118. Anthroposophy and Science II

1.) Anthroposophy seeks to address the burning issues of human life from the spirit that has developed in modern times as a scientific one. It works in harmony with this spirit of science. Science itself denies this.

2.) Anthroposophy must come to results that begin where science would like to end; but it must also resort to types of research that are unusual in this science.

3.) The defining characteristic of this science is that it concludes at a certain stage of human development. It makes use of sensory observation and experimentation, and also of the combining mind. Through these, it sets up the processes of the sensory world in such a way that they can provide answers to questions. This results in either “limits to knowledge of nature” or “philosophical speculation”. Inwardly, “mysticism” or doubt.

4.) Anthroposophy aims to become aware of other abilities in humans and to consciously apply them. The research method is based on the development of such abilities.

5) It initially trains the ability to think. This is done by connecting with memory. One must have the courage to know oneself. Ideas that are manageable are brought into the center of consciousness. One can speak of an elasticity of the brain. As soon as one has managed to expand the boundaries of knowledge by changing one's self, one has arrived at the imagination. But one does not change what serves healthy life. In this way, one first arrives at the formative forces of the body. One no longer merely places the formative life into the organism, but into the external world.

6.) One thus arrives at the knowledge of the [effect of the] emotional world on man. It is lust that evokes mystical tendencies and fear that leads to limits of knowledge. Regulation of this life leads to the knowledge of a world quite independent of the body. Through this, one gets to know the world of spiritual beings. An inner knowledge of man is not possible without this. One comes to know the formation of the rhythmic system. It is knowledge through inspiration. The prenatal world and the one that leads beyond death.

7) The self-education of the will. This leads to the recognition of a second human being. This is the one that is built up from the environment and cannot intervene in the fixed organization. It is the human being who carries the soul through the gate of death.

8.) Sleep and waking. During waking, not only the powers of imagination are active in the body, but also those of inspiration and intuition. During sleep, inspiration and intuition must be limited to the metabolism and a part of the rhythmic system. They do not take hold of the head system.

9.) The experiences of the spiritual researcher: Regarding imagination: oppression. But only mentally. The healthy way of thinking counteracts it. Regarding inspiration: world suffering. It is in [breaks off]