Transforming Passions: Esoteric Practices for Astral Body Purification

GA 266I — 6 December 1908, Hamburg

Esoteric Lesson

Deeply moved by the moment, I want to jot down a few things. Later, I couldn't continue. Will I be able to now?

We heard about the effects of human passions, how they have a different meaning for esotericists than for exotericists. Vanity, ambition, and pride manifest themselves in the third body [astral body] as sharp spikes. These points become daggers that pierce and tear the astral body. In exoteric individuals, the physical (?) effects (at night?) have a balancing effect on this devastation, preventing destruction. It is different for esoteric individuals. They have no forces to counteract this, as they use these forces elsewhere. (Drawing: Astral body, spikes at the top caused by vanity, ambition, pride.)

How can he combat vanity, ambition, pride? Not directly, not by thinking about these vices, but at the moment when a feeling of vanity arises, by directing his thoughts to something lofty, as theosophy teaches us. One might object that some people who concern themselves exclusively with lofty things are not free from vanity and pride; there is even a great danger that, precisely because of their preoccupation with higher things, they will become arrogant toward their fellow human beings. That is why this admonition must be understood correctly. The exercise should be carried out at that moment.

Envy produces a milky cloud in the third body; as soon as envy arises in the mind, we must try to admire the good and beautiful in the person we envy, awaken respect in ourselves, and the envy will disappear.

When anger and rage seize the soul and outbursts of fury threaten, it is difficult to dampen the heat in the moment. But even then there is a remedy for those who suffer from such temptations. They should lie down quietly for half an hour every day and not think about anger, envy, and so on, but about something completely different—spiritual truths, the laws of the universe, etc.—but they should strive to hold on to a particular thought for a quarter of an hour. This will lead to them having the strength, when the occasion arises, to stifle anger and rage as soon as they arise, and eventually they will no longer trouble them at all. Anger and vehemence clump together in the third body.

Curiosity creates wrinkles in the third body. It is important to think of the greater self.

Addition in the record:

Additions and corrections:

Vanity and ambition are necessary for the exoteric; they serve as an impulse to move forward. The harmful effects on the first body are counteracted by the third body at night. This is where the counteraction comes in.