What Is Anthroposophy?: Three Spiritual Perspectives on Self-Knowledge

n n3 selected lectures by Rudolf Steinern nThis is one of those books that can change your life. Radical, thought-provoking, and indeed mind-boggling, it leads to a completely new way of looking at what it means to be human--a spiritual being in a universe that itself is not just physical, but psychic and spiritual as well.n nThese three previously untranslated lectures are a masterly introduction to what Rudolf Steiner means by Anthroposophy. They explain why Steiner describes this path--which means literally the wisdom of the human being--as one that unites what is spiritual in the human being with what is spiritual in the universe. n nSteiner begins by describing what happens when we die. He shows the relationship between our physical life on Earth and the etheric, astral, and spiritual life of the cosmos. He also explains how physical lives are completely interwoven with cosmic existence, and how the miss-ing links in evolution are spiritual in nature. n nSteiner then demonstrates what he calls the dilettantism and soullessness of mainstream psychology. He points out that, since the second half of the nineteenth century, the idea of the soul has been lost and that, consequently, understanding of our inner lives is without a sure foundation. A very different view emerges, however, from a truly spiritual perspective. n nIn the third lec-ture, Steiner takes as his guide our three states of being--waking, dreaming, and sleeping. He describes in detail what happens in these three states and how each is bound up with our lives as physical, psychic, and spiritual beings. n nWith the profound insights in this book, the world becomes a much larger, richer, and more exciting place to live.n nCONTENTS n nIntroduction by Christopher Bamfordn n1. The Physical Perspective n2. The Psychological Perspective n3. The Spiritual Perspectiven