The Rudolf Steiner Archive

27. The Mystery of Life

“Bergens Tidende,” October 10, 1913, p. 5, translation

[ 1 ] Dr. Rudolf Steiner. The Theosophical Movement. This man is the leader of the “anthroposophical” branch within the Theosophical Movement. He came here to Bergen with a whole group of followers and students and gave a public lecture yesterday at the lodge on “The Mysteries of Life.” One made an interesting acquaintance there: the tall, dark figure, the striking features, the expressive hand gestures, the peculiar way of speaking with closed eyes, the clear voice that could rise to a stirring intensity—everything was in harmony with the mystical teaching his lecture proclaimed. When the speaker began by apologizing for not speaking Norwegian, it was unnecessary; the unique nature of the lecture kept the audience’s interest alive in his [the speaker’s] beautiful, Austrian-tinged German.

[ 2 ] The speaker began by emphasizing that his science (“spiritual science” [in German in the text]) was new to the audience of our time. A new research method had been put into practice here: a spiritual laboratory. Anthroposophy is based on experiments of the spirit and the soul. Spiritualism reveals the urge to explore the eternal world of the spirit, but it does so through external experiments, which is why it goes astray. The conclusion of spiritual science is that human life is not confined by birth and death; far-reaching forces accumulate and take effect within this physical life. At death, the soul breaks through the barriers of physical life and attains a spiritual life. This is the solution to the great mysteries of death, immortality, and destiny. Through their solution, light is shed on the whole of human life. Within every soul, the question “Why?” lies safely enshrined in the face of these mysteries.

[ 3 ] Now that 300–400 years of natural science have passed, the answer has changed. Natural science does not have the answer here; rather, it has made these questions even more of a mystery. The humanities seek to use the results of natural science as seeds for a new harvest. But they do not contradict natural science. — The same is true of religion. Religious people will come to terms with the new doctrine, just as they did with the teachings of Copernicus. – The goal is the enrichment of life.

[ 4 ] Sleep, “the brother of death,” is just as mysterious as death itself. But life does not come to a halt during sleep. The soul lives on; it leaves the body and becomes independent. Through careful training of his mental faculties—especially his will—the spiritual scientist is able to induce a conscious state of sleep. He can sleep and yet remain conscious of everything his soul experiences during sleep.

[ 5 ] The practice is carried out through meditation, concentration, and contemplation [German terms in the text] (devotion, self-reflection, contemplation). It is a form of spiritual chemistry. The chemist liberates the basic elements; the scholar of the spirit liberates his spiritual faculties. Thought and feeling are freed from their material form. One transforms one’s inner life, turning it into something else. Ultimately, one attains what the ancient mystics called “standing at the gate of death.” One sees beyond this life, into one’s past and future existences. Here, dilettantism often rears its head, as when someone claims to have been this or that person in a previous life. Individual boundaries fade from the spirit’s gaze. The spiritual scientist sees by sensing forces, but he sees through veils. — We experience all of this outside the body.

[ 6 ] But aren’t these just hallucinations or illusions? No! They are connected to a person’s inner desires. Old desires and longings surface in these hallucinations. Here, however, we are freed from them; here, life is shaped according to new laws. Life becomes a preparation for a new life. The solution is: immortality and perfection.

[ 7 ] Dr. Rudolf Steiner finally summarized his speech in the following words [in German in the text]:

They speak to the human senses
The things in the vastness of space
They change as time goes by.
Through experience, the human soul
Penetrates the boundless expanse of space,
And, undeterred by the passage of time
Enters the realm of eternities.

[ 8 ] Among his students and followers, the following are worth mentioning, all of whom stayed at the Hotel “Norge”: the author Bugajoff and his wife from Moscow, Dir. Noll, Kassel; Mrs. von Vossmold, Munich; Countess Moltke, ibid.; Countess Kalckreuth, ibid.; von Rainer, Berlin; Countess Hamilton, Stockholm; Mrs. von Christoforoff, Moscow; Mrs. von Reden; Miss von Lowrentz; and others.