A key to Anthroposophy

"Theosophy" is Rudolf Steiner's short introduction to his particular form of esotericism, which still used the Theosophical moniker when it was originally published. Later, Steiner's thoughts became known as Anthroposophy.

"Theosophy" is so basic that I'm not entirely sure who would benefit from it. I almost recommend people who want to study Steiner to begin immediately with "How to know higher worlds" and "An outline of occult science". Those who want a foretaste of Steiner's more extreme views, might want to consult "Secret brotherhoods and the mystery of the human double". Don't tell me I didn't warn you!

Interestingly, "Theosophy" attempts to prove the tripartite division of man (body, soul and spirit) epistemologically, rather than ontologically. We realize that soul and spirit must exist by reflecting on our sensory and thinking capacities. Steiner emphasizes that soul and spirit can't be experienced without developing the requisite organs. Once again, his argument is epistemological and almost "empirical". Steiner then mentions reincarnation and karma, and goes on to explain the various states of the soul and spirit after the death of the physical body.

It's interesting to compare them to those described by the "official" Adyar Theosophist Leadbeater. Steiner believes that the soul world (probably corresponding to the astral plane of Leadbeater) is a kind of purgatory, where the soul voluntarily suffers until it manages to extinguish its material desires, which it no longer can satisfy in the absence of a physical body. By contrast, Leadbeater describes the astral plane as a place of instant and utter wish-fulfilment, which goes on until that particular karma has been exhausted. Steiner's astral worlds are more serious and even "Christian", but Leadbeater's version seem to be more in keeping with the visions reported by Spiritualists or the Hindu-Buddhist tradition. Steiner's afterlife is more "objective", while Leadbeater's strikes me as more "subjective".

After being purified, the spirit becomes dominant and the former human being can thus enter what Steiner calls Spiritland. This is a place difficult to describe in human terms, as it consists of a kind of archetypes or Platonic ideas. However, these ideas aren't abstract, but living entities. One part of Spiritland is a kind of fluidic space filled with the life-force of the universe. Steiner believes that the spirit perfects itself by assimilating the positive karma of its previous physical existence, before it descends into matter again. Thus, there is a kind of evolutionary perspective at work. Accomplished spiritual masters can choose their next incarnation, or perhaps elect to stay in Spiritland.

Steiner says very little in "Theosophy" about various classes of spirit-beings. This in contrast to Leadbeater, who expounds at length on the subject in his introductory book "The Astral Plane". However, Steiner also believed in such beings. He mentions them in passing, saying that various kingdoms of elementals work on (or even create?) our physical bodies and its life forces. Leadbeater had a more popular tack - let's face it, angels and demons are more exciting than Platonic forms!

"Theosophy" is a frankly boring book, and somewhat hard to read. I didn't read literally every word of it. Not surprisingly, the only spiritual authority quoted is Goethe! It's vintage Steiner, I suppose. However, it could be of some interest to the complete neophyte in spiritual matters.

"Theosophy" exists in several different translations, and is also available at the Rudolf Steiner Archive on-line. This review is based on the 1971 edition translated by Henry Monges.