The path of initiation according to Steiner

[Tortue]

First of all, pupils must acquire the ability to strictly control thoughts. They must practice holding a thought for a long time in the midpoint of the soul life, the more intensely the better. This exercise must be undertaken daily for at least five minutes. The longer, the better, but we should not overexert ourselves.

Second, it is necessary to train one's initiative in action. This consists in pupils' taking an initiative daily, entirely out of their own free will. It is sufficient that it be a very small, insignificant action, for example, watering flowers. After some time, another action is undertaken.

Third, we must become masters of pleasure and pain. Great swings of emotion from sky-high manic rejoicing to deathly depression must cease. We thereby become more sensitive and receptive, but we must be in charge, not the sensations.

Fourth, positivity is required. What I mean by this is evidenced in a Persian legend of Jesus Christ. Christ was walking with some of his disciples along a path. Alongside the road there was the decaying corpse of a dog. This his disciples turned away from and said, "That animal is so ugly!" But Christ stood still and said, "Look at how beautiful the teeth are!" Even in what is ugly there is beautiful, in what is most evil there is still some good, in the small there is something to be found that is great. Positive characteristics must be sought everywhere.

Fifth, absolute openness and freedom from bias in the face of all new impressions must be acquired, the highest degree of impartiality. People tend to say, "I have never heard of that, never seen it. I don't believe it!" We must absolutely cease ever speaking of impossibilities. We must have a little chamber in our hearts in which, for example, the possibility is left open that the church tower is leaning to one side if someone says the tower is leaning to one side. We must at least consider as possible what we hear.

The sixth step consists in the harmonization of the five preceding steps.

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Rudolf Steiner (Feb. 27, 1861–Mar. 30, 1925) was born in Kraljevic, Austria, where he grew up the son of a railroad station chief. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a respected and well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work on Goethe's scientific writings. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he began to develop his earlier philosophical principles into an approach to methodical research of psychological and spiritual phenomena. Steiner formally began his spiritual teaching career under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, later referring to his spiritual research results and philosophy as "Anthroposophy," or spiritual science. His multifaceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, philosophy, religion, education (Waldorf schools), special education (the Camphill movement), economics, agriculture (biodynamics), science, architecture, and the arts (drama, speech and eurythmy). In 1924 he founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which has branches throughout the world. He died in Dornach, Switzerland.