The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One

GA 264 — Berlin

To Martha Langen in Eisenach

regarding the fundamentals of esoteric schooling¹

Dear Mrs. Langen!

Only today can I answer your letter.² However, the answer could only be given orally in full; but I would like to send you a few comments in writing first, so that you can see whether it is currently practical and desirable for you to make the journey to Hannover.

The way in which Theosophy has to be spread in our time only too easily gives rise to misunderstandings about its foundations, for example about occultism and its training. One such misunderstanding, for example, is that Theosophy must urge every person who accepts it in any form to undergo occult training. But that is absolutely not the case. Occult truths can only be discovered by those who have undergone occult training; they can be understood by the most ordinary human intellect. And they can be applied in life on the basis of such an understanding acquired by the ordinary powers of the soul. I myself will never publicly teach anything that, though found by occult means, could not be grasped by the ordinary powers of the soul if one only chose to apply them. Theosophy is necessary for our age; and humanity would have to fall into absolute desolation and universal infertility at the present point in its development if Theosophy did not flow to it as a mighty stream of power. However, it would be a bad thing if every Theosophist also wanted to become an occult disciple. That would be – forgive the trivial comparison – just as if, because all people need clothes, everyone had to become a tailor. All people need Theosophy under certain conditions; esoteric training, few.

On the other hand, however, no one can be denied this training if they are suited to it. For however many may seek it, there will not be too many of them for the time being. So in a sense, nothing stands in the way of anyone's occult training. Since many people today are seeking this training under such circumstances, misunderstandings cannot be avoided even among students. Today everyone thinks that what is good for him must also be good for others. Thus general opinions about the training are formed which are basically as incorrect as possible. The occult teacher is naturally obliged to say that the path taken by a person who is more austere in sexual matters is different from that taken by a person who does not shirk the task of serving humanity in this respect. Whatever the occult teacher says in this direction is soon reinterpreted: asceticism is a condition of occult development. In fact, something quite different is true. Asceticism in the sexual relationship facilitates the occult path, makes it more comfortable in a certain respect. Thus, anyone who, out of pure egoism of knowledge, wants above all to “see” can promise himself that he will soon reach a certain goal through a certain asceticism in this direction. But there can be no obligation to such asceticism, only an entitlement that one must first acquire. It consists solely in the possibility of giving mankind a full substitution if one withdraws from the otherwise existing obligation to give the opportunity to embody souls. So you see that asceticism in this direction must not be a rule, but can only be granted to some occultists under certain conditions.

In any case, if you approach occultism with these prerequisites in mind, you will easily understand that any kind of selfishness, even if it is the most hidden and masked, will not get you far in occult training. Of course, a woman who does not shirk her feminine duties will soon make more progress than one who, regardless of the fate of humanity, strives for “knowledge” in basically selfish renunciation, provided she does the right thing.

This probably answers a large part of the questions in your letter. No one can be distracted from their life's work in occult training if they are not going the wrong way. Of course, you can find many so-called “students” who are unsuitable for useful work. But one forms a false judgment when one compares these “students” with those who, without wanting to know anything about Theosophy, are solving their life's tasks. One should not compare the former with the latter, but ask oneself: How useless would these first be without Theosophy? And regarding the second, the right question would be: How would the content of their work be enhanced if they could incorporate Theosophy, or even schooling, into their lives?

I could not recommend that you “practice” without guidance either. I would not like to persuade anyone to entrust themselves to the “training”. It must be each person's own free decision.

The processes of your inner and outer life push you towards this training. With the help of the training you will certainly be able to solve your life's tasks more easily and more surely. Your husband has a much harder time with Theosophy than you do. Only someone who knows that a scholarly education today piles up almost insurmountable inner obstacles to the theosophical truths can judge that. And on the other hand, perhaps nothing is as suitable for overcoming these obstacles as a practical occupation, as it is currently opening up for your husband.

Your training will only be the right one if it takes nothing away from you and adds a great deal to what you already have: health, the strength to live, the security to work and the inner peace that a person needs not for themselves but for their fellow human beings. No work serves humanity that does not arise from inner peace. Every work that arises from an inwardly unsatisfied soul destroys the healthy development of humanity, wherever it takes place.

If you want to try it, after these remarks, I will offer you every possible support. I will be in Hanover from September 21 in the evening until October 4. If you would like to announce your presence there by card, I will arrange everything for a thorough discussion. Address: Dr. Rudolf Steiner, currently in Hanover, Ferdinandstraße 11 at Fleissner.

Give your dear husband my warmest regards and accept warm greetings from

Dr. Rudolf Steiner