Body of Christ

From: dottie zold
Date: Sat Nov 22, 2003 9:54 pm
Subject: Body of Christ

Hi Rick and All,

Rick, I am wondering if you have ever thought of why it is that Christ can not come back in the body form? Why not?

I have been thinking on your comments regarding Christs body and how it basically disintegrated and was at its worst during the transfiguration. I am reading an amazing book written by Douglas Klotz. He interprets Aramaic which was mostly spoken before the middle east before Islam came into a totality of sorts.

Speaking of the last supper Klotz interprets the word 'body' as 'corpse' and says it speaks to this: This term (bashar) does not, however indicate a form, only a substance. Although Aramaic has two words that might be translated 'body' the one used in the Gospels (for instance, in Jesus' words "This is my body" during the Last Supper) really means 'corpse'; that is, an enfleshed being that is no longer living (and thereby no longer fulfilling its divine function).

This got me to thinking that maybe Jesus' body was absolutely consumed by the spirit of Christ by the last supper and it is no longer available to Him even if He wanted.

This Mr. Klotz also speaks to the issue of how the breath of God and the Kingdom of God are both feminine gendered. Even to the point of saying that the earliest traditions of the Christian Jews stated that it was Sophia/Shekinah whom called out to the Baptism of John saying 'this is my Son in whom I am well pleased. Pretty interesting to think that what may have happened was the Greek characterizations of a thing. He speaks to this as well. Which leads me to Jesus calling out Mother behold your Son and Son behold your Mother.

Anyway, why is it that Jesus will not return in the body? I am not worried as we can see him in our mind/heart clouds but unto what is this mystery?

Good Night,

Dottie

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From: Richard Distasi
Date: Sun Nov 23, 2003 2:33 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Body of Christ

Dottie,

Rick, I am wondering if you have ever thought of why it is that Christ can not come back in the body form? Why not?

Christ did not simply bring Himself to incarnate into the aura of the earth He also brought with Him forces that lead the way for our own evolution and the evolution of the earth as well. These forces are deeply connected with the form with which He takes on. Our evolution and that of the earth is ascending (eventually) to the etheric and on to the astral condition of form from out of the present mineral condition of form. Christ is in an etheric form in the astral. He then moves on to an astral form in lower Devachan and then as pure Ego in upper Devachan.

All the while the whole of humanity and the earth are to follow the Christ in the evolutionary path that is set by Christ in these successive and ascending forms of Christ. The whole pattern of the path of Christ is a parabolic path. Christ followed humanity in its downward path in the realm of the mineral. In reverse, we now follow Christ in His ascension towards higher realms.

"Speaking of the last supper Klotz interprets the word 'body' as 'corpse' and says it speaks to this: This term (bashar) does not, however indicate a form, only a substance."

That is interesting because according to Steiner that is what the body mostly consisted of; at least within the body. Only the outer held any resemblance to the figure of Jesus of Nazareth. As I mentioned earlier, an angel had to come and minister to Christ in order to vitalize the body just enough so that it could completely and in full measure pass through the Event of Golgotha.

rick distasi

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From: Tarjei Straume
Date: Sun Nov 23, 2003 4:06 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Body of Christ

At 06:54 23.11.2003, Dottie wrote:

Rick, I am wondering if you have ever thought of why it is that Christ can not come back in the body form? Why not?

Rick has given a superb answer to this question, so I'll just add a few thoughts here:

Ahriman's incarnation is coming in the not too distant future. Perhaps a lot of people will believe it's Christ having returned in the flesh. The illusion Ahriman seeks to implant into the souls of men and women, is that spiritual existence is impossible for any being without the vehicle of a biological body. To a great extent, this is supported by our culture. Not by Star Wars which has a genuine mythological dimension, but by Star Trek, which has been with us for forty years. Remember Spock's death and resurrection in Star Trek 3 and 4? The Spock character and his Vulcan culture have certain similarities to mysteries and the path of initiation, so this is very seductive. When Spock dies, his spirit is kept alive in doctor McCoy's body, where it mingles with the doctor's own consciousness. It has to be kept there until a duplicate of Spock's original physical body has been bred at record speed, remember?

Yes, Star Trek is indeed an important contributor to the sustenance of these materialistic illusions. The rapture a la beam-me-up-Scotty, Jesus as an astraunout who left in a star ship and is returning in the same manner and so on.

Just some thoughts....

Cheers,

Tarjei
http://uncletaz.com/

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From: golden3000997
Date: Sun Nov 23, 2003 6:13 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Body of Christ

Hello Everyone!

I hesitate to jump into this discussion, even though it is another favorite topic of mine, because I have so many previous questions to answer and discussions to continue. I haven't forgotten them, but I have been doing a lot of reading on another subject in the past couple of weeks and that has taken up most of my time away from work.

But I would really like to add to this picture of the Resurrected Christ. Much of what I want to share comes from discussions with Rene Querido and other people in my past as well as readings in Christology. Please don't ask me for references because I already have a large amount of my library piled around me in quest of previous info. Any more and I won't have a path to get away from my desk!

I really appreciate Dottie's question and Rick, Dag and Tarjei's answers. I would just like to add that the Risen Christ, according to stories I've heard can and does appear in quite a physical form when necessary. But not born into or incarnated into another body. As I understand it, the physical, molecular substance of the Christ Jesus body was dissolving away before Golgotha and the struggle was to keep the Christ within it long enough to get through the actual human death experience. That is why "water and blood" ran out when His side was pierced. That substance and the rest that was laid in the tomb was "swallowed" up by the earth like a homeopathic remedy, healing the Earth being from the poison injected into Her from the first murder of Abel by Cain. I think the Fifth Gospel explains this.

Now, this is my own mental picture of what happened. The Christ "descended into hell" - in other words, entered the sphere of the spiritual world where individual Egos had been trapped for eons because they had not been able to develop the organs and forces of spiritual perception during their earth incarnations. He brought His Light into that darkness, thereby releasing them to go on in spiritual evolution. There was also a meeting (a kind of "fight") with Ahriman himself as the regent of death in which Christ showed that death, Ahriman's greatest earthly power, had no final hold over him, even though He went through the experience completely; and that from that time on, all who aligned themselves with Him would no longer be in Ahriman's sway, even if their spiritual forces were not yet fully developed. There would always be a light to light the way out of Purgatory (so to speak).

After this "battle", Christ returned to the material sphere and began to absorb molecular, atomic material back into His Etheric Archetype, changing it completely in the process into a TRANSUBSTANTIATED physical body (sorry for the caps!). This was already pre-viewed in the Transfiguration, when certain disciples were allowed to witness the "blueprint" of the Christ Archetype ready to be brought into reality on earth. This Transubstantiated body was and is absolutely material and physically real - to be shown and even handled by the disciples when it was completed. I have a print of Rembrandt's painting of Mary Magdelene and the Risen Christ as the Gardener. I will try to take a digital of it and upload it for you. It is so remarkable and I love it so much, because the Risen Christ is behind Mary Magdalene, between her and the rising sun and he has a gardener's hat and trowel and a sort of loving and amused expression on his face. She is looking at him over her shoulder. He is quite "earthy" and solid except for one thing - his left arm is stretched out behind her and the sun is shining through it! The other painting that I love is Fra Angelico's "Noli Mi Tangere" from the San Marco cloisters. It is not as earthy, but I love Mary Magdelene in it and it also expresses the "do not touch me for I am not yet ascended to my Father."

This phrase is quite mysterious, actually, because He does not "ascend" until 40 days later and during that period he is fully physically present. But in those early hours, to my understanding, the atomic matter is still being "absorbed" and has not fully solidified. He doesn't want Mary Magdalene to try to touch him and have her hand go through him. Then she would think He was just a ghost. (Also, maybe it would interfere with the blueprinting).

After the 40 days, Christ "ascended into the clouds." This is Him "letting go" of the atomic matter that is fully transformed into spirit/matter and allowing the molecules to separate, expanding the body until it seems to "rise" and finally disappear from common sight. These transubstantiated molecules expand throughout the Etheric body of the Earth itself, healing it like the physical substance healed the physical earth body. And the Being of Christ then expanded thoughout the spiritual spheres as He originally was, all the way to the "Father" or "Godhead". Yet, because His Substance has permeated all of the Spheres, including the Astral, Etheric and Physical, "He" can come and go always and simultaneously. When we reach "up" to Him in the Etheric, we "see Him" there as an Eternal and Permanent Presence which we can always turn to. But I have been told that He can also appear to us whenever He chooses in whatever human shape and form He desires. Rene told us several examples. I also read or heard that Christian Rosenkreutz has this ability and probably others. When the Risen Christ appears as physical, it is not as "Christ" as we would expect Him to look, but as an ordinary person in the crowd that one may bump into. But this person says or does something essential to the situation and then seems to "disappear".

But the real task that is still ongoing is to continue a process of transubstantiating the Earth Body and all of our physical bodies in the long ages of time to come. Someday we will all have bodies that are physical substance permeated and transfigured through and through with Spiritual "substance" like water mixed with wine. The physical will be a pure reflection of our Etheric Blueprint, which is the Christ Archetype combined with our individually developed Egos.

We will no longer reproduce physical bodies from our present day sexual organs, but from our larynxes. We will "speak" and our speech will create forms available for other Egos to "incarnate" into.

Unfortunately, humans will also have this capacity even if they are not very spiritually advanced, leading to the creation of very monstrous physical forms that will be "spoken" into being.

We were taught in Teacher Training that this is why our present day speech training and development is so vitally important. That as we speak, we already implant forms, healthy or unhealthy in those around us, especially the children. Steiner was very specific about this, for example that hearing a fully expressed "T" sound was essential in developing the physical heart organ and that the kind of speech you hear around you today with everyone dropping the sound of the "T" at the end of the word leads to heart disease. I remember that by the end of my Foundation Year speech classes, I had really developed my pronounciation and at a certain point I became embarrassed because it sounded so pretentious in normal company. I guess I felt I had to "give it up" to fit in.

Anyway, I hope that this helps a bit to explain why the Christ will never "incarnate" in a physical body again. This was a one-time event! But He "has" a physical body which He can and does manifest at His will. And this is why he warned of "false prophets". We can be sure that whatever leader is in front of us, no matter how "good" he may seem - and Ahriman will appear to be very, very good at first - that it is not The Christ. And when The Christ "comes again" it will not be in the materialistic way that most fundies imagine. In fact, He has "come again" but most cannot perceive Him as He is in the Etheric Body of the World. The very fact that so many people look for a "Saviour" or leader of some kind to come and "rescue" them is so off the mark. Each one of us must be a "Saviour" of ourselves and of each other. It is up to us to develop the spiritual powers of perception and creation that will enable us collectively to build the New Jerusalem. The time of the King is over. We must each be a King and a Queen among Kings and Queens. Then we will be clothed in the Robes of

Christ - the Transubstantiated Spiritual-Physical body that is Eternal and One with the Father.

With the best of intentions,
Christine

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To: anthroposophy_tomorrow@yahoogroups.com
From: eyecueco
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 21:11:41 -0000
Subject: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

--- In anthroposophy_tomorrow@yahoogroups.com, golden3000997 wrote:

Hello Everyone!

I hesitate to jump into this discussion, even though it is another favorite topic of mine, because I have so many previous questions to answer and discussions to continue. I haven't forgotten them, but I have been doing a lot of reading on another subject in the past couple of weeks and that has taken up most of my time away from work.

But I would really like to add to this picture of the Resurrected Christ. Much of what I want to share comes from discussions with Rene Querido and other people in my past as well as readings in Christology. Please don't ask me for references because I already have a large amount of my library piled around me in quest of previous info. Any more and I won't have a path to get away from my desk!

I really appreciate Dottie's question and Rick, Dag and Tarjei's answers. I would just like to add that the Risen Christ, according to stories I've heard can and does appear in quite a physical form when necessary.

It would be more correct to say that it looks like a physical form. You are speaking about the 'phamtom body'.

According to Steiner's christologies, (and there a great many lectures besides the Fifth Gospel) you are correct, He can appear as though in a physical form if and when necessary, and RS predicted that this would begin to happen,i.e., He would appear in a conference of well meaning individuals struggling with a certain problem, speak and then, vanish from sight.

Personally, I don't see this happened as hoped for as I believe the aura around the earth has been considerably darkened through technological advances placing emphais on the materialistic, and the success of distracting, even destroying, the formative inner forces of the young child before these forces have developed.

{snip]

This phrase is quite mysterious, actually, because He does not "ascend" until 40 days later and during that period he is fully physically present. But in those early hours, to my understanding, the atomic matter is still being "absorbed" and has not fully solidified. He doesn't want Mary Magdalene to try to touch him and have her hand go through him. Then she would think He was just a ghost. (Also, maybe it would interfere with the blueprinting).

After the 40 days, Christ "ascended into the clouds." This is Him "letting go" of the atomic matter that is fully transformed into spirit/matter and allowing the molecules to separate, expanding the body until it seems to "rise" and finally disappear from common sight. These transubstantiated molecules expand throughout the Etheric body of the Earth itself, healing it like the physical substance healed the physical earth body. And the Being of Christ then expanded thoughout the spiritual spheres as He originally was, all the way to the "Father" or "Godhead". Yet, because His Substance has permeated all of the Spheres, including the Astral, Etheric and Physical, "He" can come and go always and simultaneously.

What you are are leaving out here is the necessary journey through the same spheres as the human soul is intended to make after death. The astral body, after losing the etheric sheath, begins an expansion into the cosmos, stage by stage. When the soul reaches the boundary of Saturn it begins its return journey back to another reincarnation.

The Christ poured His forces into the earth and renewed the earth's etheric body, but He also began the same journey outward as does the human soul after death. Over a long expanse of time he expanded throught the spiritual spheres and when reaching the boundary of Saturn, He, too began a redecent. In or around the year 1933 is when Steiner says that the Christ returned to the aura of the earth. That is the true Second Coming, and is of the clouds, so to speak.

It is up to the individual to develop the necessary organs of perception to experience the Etheric Christ, but, there is also something called Grace, and it certainly is within the realm of possibilty for the individual to have a Christ experience. I tend to believe this does not come about for purpose of ego gratification for the individual as it does to bring about specific help and guidance for the good of the whole, for example, in the instance of Bill Smith who, following, his experience of the Christ, established AA, Alcoholics Anonymous.

The Second Coming is an ongoing Event that contiues for some time to come, happily. It is up to humanity to lighten up the darknessnow permeats the earth's aura. The Christ is now taking over the karamic judgement of souls from Moses, hopefully this will help.

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From: golden3000997
Date: Sun Nov 23, 2003 3:44 pm
Subject: The Etheric Christ

pkleonard writes:

The Second Coming is an ongoing Event that contiues for some time to come, happily. It is up to humanity to lighten up the darknessnow permeats the earth's aura. The Christ is now taking over the karamic judgement of souls from Moses, hopefully this will help.

Thank you PK! Very good addition! Of course, there is so much more to the picture. I think I understand what you mean by "phantom body" but the term may be misconstrued by non-anthropops. It just sounds kind of nebulous. And while that may be one form of appearance, I think it can be very real and solid, too.

I also think I understand what you mean by Christ "taking over the karmic judgement of souls" but I also thought he did that as Vishnu Karman as Steiner expresses it in the St. Luke gospel. I thought he always was the "Master of Karma" but I'm sure that Moses has something to do with it, also. I know there is some fabulous material out there on Moses, but I haven't yet dug into it.

I certainly agree if you are saying that we can't "wait around" expecting Christ to come and save us. We have to reach toward Him and toward each other and affirm the "Christ in me" that He has implanted in us.

I, for one would always love an intro from all of our members. Thanks!

: ) Christine

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From: dottie zold
Date: Sun Nov 23, 2003 9:44 am
Subject: Re: Body of Christ

Christine wrote:

But I have been told that He can also appear to us whenever He chooses in whatever human shape and form He desires. Rene told us several examples.

I am wondering if you have any example that you might recall something like this happening?

Christine
I also read or heard that Christian Rosenkreutz has this ability and probably others. When the Risen Christ appears as physical, it is not as "Christ" as we would expect Him to look, but as an ordinary person in the crowd that one may bump into. But this person says or does something essential to the situation and then seems to "disappear".

Dottie

Well, Christ 'can' appear as we percieved Him in the physical in my experience. I have had a few experiences that speak to this and one that actually helped to avert an accident of sorts while driving home exhausted from work one night.

Christine
We will no longer reproduce physical bodies from our present day sexual organs, but from our larynxes. We will "speak" and our speech will create forms available for other Egos to "incarnate" into.

Dottie

Have you actually had an experience that speaks to this mystery?

Christine
Anyway, I hope that this helps a bit to explain why the Christ will never "incarnate" in a physical body again. This was a one-time event!

Dottie

I think I can understand it in the manner of how Rick explained it being the 'ascension' and the moving 'upward' or maybe 'inward'. It would be logical, since Christ took us on, that Christ would show us the way to higher realities, by marking the path for us first, which of course then we are able to follow: Showing us the way home.

Christine
But He "has" a physical body which He can and does manifest at His will. And this is why he warned of "false prophets". We can be sure that whatever leader is in front of us, no matter how "good" he may seem - and Ahriman will appear to be very, very good at first - that it is not The Christ.

Dottie

Wow, that is really clear. I love hearing things that I can use when speaking to others about real logic in the Bibles.

Christine
He has "come again" but most cannot perceive Him as He is in the Etheric Body of the World.

Dottie

Can you percieve Him Christina, or is this too personal of a question?

Dear Christine, I love that you are able to express yourself in the manner you do. It is a dream come true for me if I hadn't told you already. It's like I recognize it immediately as self evident yet I am unable to express it. But you do and that makes me very happy. I am always so jealous to have people understand the real beauty of the Bible and Christ its almost like i feel you put my thoughts into form. So, I love you:)

All my best,

Dottie

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From: golden3000997
Date: Sun Nov 23, 2003 3:15 pm
Subject: The Power of Speech

Forgot to address this question -

Christine

We will no longer reproduce physical bodies from our present day sexual organs, but from our larynxes. We will "speak" and our speech will create forms available for other Egos to "incarnate" into.

Dottie

Have you actually had an experience that speaks to this mystery?

Well, having taken Speech classes in Foundation Year and Teacher Training, I certainly could feel the inner effect of learning to speak "from the Ego". I had a year with Sarah Burton in Spring Valley. She was in her 70s, I think and she could run circles around us students in our 20s. She was a former actress and she traveled with the Stuttgart Eurythmy ensemble when they did their big tour in???? 1980?? I would have to look for my brochure. You know, the Speech & Drama course in Dornach is a Four Year Course - longer than Teacher Training!!

Of course, having been so attached to the written word all of my life, I can imagine it, even if I can't yet "perceive" it. I also feel a deep connection to the concept of the Christ as the Logos of God.

Hold on, I think I have my Speech notebook around here somewhere - there's a wonderful verse. Hang on, I'll check. Nope, I can't find it right now. You have no idea what a mess my apartment is, boxes of papers, piles of books, etc. I have a "button" somewhere that says "I'm not messy - I'm creative" !

Anyway, you live in or around Hollywood, CA, right? Are you near the Highland Hall school and whatever Anthropop work is going on there? I think they have a teacher training program going, so probably some speech classes. You might enjoy participating in something like that. Speech work, like all art has to be participated in to be fully appreciated.

That verse will turn up soon or later. I'll pass it on when it does.

: ) Christine

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From: golden3000997
Date: Sun Nov 23, 2003 2:52 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

Dear Dottie,

Thank you for your warmth toward me, even when I get prickly! The writing is a gift from a past life which I haven't even used to its capacity yet. The understandings are gifts from wonderful people that I have met through the years. Of course, my own inner pain and turmoil has in a sense, "anchored" these early experiences. As for perceiving Christ in the Etheric, I'm lucky if I can "perceive" my way to work in the mornings!!

But I know that He is there. I know that without Him, I wouldn't be at all. And I know that someday I can and will perceive Him, and that, to me, is faith - knowing that there is a reality to be known, even if we can't perceive it just yet. The closest I can honestly say I have come to really, clairvoyantly "perceiving" anyone in the spiritual world is the Archangel Michael and that was in extremity.

As far as examples of Christ appearing as a normal human, one that has always stuck with me is similar to your experience of help driving home. Rene told us this one about a friend of his in Europe during WW II. I think this friend was a nurse (I can't remember where this took place - Rene is from Belgium originally, but it might have been in Holland or France.) Anyway, this woman normally took a very late train home at night. One night, she was approached by a very brusque, somewhat stout man dressed as a conductor with a large black moustache! He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from her platform, insisting that she was trying to get on the wrong train!! She resisted and protested, but he kept hold until she had missed the train. That train was bombed and destroyed completely that night. Shortly after the train had gone, he was nowhere to be seen and she never saw him in the station again.

Of course, there are probably millions of such stories, many of which are probably of angels and other guardians. Obviously, there are many people who are not "saved" at the last minute, either, but we are not to be the ones to know why unless we can really look into the Akashic record and examine each individual Karma.

An online friend of mine recently sent me this story in a kind of "chain letter" "pass it on to those you love" kind of e-mail. I don't participate in those because they are so superstitious, but I kept this lovely story:

Subject: Fw:sometimes, things are just not what they seem

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen?

The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die. "Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it."

"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead.

Things aren't always what they seem." Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every out come is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until some time later...

As I said, to me "faith" is knowing that someday, I will know. It doesn't always make life easier, but it helps me to cope.

By the way, what kind of films are you involved in?

Luv,
Christine

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From: Daniel Hindes
Date: Sun Nov 23, 2003 3:33 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Body of Christ

Rick [and All], I am wondering if you have ever thought of why it is that Christ can not come back in the body form? Why not?

Dottie,
I hope you won't mind if I jump in and attempt an answer. I think one part of the answer probably lies in all the preparation necessary to produce a body suitable for such an incarnation. When you consider all that was necessary to produce just the one in the first place (49 generations of preparation on both sides of the family, plus the whole history of the Hebrew people etc.) you can imagine how difficult that would be to do all over again. Then there is the mystery of the two Jusus children - according to Steiner one of them (the one in the Gospel of St. Luke) was a soul that was incarnating for the first time, and more specifically, was THE LAST human soul that had never incarnated. So, being rather pedantic, if there are no more souls that have never incarnated, you are missing an important ingredient for fashioning a human body suitable for the Christ to inhabit. I realize that what I have said sounds a bit abstract, but if you really penetrate each of these elements and their importance, you would be a long way towards understanding the answer to your question. For reference I would point you to Steiner's lecture cyce The Gospel of St. Luke, especially the 5th lecture, of September 19th, 1909.

Daniel

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From: dottie zold
Date: Mon Nov 24, 2003 8:13 pm
Subject: Re: Body of Christ

Daniel wrote:
Then there is the mystery of the two Jusus children - according to Steiner one of them (the one in the Gospel of St. Luke) was a soul that was incarnating for the first time, and more specifically, was THE LAST human soul that had never incarnated.

Hey Daniel,

You must be kidding me! It's so funny going back to reread certain passages in order to correlate a new understanding. I find myself unfolding the pages that I felt were so important, which now are things not so mysterious to my self anymore. . AND, then, finding new things that didn't jump out at me on the first reading and being blown away by them. So, needless to say I think I will be looking at Mr. Luke again:)

Daniel:
So, being rather pedantic, if there are no more souls that have never incarnated, you are missing an important ingredient for fashioning a human body suitable for the Christ to inhabit. I realize that what I have said sounds a bit abstract, but if you really penetrate each of these elements and their importance, you would be a long way towards understanding the answer to your question.

Dottie

Well, what are your thoughts/understandings on this? This just seems so amazing to me at the moment. What are your thoughts of no more bodies? I never really contemplated, although I have heard others discuss, the idea of new souls coming into being and so forth. What about new souls? If it is as above also below is that a real possibility? Can conditions change as much there as well.

It's so funny that the idea of Christ not reappearing as a body is tied to the fact that this was the last human body.

Thanks,

Dottie

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From: Jo Ann Schwartz
Date: Tue Nov 25, 2003 6:36 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

--- dottie zold wrote:
Daniel wrote:

Then there is the mystery of the two Jusus children - according to Steiner one of them (the one in the Gospel of St. Luke) was a soul that was incarnating for the first time, and more specifically, was THE LAST human soul that had never incarnated.

Hey Daniel,

You must be kidding me! It's so funny going back to reread certain passages in order to correlate a new understanding. I find myself unfolding the pages that I felt were so important, which now are things not so mysterious to my self anymore. . AND, then, finding new things that didn't jump out at me on the first reading and being blown away by them. So, needless to say I think I will be looking at Mr. Luke again:)

Dear Dottie,

Tom Mellett wrote an interesting essay on the two Jesus children, which you can find on the web here: http://www.antroposofi.org/mellett/twojesus.htm

Cheers,
JoAnn

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From: dottie zold
Date: Tue Nov 25, 2003 6:41 am
Subject: Re: Body of Christ


Dottie wrote:
It's so funny that the idea of Christ not reappearing as a body is tied to the fact that this was the last human body.

Okay, can I start over? :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

So, basically it is the idea that we have come full circle round by the untouched aspect of Adam incarnating? And where would Adam be without Eve? Where is the untouched aspect of Eve in this story?

Thanks Christine,

Dottie...

p.s. it has been bandied about from time to time the idea of a book that clarifies Dr. Steiners work for new people wanting to check him out. I think you should approach the AP people in charge of ideas like this and offer your very real skill of bringing forth his words in a way that make total sense to how one can 'experience' his words inside. Sincerely you are truly wonderful at matching him in a way I have yet to experience in almost four years on line. It almost is like the missing link in a sense for those of us who can understand it yet not connect it to physical words.

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From: golden3000997
Date: Sun Nov 23, 2003 3:46 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Body of Christ

Way to go, Daniel!! Now THIS is really becoming a wonderful "round-table" with lots of input. Anyone for tea & cookies??

: ) Christine

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From: golden3000997
Date: Tue Nov 25, 2003 4:49 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

'Morning Dottie,

(she mumbled over the rim of her coffee cup)

It's the last human SOUL, dear, not the last human body. And, why not necessarily disagreeing, I think it is a little more complex than that. To my understanding, the "Adam Kadmon" that incarnated in the Luke Child was a "new" soul, but a special one. It was a "part" of the human soul that had never been allowed to incarnate before because it was so pure and wonderful that God held it back lest it be spoiled. Whether or not any more individual human spirits can be created, I have no idea. But remember, this is all in the context of an understanding that all individual human spirits have been "present" from the moment of the Creation within the Godhead. The rhythm of their coming and going from Spirit to Matter has been complex and varied throughout the eons and only a cosmic perspective like that found in ""Occult Science" can give us even a simplified picture of it.

Since human beings have sort of incarnated "in shifts" - that is, various soul groups at various times, it takes a very long-term perspective to see that they have all been there all along. I think some have incarnated frequently and others much less so. That is my understanding of "old soul" vs "relatively new soul". The "old souls" are people who jumped down real early and keep bouncing back and forth all the time. "Young" souls are a bit more hesitant and possibly less committed to the stream of Earth evolution itself. As I understand it, the reason we have such a "population explosion" in the world today is not just because of material factors like better nutrition and promiscuity, but because so many "soul groups" have chosen to be here for the fireworks - the "last battle" in a sense. Many soul groups who are here physically were not here together before, which is why it is so hard for them to get along. They just don't have the same reference points, cosmically speaking.

Somewhere, maybe in "The Course of My Life", Steiner speaks very personally about his relationship with Goethe and says that even though he felt such a tremendous warmth and connection to Goethe's life work, if he had actually met him, he probably wouldn't have liked him. They belonged to very different soul groups who had always incarnated alternately. He says that this is quite common. So, if these soul groups are all wanting to be here at the same time, in order to participate in world events, it's no wonder that there is so much pluralism. Sometimes I get the feeling that most people basically are striving for the same thing, but they express it so differently and want to go about it very differently. Steiner even addresses this within the Anthroposophical Society itself (see "Awakening to Community"). It's really funny, I mean I laughed out loud the way he addressed the members in those lectures! The "card-filers" versus the "go-ahead and do it" factions within the Society.

Anyway, I think that is what we are struggling with so much in the world today. On one hand, those who have always striven to "follow the light" are here to battle the Ahrimanic forces in a major way. On the other hand, the lightworkers don't always get along because they are from different streams of spiritual development. The third battle (just HAD to find a trilogy here, somewhere) is, to me, the struggle of each individual with his or her own karma, trying to resolve so many issues from the past and "work them out" - preparing for a new stage in spiritual development on the earth.

Well, coffee's gone. Gotta go to work. Have a great day!

: ) Christine

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From: golden3000997
Date: Tue Nov 25, 2003 3:59 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

Aw, shucks, 'tain't nuthin" : )

Actually, I used to have a wonderful little intro book "Everything you always wanted to know about Anthroposophy" I think was the title. It was by Paul Allen. Probably out of print, but maybe not. I lent it out, didn't get it back. C'est la vie!

I have a series of articles in which I have tried to write as a Waldorf introduction. I think I have 3 uploaded at the Steiner Group. The one on "The Waldorf Approach to Reading" is the best, but I haven't uploaded it yet because it is so big - 22 pages in print with lots of illustrations. I have a web domain, but I can't figure out how to upload there, either. Tarjei said that he would help me, but he's probably mad at me over the Shirley issue. : )

I can send you a CD in the mail, if you want to send me an address off list. I have lots of stories that haven't seen the light for a long time. I have a set of St. Nicholas stories posted at:

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=155

and I have some for this time of year called "The Sky People" a re-telling of Native American tales for my Kindergarten age children (takes a week to tell). I just found a site for Native American stories and I plan to send them there. I could e-mail them if you wish. I just sent them to Standing Elk, a Lakota Sioux acquaintance of mine and a (gasp!) Spiritual Teacher. I haven't studied his teachings, yet, but I've met him and he's a nice guy.

I have thought of a book about RS Christology, though. I feel very unqualified, not being a Christian Community priest. There are many books by such people, especially Alfred Heidenreich, Adam Bittleston, Emil Bock and Eleanor Merry that are just wondeful. But I would like to write it for the "common folk" in a way - like a re-telling of the story. I have told it to some friends now and again and I think it makes an impact. Mind you, I don't mean a treatise, just a re-telling - kind of a radical thing like, "The Truth about Christianity." Do you think it would get me on Oprah??? : ) (Ain't I a wascal??)

Also, I've got the next GREAT Disney flick!!! It's all written as a play and could be adapted in a heartbeat. I have a lot of issues with Disney, but boy, could I use the money!!!

Don't I wish I were JK Rowling!!!!

Oh well, your turn - tell me about the projects that you are involved with!!

By the way, did you ever check out the Kahil Gibran website and "Jesus, Son of Man"? I think Kahlil Gibran was to poetry as Steiner was to philosophy. I think Herman Hesse had it in his novels. Pretty terrific stuff.

And don't forget "Jitterbug Perfume" Tom Robbins' other books don't live up to it for me, but that one is an all-time fav!!

You asked me about my poetry and I haven' t forgotten. But I don't see a website for Sophia Blue. Is there one yet? I'm sure that it would be fine. I've got more (surprise, surprise) including one called "Incubus" that would guarantee I'd "never teach in this town again." : )

Going to feed the kitties now. As Mrs. Slocum says on "Are You Being Served" (classic Britcom) "It's just not fair to my pussy."

PS - anyone out there into Britcoms??

Tell me more about what you do. : )

Christine

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From: dottie zold
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 8:03 pm
Subject: Re: Body of Christ

Christine wrote:
I have a series of articles in which I have tried to write as a Waldorf I can send you a CD in the mail, if you want to send me an address off list. I have lots of stories that haven't seen the light for a long time. I have a set of St. Nicholas stories posted at:

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=155

Hi Christine,

I will check them out this week. And yes I would like the cd and will email you off list.

Christine
and I have some for this time of year called "The Sky People" a re-telling of Native American tales for my Kindergarten age children (takes a week to tell). I just found a site for Native American stories and I plan to send them there. I could e-mail them if you wish. I just sent them to Standing Elk, a Lakota Sioux acquaintance of mine and a (gasp!) Spiritual Teacher. I haven't studied his teachings, yet, but I've met him and he's a nice guy.

Dottie

Please email me them.

Christine
I have thought of a book about RS Christology, though. I feel very unqualified, not being a Christian Community priest. There are many books by such people, especially Alfred Heidenreich, Adam Bittleston, Emil Bock and Eleanor Merry that are just wondeful.

Christine, we need one on the Feminine Mysteries. Seriously. You have a great way of expressing things and the books on Magdalene are making me ill. Well, I think I am coming to a certain understanding regarding the writers who insist Jesus and Mary were married and had a child and it is that they are onto something but can't divine to the spiritual aspect of a marriage.

I just bought a book by Starbird, I believe is the name, and I recall another book of hers that had me just besides myself. Yet this one speaks to the numbers of things as well as the Feminine that make sense even if she ends it with them having children:)

But I think you should seriously consider this idea of writing a good Magdalene book or rather a Sophia book. What is great about this idea is that Steiner has not touched on this mystery for some reason and with your extensive knowledge you are in the perfect moment to put this down on paper. Maybe you could approach someone with your writings and so forth, maybe a little treatment or whatever it is that one does in the real writing world that will inspire them to take you on.

Christine
But I would like to write it for the "common folk" in a way - like a re-telling of the story. I have told it to some friends now and again and I think it makes an impact.

Dottie

Well, I think you naturally write for folks like me while still getting it on in the Anthroposophia circles. I would like to see a Feminine versus a book on approaching Steiner.

Christine
Also, I've got the next GREAT Disney flick!!! It's all written as a play and could be adapted in a heartbeat. I have a lot of issues with Disney, but boy, could I use the money!!!

Dottie

Well then do it. YOu talked about being in the belly of the beast. That does not sound like to much fun. Have fun. Create.

Christine
Oh well, your turn - tell me about the projects that you are involved with!!

Dottie

Well, I work with homeless youth in Los Angeles. I am doing a documentary on the oldest theatre group in Los Angeles. I am in preproduction next month for a documentary on foster children in Hollywood. I am partnering with my assistant director, of my last short film actually my first:) called sister beatrice, on a feature that has caught a few eyes called The Nature of Things. I have started a small company called Sophia Blue that will represent local artists that I believe can rock the world with love and also my own work.

Christine
By the way, did you ever check out the Kahil Gibran website and "Jesus, Son of Man"? I think Kahlil Gibran was to poetry as Steiner was to philosophy. I think Herman Hesse had it in his novels.

Dottie

I love Kahlil. His Song of Songs makes me weep. I am wanting to make time to paint the Song of Songs yet have been unable to.

Christine
You asked me about my poetry and I haven' t forgotten. But I don't see a website for Sophia Blue. Is there one yet?

Dottie

It just moved from Sophia Productions and should be up in a preliminary form till I can get my pictures and such from the short movie. I would love for you to write something on the feminine divine along the lines of your understandings according to Steiners approach.

Christine
I'm sure that it would be fine. I've got more (surprise, surprise) including one called "Incubus" that would guarantee I'd "never teach in this town again." : )

Dottie

You are so funny! What sign are you?

So, you obviously love to write and know how to so when will you give us something on the feminine divine:)

Love to you and happy turkey leg:)

dottie

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From: Daniel Hindes
Date: Tue Nov 25, 2003 5:53 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

Dottie,
Thanks for your comments. I speak out of my limited understanding, in the hopes that that can be helpful to others. From my own understanding of Steiner's christology, the importance of the Jesus child of the Gospel of St. Luke (also referred to as the Nathan Jesus, because Nathan is the ancestor where Luke's geneology diverges from Matthew) is the special quality of the ether body that it brought. Because the Ego of that Jesus was incarnating for the first time, it had no karma, and therefore no consequences of sin. Being, as it was, without the consequences of sin, it was undamaged and possessed none of the weaknesses that sin causes. Only thus could it even hope to contain the immense power that a God would bring to a human incarnation, and allow a divine ego inhabiting it to work in the world without hinderances and distortions. Were Christ to attempt to inhabit a human being with a less perfect ether body (say, mine, or for that matter any other random person you might imagine), one consequence would be that the intentions of the divine would not be able to be properly expressed, because the instrument, in this consideration specifically the etheric body, would be forever getting in the way. I should note that in such a hypothetical case, the astral and physical bodies would of course also be hinderances. To really understand these things, you have to go into the details from every angle.

For references to the above, see Rudolf Steiner's lecture cycle on The Gospel of St. Luke, especially the 7th lecture (September 21st 1909), and From Jesus to Christ, especially the 8th lecture (October 12th, 1911)

As to there being no more souls, I think this concept too is best understood out of a deeper understanding of the being of man as presented by Rudolf Steiner. In An Outline of Occult Science (or Esoteric Science as it is being translated today) Steiner describes the processes that have created the human being as she/he is today. This is an incredibly long process, begenning as it does, at the near edge of eternity, and is already in the 4th major phase of development. If the process, as described there, makes sense to you, it should also become evident that more ego's could not simply pop into existance at divine whim. Now if we are dealing with a finite number of egos, who were all present in the beginning with God, then the question becomes how they all subsequently developed. Steiner describes the process in great detail, summarized in the book and Outline of Esoteric Science, but filled out to a complete picture of extraordinary richness in his lecture cycles, with virtually every lecture between 1904 and 1911 adding at least some new details. To shorten it all to one sentence, once the earth became suitable, the egos started incarnating on it, some sooner, some later, so that by the start of recorded history almost all had been incarnated at least once. At that point, the few that were still comming down for the first time bore extraordinary tasks, and the very last to come down was the Jesus of the Gospel of St. Luke.

I hope that this is helpful to you, and stimulates further research,

Daniel

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From: Tarjei Straume
Date: Tue Nov 25, 2003 10:21 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

At 02:53 26.11.2003, Daniel wrote:

As to there being no more souls, I think this concept too is best understood out of a deeper understanding of the being of man as presented by Rudolf Steiner. In An Outline of Occult Science (or Esoteric Science as it is being translated today) Steiner describes the processes that have created the human being as she/he is today. This is an incredibly long process, begenning as it does, at the near edge of eternity, and is already in the 4th major phase of development. If the process, as described there, makes sense to you, it should also become evident that more ego's could not simply pop into existance at divine whim. Now if we are dealing with a finite number of egos, who were all present in the beginning with God, then the question becomes how they all subsequently developed. Steiner describes the process in great detail, summarized in the book and Outline of Esoteric Science, but filled out to a complete picture of extraordinary richness in his lecture cycles, with virtually every lecture between 1904 and 1911 adding at least some new details. To shorten it all to one sentence, once the earth became suitable, the egos started incarnating on it, some sooner, some later, so that by the start of recorded history almost all had been incarnated at least once. At that point, the few that were still comming down for the first time bore extraordinary tasks, and the very last to come down was the Jesus of the Gospel of St. Luke.

There is another riddle arising here, that was once adressed by RS, but not adequately, as far as I remember. It's an argument against the very reincarnation-idea in general: During the last few centuries, the world population has exploded so drastically that more souls are now incarnated than throughout all the previous millennia put together. If this is the case, the concept of reincarnation can only be sustained if we think of new arrivals that have evolved on other planets.

Tarjei
http://uncletaz.com/

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From: Kim Munch Michelsen
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 3:03 am
Subject: RE: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

There is two more possibilities: Highly developed animals moving up to man, and shorter distance between incarnations.

As of arrivals from other planets i think that Napoleon Bonaparte has been mentioned. His mental capabilities was rather special.

Kim

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From: lightsearcher1
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 4:20 pm
Subject: * An answer to the incarnation question

Tarjei:

You wrote:

During the last few centuries, the world population has exploded so drastically that more souls are now incarnated than throughout all the previous millennia put together.

I, for one, have never understood the complexification that people so unnecessarily feel concerning this subject!

Do not despair, for this is the likely situation:

There exist in the universe MORE individual spirit-souls than EVER have been PRESENT on the earth at one time.

(The Alice Bailey material cites 60 billion as a total number of human spirit/souls.)

Hence, there have always been many more "people" out-of-incarnation at one time than there have been "people" in-incarnation at that same time.

There has always been a greater "pool" available "above" from which to draw from. --

If 60 billion is correct, then we formerly have had about "1-in-20" incarnated at once (3 billion), and now we are rapidly approaching a "1-in-9-in-incarnation" scenario.

Today, we just have a greater PERCENTAGE of the total that is in incarnation.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

By the way, the current world population is estimated at:

-- 6 , 3 8 4 , 7 6 0 , 4 0 0 --

THE FOLLOWING LINK IS NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH !

This is freaking me out...

http://www.ibiblio.org/lunarbin/worldpop

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Regards,
LS/1

--- In anthroposophy_tomorrow@yahoogroups.com, Tarjei Straume wrote:

There is another riddle arising here, that was once adressed by RS, but not adequately, as far as I remember. It's an argument against the very reincarnation-idea in general: During the last few centuries, the world population has exploded so drastically that more souls are now incarnated than throughout all the previous millennia put together. If this is the case, the concept of reincarnation can only be sustained if we think of new arrivals that have evolved on other planets.

AND -
Kim wrote:

There is two more possibilities: Highly developed animals moving up to man, and shorter distance between incarnations.

............................................................................................................................

From: eyecueco
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 00:21:58 -0000
Subject: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

 

--- In anthroposophy_tomorrow@yahoogroups.com, Tarjei Straume wrote:

There is another riddle arising here, that was once adressed by RS, but not adequately, as far as I remember. It's an argument against the very reincarnation-idea in general: During the last few centuries, the world population has exploded so drastically that more souls are now incarnated than throughout all the previous millennia put together. If this is the case, the concept of reincarnation can only be sustained if we think of new arrivals that have evolved on other planets.

Tarjei
http://uncletaz.com/

For what it's worth...

I was told by the man who guided my beginning Steiner studies back in the 70s that we are now living in a time period when the higher worlds are literally being emptied out becaue there is a large number of souls from the Atlantean period that were so traumatized by the destruction and horror experienced that they have been unwilling incarnate and have held back. Now that we are in the 5th epoch it's crunch time, so to speak. The choice these souls face is to either come down and get on with it before it is too late or else stay in the soul world and get leftbehind.

Paulina

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From: lightsearcher1
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 4:27 pm
Subject: * Re: An answer to the incarnation question

Paulina happened to post just after I did and it kind of agrees...

Paulina wrote:

I was told by the man who guided my beginning Steiner studies back in the 70s that we are now living in a time period when the higher worlds are literally being emptied out...

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From: golden3000997
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 4:41 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] * Re: An answer to the incarnation question


My two cents!!!!!

I also heard the same thing in the 70's from my mentors about the Atlantean population, many of whom were instrumental as "hippies" trying to bring anti-materialism/ anti-war message to the world like it had never received before. And before we get off on all kind of criticism of hippies, they DID plant seeds - many of which have become quite respectable.

The population question is not one of simple mathematics, that's for sure. And I am sure that the human cannot fully comprehend the far reaches of humanity, whether 6 billion or 60 billion. There's plenty of room for us on this planet now and plenty more to come when the planet "blows up" and expands into the far reaches of the Jupiter Sphere.

: ) Christine

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From: dottie zold
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 6:02 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] * Re: An answer to the incarnation question

And Eve? Where is she in this story of the unfallen Adam?
dottie:)

Christine wrote:
The population question is not one of simple mathematics, that's for sure. And I am sure that the human cannot fully comprehend the far reaches of humanity, whether 6 billion or 60 billion. There's plenty of room for us on this planet now and plenty more to come when the planet "blows up" and expands into the far reaches of the Jupiter Sphere.

............................................................................................................................

From: Daniel Hindes
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 10:29 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] * Re: An answer to the incarnation question


The stories in Genesis can be read from a number of different levels. Thus, for example, a day of creation is not one rotation of the earth around the sun - the sun had not even been created at the end of the first day. So day is just an indication for a period of time. Likewise, from one level, the story of the creation of Adam and Eve is an expression of the experiences that everyone went through at that time period, not just two individuals. The requirements of the earth and of cosmic evolution necessitated a division of the human form into two genders. As a consequence, the egos wishing to incarnate had to limit themselves to just one aspect of the human experience for one lifetime, and through reincarnation alternate so as to balance and complement the experiences gained as one gender through those of the other. The spirit has no gender, only the body (physical and etheric) has gender. The spirit moves from body to body (with rest in between) from male to female and back. Eve is contained within the unfallen Adam. In Emil Bock's translation of Genisis: "In the Image of God they created him, male/female they created him." (Another mystery - in the Hebrew version of Genesis, God is plural, so it reads: "During the begenning, the Elohim (plural) created the heaves and the earth..." Jehova, singular, only comes later.) There is much profound knowledge hidden in plain sight in these texts.

Daniel

----- Original Message -----
From: dottie zold
To: <anthroposophy_tomorrow@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 9:02 PM
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] * Re: An answer to the incarnation question

And Eve? Where is she in this story of the unfallen Adam?
dottie:)

Christine wrote:

The population question is not one of simple mathematics, that's for sure. And I am sure that the human cannot fully comprehend the far reaches of humanity, whether 6 billion or 60 billion. There's plenty of room for us on this planet now and plenty more to come when the planet "blows up" and expands into the far reaches of the Jupiter Sphere.

............................................................................................................................

From: Richard Distasi
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 2:35 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

Tarjei wrote:

During the last few centuries, the world population has exploded so drastically that more souls are now incarnated than throughout all the previous millennia put together.

I have heard this also and I'm not so sure that I can accept this at face value. When this is stated as true those who propose this never really give any real demographic figures to back it up. Let's not forget that in past centuries and millennia most people did not live past fifty. People were constantly coming into the world only to end up leaving very early in life. Who actually knows the count of all of the peoples of the world over the last let's say 10,000 years. I remember watching a documentary about the life of Christ Jesus and they stated that at the time of Christ there were 250 million people in the world. I thought that was a very high number. I don't know where they got their numbers but I'm assuming that someone did some research; whether it is valid or not is another question. Again who really knows what the world's population was at that time.

I did my own research and here is a link to world historical population estimates which really discredit those who say that there weren't enough people on this planet even over the millennia to account for all of the souls alive today. Here is the URL:

http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/worldhis.html

Briefly, there are different studies done and the numbers are shown in graphs. The estimates for the time of Christ range from 170M to 400M.

If it had been 250 million people at that time and the average life expectancy was 50 years of age (and that is a high estimate for those times) then that would be 500 million people who had passed through this world in one century. If souls incarnated only once in a millennium then that would be 5 billion souls in the first millennium after Christ. Again if anyone has any good data on historical world populations I would like to read it.

Reincarnation used to take centuries before one returned to an earthly life. Steiner had mentioned that in these times the influence of Ahriman has a way of rushing the human soul/spirit back to earth for another earthly incarnation.

rick distasi

............................................................................................................................

From: Daniel Hindes
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:18 pm
Subject: Re: Body of Christ - question of world population

Richard,

You have surveyed the question quite comprehensively. If I might add a few points...

The quote from Steiner on the population increase is found in “The Evolution of the Earth and Man” in lecture 4 (July 12th 1924). These were lectures to the construction workers building the Goetheanum, in a somewhat free format where he answered any questions they put to him. It was in the last two months of his lecturing activity.

The truth is that even in the most ancient times there was a vast population in China, also in South America and in North America. There, too, in those ancient times the land reached out to the Pacific Ocean. If that is taken into account the population of the earth cannot be said to have grown.

As to data on the past population of the earth, and specifically to the Americas, it should be noted that the consensus of modern understanding is continually changing, and almost everything that was “known” in the 1970's has been completely revised at least once since then. Just last year an entirely new ancient civilization was discovered in Central America. An excellent survey of the current understanding was published in the March 2002 issue of The Atlantic by Charles Mann, titled “1491”. It is available online at http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2002/03/mann.htm

One point that the article discusses is that some people consider the native population of the Americas in 1491 to have been as high as 120 million (higher than Europe), and that by 1630 disease had reduced it by 95%. I think that the population of the Americas in 0 or 600 BC could very well be the same number, as the level of society in 1491 was not considerably more technologically advanced.

More data: Columbus and the subsequent Spanish killed as many as 15 million native in the West Indies in less than 50 years.
Here is a summary by Ward Churchill from
http://www.transformcolumbusday.org/columbus_myth.htm

“The 1492 "voyage of discovery" is, however, hardly all that is at issue. In 1493 Columbus returned with an invasion force of 17 ships, appointed at his own request by the Spanish Crown to install himself as "viceroy and governor of [the Caribbean islands] and the mainland" of America, a position he held until 1500. Setting up shop on the large island he called Española (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic), he promptly instituted policies of slavery (encomiendo) and systematic extermination of the native Taino population. Columbus' programs reduced Taino numbers from as many as 8 million at the outset of his regime to about 3 million in 1496. Perhaps 100,000 were left by the time the governor departed. His policies, however, remained, with the result that by 1514 the Spanish census of the island showed barely 22,000 Indians remaining alive. In 1542, only 200 were recorded. Thereafter, they were considered extinct, as were Indians throughout the Caribbean Basin, an aggregate population which totaled more than 15 million at the point of first contact with the Admiral of the Ocean Sea, as Columbus was known.”

(Note: the source form much of the above is Bartoleme de Las Casas, who worked with Columbus and wrote his “Brief Account of the Devastation of the Indies” in 1542. Excerpts can be read at:
http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/02-las.html

I haven't looked at ancient Asia, but if we accept for a moment Steiner's statement that it's population is underestimated (and take the newer, higher number for the Americas) we could push the upper number to perhaps the 600 to 800 million range. That is, it is not implausible to estimate the population of the earth at the time of Christ at 800 million. I'm not arguing that that number is widely accepted, only that it is possible.

Daniel

............................................................................................................................

From: Kim Munch Michelsen
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 4:00 am
Subject: RE: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

If we consider Atlantis and Lemuria as more than philosophical entities, I would guess that they don't count in the 'official' estimates.

Kim Michelsen

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From: dottie zold
Date: Thu Nov 27, 2003 4:21 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ - question of world population

Oh goodness Daniel, this is an absolutely devastating piece. Just devastating. Thanks for sharing it and how appropriate for me today living in America and our thanksgiving day. Lets me put my heart to the Native Americans and offer up my prayers which I shall do everyday to this group of people who's blood has been shed unmercifullesly. Jeez.

dottie

Daneil wrote:
(Note: the source form much of the above is Bartoleme de Las Casas, who worked with Columbus and wrote his "Brief Account of the Devastation of the Indies" in 1542. Excerpts can be read at:

http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/02-las.html

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From: golden3000997
Date: Thu Nov 27, 2003 10:19 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ - question of world population

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

What better day to discuss what European people have done to the original population in the "Americas". Thank you so much Daniel, for all of your insights and especially this one. This is a subject very close to my heart and in fact, I have been reading on it intensively lately. I mentioned this book a little while ago "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn, which I am 3/4 of the way through. The chapters on Columbus are almost word for word the quote that Daniel gave us. Mr. Zinn probably was using the same source. That's why I made this comment previously, (11/6):

***********

What would this country be like today if we had met the native populations in the same spirit that they, for the most part, met us? What if European man had come only searching for freedom and new experiences of life, rather than gold and slaves (Columbus' expressed intentions and no other!) I refuse to believe that Columbus was an initiate, and if he really was, then I do not want to be associated with any initiate!

What WOULD this country today be like if we hadn't committed unimaginable terrorism on millions of unsuspecting human beings, if the very ground beneath our feet was not still running with psychic blood? What kind of "New World" would we have found?? Utopia? Maybe not, but something far better than what we live with now.

************

Makes me feel that this country is standing on its head, condemning others in the world for "human rights violations" while standing in a psychic pool of blood.

On a brighter note, though, I ordered a lot of books on Native American subjects from Alibris, some that I had years ago but lost along the way and I am also deep into these. There are two which are reports of discussions held in the early 70s between representatives from the Myrin Institute and Native American leaders. The first transcripts that we have of such discussions since the colonial days. The books are long out of print, but you can get them through Alibris.

TITLE: Respect for Life: the Traditional Upbringing of American Indian Children
AUTHOR: Morey, Sylvester M. (Editor); Gilliam, Olivia L.
PRICE: 9.90

TITLE: Can the Red Man Help the White Man? : a Denver Conference
AUTHOR: Morey, Sylvester M. Ed.
PRICE: 9.45

The other titles on this order:

TITLE: Our Fathers Had Powerful Songs (Rare & Beautiful Children's book)
AUTHOR: Belting, Natalia.
PRICE: 4.95

TITLE: Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World
AUTHOR: Weatherford, Jack
PRICE: 2.95

TITLE: American Indian Myths and Legends
AUTHOR: Erdoes, Richard And Ortiz, Alfonso
PRICE: 2.95

TITLE: Sacred Pipe Black Elk's Account of the Seven Rites
AUTHOR: Brown, Joseph E. ; Black.
PRICE: 2.95

TITLE: Native American Testimony: a Chronicle of Indian-White Relations from Prophecy to the Present
AUTHOR: Nabokov, Peter (Editor), And Deloria, Vine, Jr
PRICE: 2.95

TITLE: Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons (beautifully illustrated children's book)
AUTHOR: Bruchac, Joseph, and London, Jonathan
PRICE: 6.29

 

Native Land

She strides across the land each day
From sacred place to sacred place
What does she see?
What does she know?
Giant woman of Light

Great birds circle along her way
Spiraling the outline of her form
What do they hear?
What do they need?
Vortex path of Spirit

All those to whom our spirits pray
Guardians of this native land
What do you teach?
What do you speak?
Ancient words of Power

We who witness truth today
Must feel and see our mother's wounds
What will we do?
What will we say?
Human rite of Healing

Christine Natale 2002 all rights reserved

Written from a vision that Standing Elk had when he was in Miami and saw "the Grandmother" over the Miami River.

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From: Tarjei Straume
Date: Thu Nov 27, 2003 10:57 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ - question of world population

At 19:19 27.11.2003, Christine wrote:

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

How do you keep a turkey in suspense?

Tarjei
http://uncletaz.com/

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From: golden3000997
Date: Thu Nov 27, 2003 11:04 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ - question of world population

DO TELL!!! : ) LOL

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From: Tarjei Straume
Date: Thu Nov 27, 2003 11:37 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ - question of world population

At 20:04 27.11.2003, Christine wrote:

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

I asked:

How do you keep a turkey in suspense?

Christine:

DO TELL!!! : ) LOL

Later.

Tarjei
http://uncletaz.com/

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From: golden3000997
Date: Thu Nov 27, 2003 11:52 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ - question of world population

As Michael just said - "Takes one to know one!" LOL!!

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From: Tarjei Straume
Date: Mon Dec 1, 2003 2:07 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

At 11:35 26.11.2003, Rick wrote:

Reincarnation used to take centuries before one returned to an earthly life. Steiner had mentioned that in these times the influence of Ahriman has a way of rushing the human soul/spirit back to earth for another earthly incarnation.

Are you saying that a shorter time than 'centuries' - i.e. the equivalent of time elapsed between birth and death - is the time now spent in the spiritual world by normal people like you and me? To me, that seems highly unlikely, although popular New Age literature has been presenting reincanation as if it's a matter of jumping in and out of bodies. And the curious thing is that some people who have undergone past life regression actually remember jumping in and out of bodies like that.

It's true that Ahriman seeks to reduce the amount of time spent between death and rebirth, because he wants people to remember as little as possible, preferably nothing, of the spiritual world. And he does succeed with those who are heavily influenced by him. Take into consideration a full mature life reaching an age between 70 and 90, and the subsequent journey through kamaloka (purgatory), the Zodiac, the planetary spheres and the hierarchies and so on, plus the search for the most suitable parents etc. To the best of my recollection, Helena Blavatsky is talking about 600 years here, and I believe RS is corroborating a minimum of 300 years, at least in the case of people reaching old age. Initiates and avatars may be exceptions here, especially when they are needed on the physical plane for specific tasks, but in the case of normal people, it is a hindrance to be cut short on the spiritual journey between incarnations like that.

It's possible, of course, that the number of people whose existence on the other side is cut off by Ahriman is on the rise as Ahriman's incarnation is approaching and his influence increasing. But most of those affected by this, I believe, are our notorious troublemakers: War criminals and similar amoral individuals, carriers of the Sorath stream, cold-blooded bureaucrats, the makers of weapons of mass destruction in the Pentagon and elsewhere, child exploiters. RS once said that criminals sleep so well because they have no conscience, and I seem to recall that this has something to do with being unconscious between death and rebirth, remembering nothing of it, and coming back at record speed.

So all I can say that if there are many people spending less than centuries between incarnations today, I certainly hope I'm not among them. I want my half millennium this time too, hopefully skipping Ahriman's incarnation. (I'll help clean up after he's been here.)

Cheers,

Tarjei
http://uncletaz.com/

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From: Daniel Hindes
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:35 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

I am more inclined towards the second possibility than the first. An understanding of the nature animals from the Anthroposophical perspective seems to preclude first. That is, each animal is merely a limb of it's species, the species as a whole is the body of one ego, that ego being the group soul of that species. Or, as Steiner puts it in Theosophy, each human being is equivalent to a whole animal species. In Theosophy this is one of Steiner's four premises in his "proof" of reincarnation; thus the point is rather central to the anthroposophical view of man. Steiner did talk of other beings taking the place of the human ego in bodies, but I can't remember off hand exactly where that came up. I can look it up if anyone really wants to know.

The only reference to arrivals from other planets that I have read in Steiner all refer to the Lemurian period and earlier. These were souls that had stayed off earth prior to the moon separation. That is, they were incarntating on earth, they withdrew to the planets for a while, then they resumed incarnating, all before the end of the Lemurian period. For reference see Rudolf Steiner's lecture cycle on Genesis, 9th lecture (August 25th 1910). Now there may be more indications that I am not aware of, so I would very much like to hear of them if you could point me in the right direction.

Regarding Napoleon, I have found Steiner strangely silent on him, so if Steiner somewhere speaks of him beyond a general characteristic of his temperment, I would very much like to know where.

Daniel


----- Original Message -----

From: Kim Munch Michelsen
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 6:03 AM
Subject: RE: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

There is two more possibilities: Highly developed animals moving up to man, and shorter distance between incarnations.

As of arrivals from other planets i think that Napoleon Bonaparte has been mentioned. His mental capabilities was rather special.

Kim

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From: Tarjei Straume
Date: Thu Nov 27, 2003 12:58 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

At 06:35 27.11.2003, Daniel wrote:

Regarding Napoleon, I have found Steiner strangely silent on him, so if Steiner somewhere speaks of him beyond a general characteristic of his temperment, I would very much like to know where.

To the best of my recollection, RS said of Napoleon that his individuality couldn't be detected claivoyantly as if he weren't properly human or something. If anyone has a reference here, it would be interesting to see.

Tarjei
http://uncletaz.com/

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From: Kim Munch Michelsen
Date: Thu Nov 27, 2003 3:02 am
Subject: RE: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ


As I have understood it, man has earlier been part of a group ego (and are still, until we have astral sight), but have/are developing individuality.

The animals has not reached the state where an individuality can develop. But their development is not stopped, it would be against the whole idea if development could stop. Some animals go fully back to the group ego, after deads, other animals don't (ie. apes, and others), which means that they are on different levels of development. The primary source for animal development is man, as the primary source of plant development is animals, and the primary source of mineral development is plants. The influence from man gives animals an input which it can not get in the nature, and which, slowly, develops the possibility to be born with physical bodies where the necessary organs for individuality is contained.

Kim

-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Hindes
Sent: 27. november 2003 06:35
To: anthroposophy_tomorrow@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

I am more inclined towards the second possibility than the first. An understanding of the nature animals from the Anthroposophical perspective seems to preclude first. That is, each animal is merely a limb of it's species, the species as a whole is the body of one ego, that ego being the group soul of that species. Or, as Steiner puts it in Theosophy, each human being is equivalent to a whole animal species. In Theosophy this is one of Steiner's four premises in his "proof" of reincarnation; thus the point is rather central to the anthroposophical view of man. Steiner did talk of other beings taking the place of the human ego in bodies, but I can't remember off hand exactly where that came up. I can look it up if anyone really wants to know.

The only reference to arrivals from other planets that I have read in Steiner all refer to the Lemurian period and earlier. These were souls that had stayed off earth prior to the moon separation. That is, they were incarntating on earth, they withdrew to the planets for a while, then they resumed incarnating, all before the end of the Lemurian period. For reference see Rudolf Steiner's lecture cycle on Genesis, 9th lecture (August 25th 1910). Now there may be more indications that I am not aware of, so I would very much like to hear of them if you could point me in the right direction.

Regarding Napoleon, I have found Steiner strangely silent on him, so if Steiner somewhere speaks of him beyond a general characteristic of his temperment, I would very much like to know where.

Daniel

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From: Daniel Hindes
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:38 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

Atlantis predates the last great ice age (which ended with the retreat of the glaciers 15,000 years ago), and lemuria is much further back still. I have not seen any population estimtes that go back further than 10,000 years.

Daniel

----- Original Message -----
From: Kim Munch Michelsen
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 7:00 AM
Subject: RE: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

If we consider Atlantis and Lemuria as more than philosophical entities, I would gues that they don't count in the 'official' estimates.

Kim Michelsen

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From: Daniel Hindes
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:44 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

Paulina,
I find this idea very interesting, though I'm afraid I haven't encountered it, or anything to support it, in what I have read in Steiner so far. Do you or anyone else have a citation to support this so I can look into it further?

Daniel

For what it's worth...

I was told by the man who guided my beginning Steiner studies back in the 70s that we are now living in a time period when the higher worlds are literally being emptied out becaue there is a large number of souls from the Atlantean period that were so traumatized by the destruction and horror experienced that they have been unwilling incarnate and haveheld back. Now that we are in the 5th epoch it's crunch time, so to speak. The choice these souls face is to either come down and get on with it before it is too late or else stay in the soul world and get left behind.

Paulina

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From: eyecueco
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 09:08:53 -0000
Subject: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

--- In anthroposophy_tomorrow@yahoogroups.com, Daniel Hindes wrote:

Paulina,
I find this idea very interesting, though I'm afraid I haven't encountered it, or anything to support it, in what I have read in Steiner so far. Do you or anyone else have a citation to support this so I can look into it further?

No, Daniel, I don't.

Perhaps that might be some reference, but, I don't have it. I am sharing what was told me by the First Class Reader who guided my beginning Steiner studies. Apparently, from what Christine has shared, this idea on the Atlantean souls seems to be a familiar one with a lot of the old guard anthroposohists.

Remember, not everything Steiner shared is in his books and lectures. Many interesting things were shared by Steiner in private conversations and have made their way into the biographies of those who knew Steiner personally, or have been handed down word of mouth from in an inner-circle, so to speak.

It must be left to the individual to accept or reject such statements. What I shared works for me because I could look out and see some of what I had been told at work in the world. Like, Christine, I understood these young souls to have been something along the lines of the flower children, but, unlike Christine, I understood from my teacher that these souls were causing difficulties in the world due to their having missed out on lessons they would have learned if they had not lagged behind in their incarnations.

The reason we incarnate is to learn something that has not been learned before. We don't incarnate to learn the same lesson over and over. Each time period offers something needed. The lesson learned from incarnating in Greece, for instance, cannot be learned now. If it wasn't learned it is a lesson lost. The lesson in the past of struggling to be able to _distinguish_ Good from Evil, is a very different task from that in front of us now of learning how to to transform the Evil into a Good.

The task in the Middle Ages of struggling to distinguish Truth from Falshood is not the task assigned to the incarnated soul today. Imo, much of what is going on in the world that is misunderstood and misrepresented by so well meaning individuals is a result of souls unable to take up the lessons an incarnation offered them. A example of this, again, imo, is how so many tender hearted anthropops tend to see the current world situation in light of a 6th Epoch of brotherhood that is not even close to becoming a reality.

Sorry, I can't help you, Daniel.
I think one has to live into what they read and hear, and wait to see if it fit, if it works for them, written refrences or not. If something doesn't bring up an inner resonance within me, or if I can't make work and fit into what I observe in the world around me, then I don't muchcare who said what it or where or when. Therefore, I don't tend to go around collecting a lot of encyclopedic references. ;-)

Paulina

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From: Daniel Hindes
Date: Wed Nov 26, 2003 10:06 pm
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

So, basically it is the idea that we have come full circle round by the untouched aspect of Adam incarnating? And where would Adam be without Eve? Where is the untouched aspect of Eve in this story?

Adam Kadmon (a name not found in the Bible, but in Jewish esoteric tradition) represents humanity before gender (and if it makes you feel any better, Steiner said that the primal human form before the division into sexes generally more resembled the female - I can find the lecture if you would like). Thus it is NOT the untouched aspect of the post-Fall MALE Adam that is related to the Nathan Jesus, rather, it is the pre-fallen pre-gender complete human (which, just to confuse you is also has Adam in it's name) that is related to the Jesus of Luke's Gospel. So the answer to your question "Where was Eve?" is: still inside Adam, still a part of her/him. They weren't separate yet. Only later was there a separation, where in Genesis it is told how God made Eve out of Adam's rib.

I hope this helps,

Daniel

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From: dottie zold
Date: Thu Nov 27, 2003 4:24 am
Subject: Re: [anthroposophy_tomorrow] Re: Body of Christ

Daniel
So the answer to your question "Where was Eve?" is: still inside Adam, still a part of her/him. They weren't separate yet.

Hi Daniel,

So this was the ChristSophia, true?

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From: dottie zold
Date: Thu Nov 27, 2003 10:24 am
Subject: Re: Body of Christ

Daniel wrote:
Adam Kadmon (a name not found in the Bible, but in Jewish esoteric tradition) represents humanity before gender (and if it makes you feel any better, Steiner said that the primal human form before the division into sexes generally more resembled the female - I can find the lecture if you would like).

Hi Daniel,

Yes please point me to the lecture. Another thought comes up for me regarding this Adam Kadmon that I would like to look at if you don't mind. I shall just give a moment of background of my own thought so I can get a fix on this concept.

Okay until now I have come to the idea that we are all God. Each of us is this piece that makes up the whole. I come to the idea of no hiearchy which usually gets people in a bit of an uproar to a certain extent beings many things seem to show a hiearchy especially in Steiners work and of course many others.

My point is what is this Kadmons relationship to God? Because if I go to the place of thinking that this Kadmon is actually a unity of all the souls that exist in our Earth existance than I can see possibly a hiearchy outside of itself: because God and the Angeles would be outside of it yet within the whole Cosmic world.

So, what is the relationship of Kadmon to God and to the Cosmos if we do indeed hold them to be seperate yet one. I wonder the shape of a Kadmon I wonder if it is a fish:)

Also do you know in what Jewish essoteric book I can find this in?

Thanks,
Dottie

P.S. I think Sophia is in that which you note below. And in this is the mystery of how the male female divine presence was present on Earth at Golgotha. imo. I wish we could develope this stream a little more here at A-T.

Daniel wrote:
Thus it is NOT the untouched aspect of the post-Fall MALE Adam that is related to the Nathan Jesus, rather, it is the pre-fallen pre-gender complete human (which, just to confuse you is also has Adam in it's name) that is related to the Jesus of Luke's Gospel. So the answer to your question "Where was Eve?" is: still inside Adam, still a part of her/him. They weren't separate yet. Only later was there a separation, where in Genesis it is told how God made Eve out of Adam's rib.

I hope this helps,

Daniel

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From: Daniel Hindes
Date: Sun Nov 30, 2003 4:50 pm
Subject: Working with supersensible knowledge

Remember, not everything Steiner shared is in his books and lectures. Many interesting things were shared by Steiner in private conversations and have made their way into the biographies of those who knew Steiner personally, or have been handed down word of mouth from in an inner-circle, so to speak.

Paulina,
I have found it important in spiritual research to know who the speaker of a given statement is, who stands behind it. This, to me, is an integral part of an idea, an inseparable part of it's truth. In mathematics a statement may stand entirely on it's own merits, however this is due to humanity having developed to such a state as we are capable of thinking logically without error, and because the axioms of mathematical discourse are self-evident. With spiritual perception, humanity in general, and myself specifically, have not yet developed to the state where spiritual axioms are self-evident. I do not see with clarity facts such would, for example, illuminate the exact circumstances of other peoples previous incarnations. I can think logically about the implications of one or more such facts as are revealed to me, but the fact itself I have to either accept or reject without the absolute certainty that I can apply to numbers. From here we leave the realm of the self-evident for the realm of judgment. When I have to judge the relative worth of an idea, I recognize that logic is insufficient. Emotions play a large role, specifically whether we like or dislike the idea. There is nothing wrong with this. It is, in fact, the direction towards which we are all evolving. As we advance and purify our inner life (transform our astral body, in the anthroposophical parlance) or feelings will become progressively more reliable as a guide to judgment. Indeed, when the work on that stage is finished, our feelings will become an organ of perception, as reliable as the eye, only what we will see with them is the spiritual world. But since I am not yet so advanced as to be able to rely on my feelings for absolute certainty in judgment, I must consider other factors, as well as live with the uncertainty of never really knowing for sure. Among the other factors I include the source of a statement and it's context. Who said it and what were they trying to accomplish. Knowing who the speaker is helps me in judging their current statement, as I can get a general feeling for the import of the current statement based on what I might know of previous statements. For example, with Rudolf Steiner, everything of his that I have been able to test I have been able to verify. Therefore, he has built up a fair degree of credibility in my estimation, so when I read a statement of his that at first seems unlikely to me, I withhold judgment in deference of his track record. This is not the same as saying that I believe everything he says, or that I believe he is infallible, only that I will make a special effort to understand, which I might not for another speaker.

Now I am fully aware that not all of Steiner's statements and indications are contained within the Complete Works. And I have read most of the published material by his students. Published materials by Steiner's students I feel to be generally reliable, as most were level headed people who were genuinely striving to present his statements faithfully. So "Rittlemeyer says that Steiner told him..." is nearly as reliable to me as reading it in "a stenographic record, unrevised by the lecturer" (a lecture cycle), both of which are second to Steiner's own written words in his published works.

A third category of statements are "Someone told me that someone told them that Steiner said..." Here you have the danger of the telephone effect, over 70 to 100 years and three or more people. In addition, the motives of someone who felt it necessary to withhold a statement of Steiner's, not just at the time, but for decades afterward, and then chose not to publish it, but instead to tell it to another person, who then retells it to us, are to me somewhat suspect. Why did they not write a short piece for one of the many anthroposphical journals, titled "My interview with Rudolf Steiner?" Were they unsure of their memory, or whether they comprehended it properly? Did they feel that it was too important, too special, to be shared with other anthroposophists (the concept of a privileged "inner circle" which, I would maintain, is inimical to the spirit of Rudolf Steiner's whole mission)? Why did they not want their name attached to it? Had they mixed their own insights with the initial idea to such a degree that they could not separate their own idea from Steiner's? The answers to these questions would be important to me in considering how to value the statement itself. And especially if the statement is a bold and significant departure from the remainder of Steiner's work. Whose statement is it, when it is at this point so far removed from the purported author?

I am reminded at this point of the early history of Buddhism (as explained by Alan Watts in his "The Way of Zen"). Early followers of Buddha, and even monks writing hundreds of years later, felt that any conception of Buddhism they really owed to Buddha. Without Buddha, they would not have been able to write their works. So out of the purest sense of individual modesty, they did not put their own name to it. Buddha inspired them, so Buddha was the author. For this reason, it