Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts

'Anthroposophy is a path of knowledge, to guide the Spiritual in the human being to the Spiritual in the universe.' (From the first 'Leading Thought'.) This key volume contains Rudolf Steiner's so-called 'Leading thoughts' and 'Letters' written for members of the Anthroposophical Society. In brief paragraphs, they succinctly present Rudolf Steiner's science of the spirit, Anthroposophy, as a modern path of knowledge. Invaluable as clear summaries of Rudolf Steiner's fundamental lines of thought, they are intended not as doctrine, but as a stimulus and focus for study and discussion. Their intention, as Rudolf Steiner states, is to contribute to a 'unity and organic wholeness of the work of the Society without there being any question of constraint'

Rudolf Steiner intended the Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts to serve as a renewal of anthroposophy in light of the Christmas Conference, but also as a condensed recapitulation of what he had earlier given in books and cycles of lectures. In this sense he hoped to focus and unify the work of the society. The Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts are perhaps the single most important text in all of anthroposophy. An austere clarity of style is born of brevity.That brevity is greatest in the 185 numbered aphorisms in which he sought to make an even more condensed recapitulation of anthroposophy. This volume contains the complete sequence. Together, they form a powerful occasion for meditation. Readers should be sure to consult the appendix containing the incomplete, but very fine, mediations on the sequence by Carl Unger.

"We're trying to get to the castle of the Wise Enchanter,' Michael said. 'It's very difficult." "But you have found your way to the Enchanted Islands," said the hermit. "That is the first step, and that is good. I can't tell you which way to go, since I have no idea. You see, very few people have ever reached the castle itself, and no one has been there since I have been here, but I can tell you one thing...if you keep going straight through the forest, it will end. At the end, there are two paths. One path is the Right Way. The other is the Left Way. One of these paths is the true way, and will take you where you need to go; but you can only know which is which once you have gone along the way of your choice for some time." "What if the Right way is the wrong way, or the Left way is the right way?" Lauren asked. "It sounds confusing." "Yes, yes, of course it does. But once you've done it, everything will be perfectly clear." Words are disappearing from the world. Something is lurking in the deepest waters, devouring all the words that are no longer used. No one has noticed, but the world is slowly growing darker. For many years no children have come to the Enchanted Islands in search of Wisdom, and the Wise Enchanter is growing old. Four children from the corners of the earth have been sent on a quest to rediscover each letter, unlock the treasure of language, and thereby grow wise. Time is running out; if the children do not reach the castle of the Wise Enchanter in time, Wisdom and light may vanish from the world altogether.

"Leading thoughts" and letters for members of the Anthroposophical Society (CW 26) "The leading thoughts here given are meant to open up subjects for study and discussion. Points of contact with them will be found in countless places in the anthroposophic books and lecture courses, so that the subjects thus opened up can be enlarged upon and the discussions in the groups centered around them." -- Rudolf Steiner This key volume contains Rudolf Steiner's "leading thoughts," or guiding principles, and related letters to members of the Anthroposophical Society. Using brief, aphoristic statements, Steiner succinctly presents his spiritual science as a modern path of knowledge, accompanied by "letters" that expand and contextualize the guiding thought. These 185 thoughts constitute invaluable, clear summaries of Steiner's fundamental ideas--indeed, they contain the whole of Anthroposophy. They are intended not as doctrine, but to stimulate and focus one's study and discussion of spiritual science. "Anthroposophy is a path of knowledge to guide the Spiritual in the human being to the Spiritual in the universe.... Anthroposophy communicates knowledge that is gained in a spiritual way.... There are those who believe that with the limits of knowledge derived from sense perception the limits of all insight are given. Yet if they would carefully observe howthey become conscious of these limits, they would find in the very consciousness of the limits the faculties to transcend them." -- Rudolf Steiner This volume is a translation of Anthroposophische Leitsätze, Der Erkenntnisweg der Anthroposophie--Das Michael-Mysterium (GA 26).

This sixth volume continues the series of translations of Rudolf Steiner's Anthroposophic Leading Thoughts, in which he sought at the end of his life to present the whole of anthroposophy as a succinct recapitulation. Yet everything also appears new in light of the Christmas Conference. The Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts are among the profoundest and most important texts in all of anthroposophy.

This succinct and sublime account of the Mission of the Archangel Michael, a long excerpt from the Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts, is one of the highest summits in all of anthroposophy.