Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment: (Cw 10)

By Rudolf Steiner

Book Overview

Published in 1904 (CW 10)

"Not everyone can immediately achieve spiritual vision; but the discoveries of those who have it can be health-giving life nourishment for all. The results of supersensible knowledge, when properly employed in life, prove to be not impractical, but rather, practical in the highest sense.... The acquisition of higher knowledge is not the end, but the means to an end; the end consists in the attainment, thanks to this knowledge, of greater and truer self-confidence, a higher degree of courage, and a magnanimity and perseverance such as cannot, as a rule, be acquired in the lower world."

This is the classic account of the modern Western esoteric path of initiation made public by Steiner in 1904. He begins with the premise that "the capacities by which we can gain insights into the higher worlds lie dormant within each one of us." Steiner carefully and precisely leads the reader from the cultivation of the fundamental soul attitudes of reverence and inner tranquility to the development of inner life through the stages of preparation, illumination, and initiation.

Steiner provides practical exercises of inner and outer observation and moral development. By patiently and persistently following his guidelines, new "organs" of soul and spirit begin to form, which reveal the contours of the higher worlds thus far concealed from us.

Steiner in this important work becomes a teacher, a counselor, and a friend whose advice is practical, clear, and effective. The challenges we face in life require increasingly deeper levels of understanding, and Steiner's text helps readers to cultivate the capacities for such insights and places them at the service of humanity.

This is Steiner's most essential guide to the modern path of initiation he advocated throughout his life. It has been translated into many languages and has inspired hundreds of thousands of readers around the world. How to Know Higher Worlds has been admired by some of the most brilliant minds of our time.

"The methods by which a student is prepared for the reception of higher knowledge are minutely prescribed. The direction he is to take is traced with unfading, everlasting letters in the worlds of the spirit where the initiates guard the higher secrets. In ancient times, anterior to our history, the temples of the spirit were also outwardly visible; today, because our life has become so unspiritual, they are not to be found in the world visible to external sight; yet they are present spiritually everywhere, and all who seek may find them."

Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment is a translation from German of the written work Wie erlangt man Erkenntnisse der h heren Welten? (GA 10).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 088010046X
• ISBN13: 9780880100465
• Release Date: November 1947
• Publisher: Steiner Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Instructions for the Neophyte

This is a written mentorship for anyone who wants and needs help stepping into the hidden worlds of spirit. Penned explicitly for publication by Rudolf Steiner - in contrast to the countless editions of shorthand transcriptions of his many oral lectures - this book gives specific instruction to anyone who wants to develop perception of spirit. The presentation of instruction for how to experience and understand the worlds of spirit, and the conditions for developing the organs of perception for doing so, Steiner lays out simply and directly. The book serves as both a manual for development, and a vehicle itself for that development. So, I read a short passage in the book as part of my regular meditations. Steiner wrote these essays at the beginning of the 20th century, in German. The translation itself is also not contemporary. In addition to the subject matter itself, then, the rendering of Steiner's words present a challenge to the reader. I encourage patience here. There are other translations and editions of this book, and it might help to have another version handy for reference for especially puzzling passages. But a book on knowing higher worlds is bound to be puzzling, even after accounting for translation and passage of time. One last consideration: Steiner mentions that these are preliminary teachings, based on much more complex matters that he deliberately avoids. This isn't the whole story, then, but an excellent place to begin.

A Challenge for Chelas!

A must read for any student or disciple embarking on the occult path - this book will help delineate what's involved on the road to higher awareness and what signs to look for on the way - whether it be in your dreams or through rigorous spiritual training. This is an awesome and powerful book for anyone looking to gain a higher spiritual awareness and sense of personal power in their lives!

Inspirational

A great explanation of the Higher Worlds for those who have not experienced Cosmic Consciousness.

A book to show you the way

Steiner explains in this great guide the reasons why we should walk the spiritual path to self-realization and how this happens if we so decide find the courage to do it. He talks about karma, higher beings, higher worlds, reincarnation, initiation, etc based on his own experiences. He also gives many practical excercises in it. Steiner who had a highly developed intellect and spiritual faculties well-awakened makes use of his genius to explain the path in a simple and easy to understand way. I was shocked at how easy it was for me to read it, compared to some of his other important writings! This book is essential and extremely important for anyone who is interested in learning about the path and higher worlds. Also highly recommended is Samael Aun Weor who also wrote extensively as Steiner did.

Clearly the best "how to" book dealing with meditation.

Clearly the best "how to" book dealing with meditation! I got the sense that I was be talked to by one who had "been there, done that" and was clearly out to make sure my experience was a safe and sane one. The fact that this book was written early this century doesn't in any way diminish its currency. The audio book is unabridged and a wonderful way to revisit important passages again and again.