The Four Stages of Inner Development and Self-Realization

GA 266I — 9 July 1904, Berlin

Esoteric Lesson

First, a prayer spoken by Dr. Steiner. Then a note that the Masters speak through Dr. Steiner, that he is only the means of expressing the thoughts of the Masters.

Master Morya gives us insight into the goal of human development. It is he who leads humanity to its goal. Master Kuthumi is the one who shows us the way to this goal.

Description of the lower self and the higher self. In every human being there is a lower self that must be overcome.

Then the transience of the body is considered. My body will pass away and your bodies will also disintegrate into their smallest atoms, but the words that are spoken now will not pass away, because we ourselves will become what we are now speaking. This is the seed from which we will one day emerge again.

Thoughts and feelings are realities; they are what provide the material for building what comes later. We must therefore strive to harbor thoughts and feelings that are as high and noble as possible. Through these thoughts and feelings, we are bound to that which is similar to these thoughts and feelings. We form thousands upon thousands of relationships.

There are four degrees, parts, or paths of development.

There are also seven senses: five senses as we know them in physical life, and two senses that have yet to unfold.

Ten centers of power in the human being:

Prana - in the chest;

Apan - in the area of the secretory organs;

Saman - in the navel;

Udan - in the middle of the throat;

Vayu — permeates the entire body;

Kurm – in the eye, helps to open it;

Krikala – in the stomach, causes hunger;

Nag – causes vomiting;

Devadatta – causes yawning;

Dhananjaya – that which does not leave the body even after death.

Prana corresponds to the eight-petaled lotus flower, Udan corresponds to the sixteen-petaled lotus flower. The two-petaled lotus flower is located between the eyebrows.

It has been said of dying: just as one must learn to die, so must one learn to die to one's feelings. But the first thing to learn is to learn to stand, that is, to have a firm footing in the turmoil of life, to know no more fear or anxiety, but to face every event, whatever it may be, calmly and confidently.

Then there are four stages we have to climb. First, we must seek the self, the core within us. Then we will also recognize the non-self. We must seek this center within ourselves, for this center lies in every single being. Everywhere is the center, everywhere is the periphery. You may imagine yourself transported to the outermost limits, but you can find the center everywhere. The earth revolves around the sun; the sun revolves with the earth through the great space of the universe. And next to it, an infinite number of other celestial bodies revolve. Every single being forms a center. No humans like us live on those celestial bodies. There are beings living on them, but not humans. Humans have no connection with them; there is no relationship. They can only achieve this relationship if they rise inwardly to a level where all those beings have their common foundation.

The second is to bring the astral body to life, that is, to feel oneself as “I” in the astral sea.

The third is to overcome the astral sea and attain deep silence.

The fourth is to hear the voice of silence. This is where the Master calls out as if from outside: That is you!

The best image for this development is the following: Once you have found your self, you imagine yourself sailing out onto the great ocean. Nothing can be seen on the surface of the water. As far as the eye can see, there is only water and sky. The ends of the sea are limited by the horizon. On this surface, we imagine ourselves as a wave in the moving sea, as a single wave among many waves. When we feel truly at one, we must calm the waves of the sea. Deep silence must descend. Nothing can be heard, nothing can be seen. The water in which we are immersed is completely calm. No movement can be felt. In this complete silence, in this complete seclusion, the voice of the master will be able to sound; it will no longer be drowned out by the noise of everyday life. This is followed by the practical exercise. We all practiced this image by placing ourselves in the thoughts of the I, then in the waves of the sea, then in the deep silence of the sea.