Do I know you, Rudolf Steiner? (ALT003)

Tim recently posted this extract from Occult Science – an Outline: Chapter 1.

In the spirit and true sense of the word, no real scientist will be able to find a contradiction between his science built upon the facts of the sense world and the method by which the supersensible world is investigated. The scientist makes use of certain instruments and methods. He produces his instruments by transforming what “nature” offers him. The supersensible method of knowledge also makes use of an instrument. This instrument is man himself. This instrument, too, must first be made ready for higher research. The capacities and forces given to man by nature, without his assistance, must be transformed into higher capacities and powers. Man is thereby able to make himself the instrument for research in the supersensible world.

http://wn.rsarchive.org/Books/GA013/English/AP1972/GA013_c01.html [1]

I have come to ‘know’ Rudolf Steiner from reading his writings and lectures that have been translated into English. I have never met him face to face although I have seen photographs. He died before I was born. Do I really have any knowledge of the good doctor?

Maybe I do, and maybe I am mistaken in my internal imagination of Steiner. He has become a powerful influence on my life and work. Mighty forces are working from his life’s work into mine. This I know. What kind of knowledge is that?

Anthroposophical Leading Thought (3)

There are those who believe that with the limits of knowledge derived from sense perception the limits of all insight are given. Yet if they would carefully observe how they become conscious of these limits, they would find in the very consciousness of the limits the faculties to transcend them. The fish swims up to the limits of the water; it must return because it lacks the physical organs to live outside this element. Man reaches the limits of knowledge attainable by sense perception; but he can recognise that on the way to this point powers of soul have arisen in him — powers whereby the soul can live in an element that goes beyond the horizon of the senses.
– Rudolf Steiner

(http://wn.rsarchive.org/Books/GA026/English/RSP1973/GA026_a01.html [2])