From a lecture to the Goetheanum workmen -
"Concepts fall apart in the physical body, and yet human beings do not want to learn to think with the etheric body. They do not want to think independently. Now you see why, in the year 1893, it became necessary for me to write the book The Philosophy of Spiritual Activity. It is not the contents of this book that are so important, although obviously at that time one wished to tell the world what was said in it, but the most important thing is that independent thinking appeared in this book for the first time. No-one can possibly understand this book who does not think independently. From the beginning, page by page, a reader must become accustomed to using his etheric body if he would think these thoughts at all. Hence this book is a means of education - a very important means - and must be taken up as such.
"When this book appeared in the nineties people did not know at all what to make of it. It was as if someone in Europe wrote Chinese and no-one could understand it. It was of course written in German, but people were completely unaccustomed to the thoughts expressed in it because all connection with Latin was purposely cast off. For the very first time, quite consciously, it was intended that there should be no thoughts in it that are influenced by Latin, but only independent thoughts. Only the physical brain is a Latin scholar. The etheric body is no Latin scholar, and therefore one has to try and express such thoughts in a language one can only have in the etheric body." (28 June 1923)
"So today I have drawn your attention to the fact that one must first learn to think independently. Well one can do this. I do not want to say - for I am not a conceited fool - that only my Philosophy of Spiritual Activity serves this purpose, but it was quite consciously written in a way that would lead to independent thinking." (28 June 1923)
part of him
Steiner often spoke about what a huge role loneliness plays on the path. Sometimes, when reading one of his lectures or introductions, I get just how much loneliness the guy felt. Even when surrounded by friends and fellow intellects in the 80's and 90's he speaks of the isolation he felt. Many people think this is because he held such a vast vision of human life, a vision that could hardly be shared in its comprehensiveness and details. I used to think that. And while I think Steiner may have even considered that the cause (partially) himself, now I feel how human he really was in terms of the way we all create the structure of our particular style of suffering. But no matter how unique we are as individuals, the archetype of our pain is singular. Steiner felt close/connected/communal when he thought he was being understood, when he thought his experience was being shared. When he thought he was not getting enough across or not fast enough or to not enough people, he experienced loneliness (and, let's face it, Steiner was inclined to experiences of shame now and again, as our most of us are).
In reading the above quotes about how nobody has ever really grasped the nature of the piece of writing that he takes the most pride in....I see this. I always think back on the letter he wrote to Rita shortly after she had read his new PoF and where he gushes with excited that she found it acceptable. He says he would have been crushed if she had not liked it. So tender, so human. It would be fascinating to read what Rita wrote to him about the book, but one gets the impression (from his letter) that she gave it a friendly thumbs up; I'm sure she loved his feminist chapter. But it is far from likely that she had achieved the etheric thinking he mentions in the lectures above. And that's my point. He was over the moon with joy when a respected friend did not criticize the book. Back then he was also still hoping that PoF would change the mind of Van Hartman. Van Hartman only criticized it and Steiner only is referring to Van Hartman in the 1918 addition. So personal. So human. I used to not allow that sort of thing to Steiner. Or, I would elevate his sadness to the Sadness of a GREAT INITIATE.
in Experiencing and the
in Experiencing and the Creation of Meaning we can see the ways in which Steiner would have transcended the defensiveness he brought into his first steps into PoF.
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