Death and Immortality in the Light of Spiritual Science

GA 69d — 9 October 1913, Bergen

27. The Riddle of Life

Bergens Tidende, October 10, 1913, p. 5, translation

Dr. Rudolf Steiner. The Theosophical Movement. This man is the leader of the “anthroposophical” branch of the Theosophical Movement. He came here to Bergen with a whole group of followers and students and yesterday gave a public lecture at the Lodge on “The Mysteries of Life.” It was an interesting encounter: the tall, dark figure, the striking features, the pronounced hand movements, the peculiar way of speaking with closed eyes, the clear voice that could rise to a stirring intensity — everything was in harmony with the mystical teachings proclaimed in his lecture. When the speaker began with an apology for not speaking Norwegian, it was unnecessary; the peculiar lecture kept the audience's interest alive in his [the speaker's] beautiful Austrian-tinged German.

The speaker began by emphasizing that his science (“spiritual science” [in the German text]) was new to the audience of our time. A new research method had been put into practice here, a spiritual laboratory. Anthroposophy was based on experiments with the spirit and the soul. Spiritualism showed the urge to explore the eternal world of the spirit, but it did so through external experiments, which is why it was mistaken. The result of spiritual science was that human life was not confined to birth and death; far-reaching forces gathered and worked in this physical life. At death, the soul breaks through the barriers of physical life and attains a spiritual life. This is the solution to the great mysteries of death, immortality, and fate. Their solution sheds light on the whole of human life. In every soul, these mysteries lie hidden: Why?

Now that 3-400 years of natural science have passed, the answer is new. Natural science does not have the answer here; it has made these questions into even greater mysteries. Spiritual science wants to use its results as seeds for a new harvest. But it does not contradict natural science. — The same is true of religion. Religious people will reconcile themselves to the new teaching, just as they did with the teachings of Copernicus. — The goal is the enhancement of life.

Just as mysterious as death is sleep, “the brother of death.” But life does not stop during sleep. The soul lives on, leaving the body and becoming independent. Through careful exercise of his mental powers, especially his will, the spiritual scientist can reach a state where he can bring about a conscious sleeping state. He can sleep and yet be conscious of everything his soul experiences in sleep.

The exercise is done through meditation, concentration, contemplation (devotion, self-immersion, reflection). It is a matter of spiritual chemistry. The chemist liberates the basic substances, the spiritual scientist his mental abilities. Thoughts and feelings are freed from their material form. One transforms one's soul life, turning it into something else. Ultimately, one attains what the ancient mystics called “standing at the gate of death.” One sees beyond this life, into one's past and future existences. This is often pursued in a dilettantish manner, as when someone claims to have been this or that in a previous existence. Individual boundaries disappear from the view of the spirit. The spiritual scientist sees by feeling forces, but he sees through veils. We experience all this outside the body.

But aren't these hallucinations or illusions? No! These are connected with the desire life of human beings. Old desires and wishes appear in hallucinations. Here, however, we are freed from them; here, life is shaped according to new laws. Life becomes preparation for new life. The solution is called immortality and perfection.

Dr. Rudolf Steiner finally summarized his speech in the following words [in German]:

Speaking to the human senses
The things in the vastness of space
They change in the course of time.
Experiencing, the human soul penetrates
Through the boundless vastness of space,
And, undeterred by the passage of time, Enters the realm of eternity.

Among his students and followers, the following can be mentioned, who stayed at the Hotel Norge: Author Bugajoff with his wife from Moscow, Dir. Noll, Kassel, Mrs. von Vossmold, Munich, Countess Moltke, ditto, Countess Kalckreuth, ditto, von Rainer, Berlin, Countess Hamilton, Stockholm, Mrs. von Christoforoff, Moscow, Mrs. von Reden, Miss von Lowrentz, and others.