheanum, and through tours into other countries.
It is a matter of destiny whose wisdom cannot be fathomed by us earthly human beings, that Rudolf Steiner returned into the spiritual worlds after he had completed this creation and had constituted for it a life body in the earthly sphere. In the creative epoch of the year 1923 he confided to us the fact that he had questioned the spiritual world before he reached decision and action, and that approval had been given to him from that world, confirmed by a still more intense streaming of bestowals in his spiritual research. The abundance of the gifts which he handed on during this epoch of work we have sought to indicate in preceding pages.
All of this was brought to completion while the earthly body in the last years bore inexpressible suffering.
But it is necessary to state still something else connected with the illness and death of Rudolf Steiner. For it is the fate of exceptional personalities that, not only while they are alive and active, but also during their illness and in their death, the ignorance of the world gives rise to guesses and even legends which it is the duty of those who were eye witnesses of what occurred to set right. Although Rudolf Steiner himself corrected the errors appearing here and there during his illness, nevertheless both then and later still other false assumptions have gained currency. Thus there has arisen even the legend that his illness was caused by poisoning; that the illness began at the end of the year 1923; and other untrue assumptions. For those who were in the immediate company of Rudolf Steiner during the last years of his life and who accompanied him on his journeys, the first symptoms of his illness could be sorrowfully experienced at an earlier period. For the foregoing reasons let it be said here that, upon his death, a medical investigation took place at which there were present three physicians—Dr. Ita Wegman, Dr. Ludwig Noll, and Dr. Hilma Walter—and also I, and that the previous diagnosis was confirmed, so that the assumption expressed in many places that poisoning had occurred had not the least validity. Let this be stated in order to avoid the creation of legends.
The grievous effects on his physical forces of the last years of his life, with their heroically endured occurrences—the destruction of the first Goetheanum building, the battle with opponents and antagonists raging about his work—could easily be seen in events themselves. Added to these things was the superhuman burden he bore because of his own sacrificial actions and the demands of the world around him. He himself referred to such facts when for the first time his suffering compelled him to cancel a lecture tour, and he addressed to the members on October 19, 1924 the following message:
“Since the condition of my physical body renders any travel impossible— for a somewhat long period—I felt compelled to announce to the friends in Berlin that, to my very great regret, they could not count upon my presence at their October programs*.
—Rudolf Steiner”
* “Perhaps I may be permitted on this occasion to state a request to our dear friends. I do not wish that the condition of my physical body shall become the subject of all sorts of ideas. The situation is that, although I was entirely able to carry on the work of giving the courses, which was so extensive in the last months, too great a strain was put upon the bow of my physical strength by the excessive requirements which came from the membership, in addition to the giving of the courses. This has led to the situation that, although I could at present meet the requirements of any spiritual activity, I am physically unable to do the very least thing, but must hope that the unique, sacrificial care being given to me by my dear friend, Dr. Ita Wegman, and her loyal helper, Dr. Noll, may succeed very soon in rendering possible for me at least to a certain degree also a physical activity, without which, unfortunately, the spiritual cannot work on earth. The simple fact is that people do not often think what ruinous effects may be produced by demands made from without, in excess of the time available, for one who is engaged in a spiritually sustained activity, and how little traveling by automobile helps when the resulting saving in time has to be taken into account in the program. But, in the last analysis, all of this must be accepted in accordance with destiny (karma).”
Such was his earnest admonition against overburdening a spiritually creative person, while alluding in the same message to influences of destiny in the background of events and hoping for the recovery of capacity for physical action.
Even in the last period of his own suffering, his research and action were directed only toward the helpful work to be carried out in behalf of the evolution of all humanity; never directed to his own karma. The esoteric reasons why a spiritual researcher does not ask the Spiritual Powers about his own future destiny he had himself explained, as has been stated. Those who could be in his presence even during his period of illness, and could hear him talking, know that, during these months, he never brought into consideration together with what he was bestowing, with his directives and plans, his own outlook upon life or death.
He was concerned with the question “if the erection of the building should have to be interrupted because of my illness,” and wished very soon “to be capable of work.” He urged that the construction work be carried forward without interruption. Arrangements he made through word and through instruction left the possibility open of his continued life and activity in the earthly sphere. His own destiny remained subject to the grace and decision of the spiritual worlds. Spiritual research and earthly vision continued to develop the work for the future in the spirit of the plan initiated during Christmas 1923.