Vienna Esoteric Lesson: Self-Knowledge and Mantric Wisdom

GA 266III — 30 September 1923, Vienna

Esoteric Lesson

At the request of Ludwig Polzer-Hoditz, Rudolf Steiner held an esoteric lecture for a small group during the lectures he gave in Vienna in September/October 1923. According to the notes in a little book of sayings by Polzer-Hoditz in the Rudolf Steiner Archive, the lecture took place on Sunday, September 30. The sayings recorded are the Indian mantra: Satyam gnanam ... and the German version: Ewiges Sein, unendliche Gnade ... (Eternal Being, infinite Grace ...) as well as the three-part mantra: “O man, know thyself ...” [see page 499f.).

According to the report by Hans Erhard Lauer, who was able to attend the lesson, approximately 20 people were present: “Rudolf Steiner first recited an Indian mantra and concluded with the class mantra ‘O man, know thyself ...’ and the temple legend.”¹

According to a letter from Polzer to the Executive Council of the General Anthroposophical Society dated February 27, 1930, Rudolf Steiner had allowed him in the fall of 1923, “when he gave an esoteric lesson in Vienna at my request, to continue this and expand the esoteric circle.” According to Hans Erhard Lauer's report, Rudolf Steiner told Polzer that he could repeat this from time to time. Polzer did so, but only once or twice, because shortly afterwards the Christmas Conference took place in Dornach and the First Class was established.