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(1861-1925)
Founder of Waldorf education, alternative farming methods (bio-dynamic farming), alternative health practices and dietary advice - Rudolf Steiner was way ahead of his time.
Rudolf Steiner was quite a learned man. He was an expert on Goethe's scientific work and tried integrating scientific knowledge with spiritual knowledge. All the practical methods he developed were responses to questions by his followers.
The Young Rudolf Steiner
From 1879 to 1883 Steiner attended and then graduated from the Technische Hochschule (Technical University) in Vienna, where he studied mathematics, physics, and philosophy. In 1882, one of Steiner's teachers at the university in Vienna, Karl Julius Schröer, suggested Steiner's name to Professor Joseph Kürschner, editor of a new edition of Goethe's works. Steiner was then asked to become the edition's scientific editor.
In his autobiography, Steiner related that at 21, on the train between his home village and Vienna, he met a simple herb gatherer, Felix Kogutski, who spoke about the spiritual world "as someone who had his own experiences of it...." This herb gatherer introduced Steiner to a person that Steiner only identified as a "master", and who had a great influence on Steiner's subsequent development, in particular directing him to study Fichte's philosophy.
In 1891 Steiner earned a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Rostock in Germany with a thesis based upon Fichte's concept of the ego, later published in expanded form as Truth and Knowledge.
(source: wikipedia)
"Live through deeds of love, and let others live with tolerance for their unique intentions."
Rudolf Steiner Books
Intuitive Thinking As a Spiritual Path : A Philosophy of Freedom (Classics in Anthroposophy)
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Amazon Price: $16.16 (as of 05/17/2008)
How to Know Higher Worlds: A Modern Path of Initiation (Classics in Anthroposophy)
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Amazon Price: $15.26 (as of 05/17/2008)
Theosophy : An Introduction to the Spiritual Processes in Human Life and in the Cosmos
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Amazon Price: $15.26 (as of 05/17/2008)
Agriculture Course: The Birth of the Biodynamic Method
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Amazon Price: $17.16 (as of 05/17/2008)
Steiner in his Theosophical years
By 1904, Steiner was appointed by Annie Besant to be leader of the Esoteric Society for Germany and Austria. The German Section of the Theosophical Society grew rapidly under Steiner's leadership as he lectured throughout much of Europe on his spiritual science. During this period Steiner maintained an original approach, replacing Madame Blavatsky's terminology with his own, and basing his spiritual research and teachings upon the Western esoteric and philosophical tradition. This and other differences, in particular the pronouncement by C. W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant that Jiddu Krishnamurti was the vehicle of a new world teacher, and the reincarnation of Christ, claims Steiner publicly rejected, led to a formal split in 1913.
It wasn't a problem for the Theosophical Society that Steiner rejected the claims that Krishnamurti was a world teacher. A major issue however was that he did not accept members of the Order of the Star into his German section of the Theosophical Society. This went against the undogmatic nature of the Theosophical Society.
Before his break with the Theosophical Society, he said positive things about that organisation.
Rudolf Steiner quotes on the Theosophical Society
Dates checked against this chronology
Books ABOUT Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Steiner: An Introduction to His Life and Work
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Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 05/17/2008)
Teaching Mathematics in Rudolf Steiner Schools: For Classes I-VIII
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Amazon Price: $40.95 (as of 05/17/2008)
The Burning Bush : Rudolf Steiner, Anthroposophy and the Holy Scriptures : Terms & Phrases (Smith, Edward Reaugh, Rudolf Steiner, Anthroposophy, and the Holy Scriptures. Terms and Phrases, V. 1.)
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Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 05/17/2008)
An Introduction to Anthroposophy: Rudolf Steiner's World View
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Amazon Price: $18.00 (as of 05/17/2008)
Rudolf Steiner: An Illustrated Biography
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Steiner and Anthroposophy
Steiner's literary estate is correspondingly broad. Steiner's writings are published in about forty volumes, including books, essays, plays ('mystery dramas'), mantric verse and an autobiography. His collected lectures make up another approximately 300 volumes, and nearly every imaginable theme is covered somewhere here. Steiner's drawings are collected in a separate series of 28 volumes. Many publications have covered his architectural legacy and sculptural work.
(source: wikipedia)
Rudolf Steiner on thought and knowledge
"When we as human beings confront a simple fact, we can rigorously attempt to form a mental picture that exactly corresponds to this fact. This mental picture is then true. Or, we can-whether due to inexactness, lassitude, or even an aversion to truth, that is, out of falseness-form a mental picture that is not connected with the fact, that does not fit the fact.... If we want to develop inner truthfulness, we must never go further than facts of the outer world speak to us. And we must, strictly speaking, attempt to formulate our words in such a way that we only confirm the facts of the outer sensory world.... When we feel an obligation to test the things we say and to find the boundaries within which what we say has validity, then we are contributing to a real inner consolidation of our human feeling for existence."
Rudolf Steiner, lectures from Jan 19 and 20, 1923; German Bibl. Nr: 220; translation CH
from a collection of Rudolf Steiner quotes
Waldorf education
Rudolf Steiner based education
I have to admit being negatively biased on this one. I'm a teacher myself and the excesses in Waldorf education may include the following:
- Not teaching a kid to learn to read, even if it wants to
- Avoiding mathematics in school
[These excesses may or may not be present. A lot depends on the specific school and the specific teacher in the classroom]
That said, in a moderate Waldorf school there are certainly advantages such as:
- A lot of focus on language skills: including foreign language, writing skills, play acting etc.
- Philosophy education for all high school kids. That is: not just the very smart ones.
- Clear school rules and guidelines for students
- Students will not be stimulated only in the mind, but in their emotional and physical lives as well. This is a good thing: our culture does stress mental development a bit much
- Last but not least: artistic development. There will be a lot of clay, water colors, paints, crafts etc. in your kids life. This is good for self-development and spacial intelligence.
Books on Waldorf Education
Understanding Waldorf Education: Teaching from the Inside Out
Amazon Price: $13.37 (as of 05/17/2008)
Waldorf Education: A Family Guide
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 05/17/2008)
The Tales of Tiptoes Lightly: The Bee Who Lost His Buzz, Pumpkin Crow, Lucy Goose and the Half-Egg
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 05/17/2008)
Botany (Waldorf Education Resources S.)
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 05/17/2008)
The Education of the Child: And Early Lectures on Education (Foundations of Waldorf Education, 25) (Foundations of Waldorf Education, 25)
Amazon Price: $16.95 (as of 05/17/2008)
Rudolf Steiner on self knowledge
To truly know the world, look deeply within your own being; to truly know yourself, take real interest in the world.
Verses and Meditations
from a collection of Rudolf Steiner quotes
Meditation
Rudolf Steiner on spiritual development.
- Concentration: practice controlling thought for a few minutes every day
- Will: Perform one positive but relatively insignificant task the same time of the day, every day.
- Equanimity: learn to stabilize fluctuations of pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow.
- Positivity: Seek the positive in all things and events; resist criticizing as a habit.
- Openness: practice being open to new experiences and ideas.
- Rinse and repeat the above
Robert McDermott in 'Modern Esoteric Spirituality, p. 304
Rudolf Steiner Links
- Rudolf Steiner Archives
- An electronic Library and Archive site for the over 6000 collected works of the Austrian born philosopher and founder of Anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner.
- Anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner, Waldorf schools; and their critics
- Anthroposophy of Rudolf Steiner, Waldorf schools; and their critics
- Rudolf Steiner
- Rudolf Steiner, the man, his work and his legacy: Anthroposophy.
- Who was Rudolf Steiner?
- Waldorf teachers informing the public about the basis, philosophy and practice of Waldorf education.
- Rudolf Steiner on the Theosophical Society
- Quotes from the founder of Anthroposophy on theosophy.
- Rudolf Steiner and the Theosophical Society
- The relationship between Rudolf Steiner and the Theosophical Society was a complex and changing one.
- A Reflection on the Anthroposophical Path of Schooling
- Bruce Kirchoff on the place of study, moral growth, and practice (or meditation) in Anthroposophy.
Bio-dynamic Farming
Farming in tune with the environment
What makes bio-dynamic farming truly interesting though is that it is a fully natural type of farming. Organic farming has become big now - with the interest in conserving the environment on the rise. Bio-organic farming has been around since the time of Steiner: the 1920's.
Bio-organic farming has the following principles:
- small, mixed farms
- no pesticides
- care for the soil
- work with the rhythm of nature: moon, stars
- listen to nature
- no soil additives
- special methods in preparing compost
source
Bio-dynamic Farming books
The bio dynamic method of agriculture: An introduction
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The Pfeiffer garden book;: Bio-dynamics in the home garden,
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Macrobiotic diet
Anthroposophical food
Beyond that the main points are:
- Eat a lot of grains, whole grains to be exact
- Eat vegetables and beans(preferably local ones)
- Avoid processed and refined foods
- Chew food well before swallowing
- Not necessarily vegetarian, contrary to some online sources. Most Anthroposophists do eat meat, though they will prefer meat that has been raised according to the methods of bio-organic farming.
Macrobiotic diet books
The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics: A Philosophy for Achieving a Radiant Mind and a Fabulous Body
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Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 05/17/2008)
The Self-Healing Cookbook: Whole Foods To Balance Body, Mind and Moods
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Amazon Price: $12.24 (as of 05/17/2008)
Modern-Day Macrobiotics: Transform Your Diet and Feed Your Mind, Body and Spirit
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Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 05/17/2008)
Reader Feedback
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Tiddledeewinks
I have read about him and the Waldorf schools, now I can learn more! Posted May 08, 2008 |
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EelKat
OMG! I love Rudolf Steiner! He's one of my most favorite people in history! We've got one of his Waldorf schools not far from here, about a hours drive from my house. Posted May 08, 2008 |
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spirituality
Thanks - dates checked and rewritten. Posted April 13, 2008 |
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RinchenChodron
Great man, great lens. 5 of 5 - way to go! You might want to check your dates? Posted April 12, 2008 |
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