Second Lecture

If man today wants to feel what he actually is, he thinks first of all – even if he has other theories that are even more beautiful – of what he is within his body, within his skin, really within his skin. It is difficult to evoke a clear idea about this, because it is true and is not believed at all in the present day, because people like to delude themselves with all kinds of idealism in order to hide the fact that basically they only believe in themselves, insofar as they are enclosed in their own skin. But this transition had to take place. It had to take place for the reason that man must gradually realize that what is within his skin is, in a sense and within certain limits, prepared by his karma. What had existed as Greek fate man had not prepared for himself, it was connected with his lineage. What man of the future will feel as karma will consciously connect him with other men. Man will have to consciously feel his karma as something real. As you can imagine, it is still infinitely difficult for today's man to feel karma consciously. It is accepted as a theory, but to feel karma consciously is still very, very difficult for people today. I once said: Suppose we receive a slap in the face from someone. Certainly, outwardly, insofar as we are enclosed in our body and are beings between birth and death, we have to defend ourselves against it. But the higher point of view must be applied: Who gave you the slap in the face? Who put the one who gave you the slap in the face there so that he could give you the slap in the face? He would not be there if you had not placed him there through the way you are connected with him through karma. Think how terribly difficult it is for a person in the present time to think like this! Christians believe that they are people of the present, but they will still follow in thought the One who advises them: If someone strikes you on the left cheek, turn the other also—outwardly it will not work. And this distinction between inward and outward is not yet made by people. It becomes quite hopelessly difficult for them to somehow live in karma.