Awakening to Community Redux

Submitted by Patri on Wed, 07/09/2008 - 9:46am.
From: Awakening to Community” Rudolf Steiner, Lecture IV of X:
 
For the truth is that everything in life that flowers and bears fruit is an outgrowth of pain and suffering. It is perhaps just those individuals with the deepest sense of the Society's mission who have to have the most personal experience of pain and suffering as they take on that mission, though it is also true that real human strength can only be developed by rising above suffering and making it a living force, the source of one's power to overcome. Para 13.
 
The term “Anthroposophy” should really be understood as synonymous with “Sophia,” meaning the content of consciousness, the soul attitude and experience that make a man a full-fledged human being. The right interpretation of “Anthroposophy” is not “the wisdom of man,” but rather “the consciousness of one's humanity.” In other words, the reversing of the will, the experiencing of knowledge, and one's participation in the time's destiny, should all aim at giving the soul a certain direction of consciousness, a “Sophia.” Para 14.

A theoretical or doctrinaire approach is therefore out of place in this situation. What those who want to help foster anthroposophical life need instead is loving hearts and eyes opened to the totality of that life. This is a capacity one must work to develop. Otherwise, the right heart and feeling are missing in one's relation to anthroposophy, with the result that though one may scorn and look down upon doctrines and theories in other spheres of life, one's efforts to foster anthroposophical life cannot help becoming doctrinaire. This does serious damage to a thing as alive as an Anthroposophical Society ought to be. Para 17.
 

These are a very worthwhile group of lectures to read.  Especially for those looking to build a larger and stronger anthroposophical movement in our world, as these lectures were given after the burning of the first Goetheanum and before the refounding of the Anthroposophical Society at Christmas 1923 and New Year 1924.  All of us truly interested in seeing Steiner's concerned gift flowing out into the larger world, should read these series of lectures.  Herein Rudolf Steiner calls for a "searching of conscience." He explains that in anthroposophical communities we can experience our first awakening to the spirit in our encounters with others, and describes how the "reversed cultus" (returning to Spirit in community) forms the foundation for a new community life.

Best regards to all,
Patri

 
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