12.31.18 - 01.01.19

BTB #2

We live and act within a world whose deeper aspects are hidden from our physical senses. Yet each of us possesses other faculties which, when cultivated can lift the veil that separates us from spiritual knowledge.

So without further ado, I will invite you Between the Bars to consider:

HOW TO KNOW HIGHER WORLDS by Rudolf Steiner.

- Originally appearing as a series of articles in the 1904 journal called Lucifer Gnosis. In this pedagogy, Steiner charts a meditative path that leads both to inner peace and to enhanced powers of the soul, and finally to the lifting of that veil. The road is long but secure, and is open to everyone. Its fruits of inner serenity, strength and wisdom benefit not only the seeker but others as well, and certainly the world stands more than ever in need of insights and actions that are born of the spirit. The Spirit of truth

Q#1 Which human beings have the potential to directly experience the worlds of soul and spirit.

A. p13: "The capacities by which we can gain insights into higher worlds lie dormant within each one of us." Adepts address this as The Great Work, i.e. The liberation of Spirit and Intelligence from the three dimensional prison house of Fear, Ignorance and Superstition.

Q Who can help us achieve this goal?

A p13: "From the beginning of the human race, persons possessing higher faculties guide those who seek to develop these faculties for themselves." Though we also see p.15. "...no one who seeks sincerely will find any barriers to achieving Knowledge and abilities in the higher worlds..." "There is a universal law among initiates that the knowledge due a seeker cannot be withheld. But there is also another universal law that esoteric Knowledge may not be imparted to anyone not qualified to receive it. The more perfect the initiate, the more strictly these two laws are observed."

Q#2. What is the difference between ordinary knowledge and abilities and esoteric knowledge and abilities?

A. p14: "Just as, given the right teaching methods, anyone can learn to write, so too anyone can become a student of esoteric knowledge." The degree of illumination is the main difference between ordinary and esoteric knowledge and abilities. Literacy is learned - all too often occluding occult knowledge. For instance, my dad was an illiterate alcoholic who used to posit profound spiritual truths.

Q#3 What are two spiritual laws regarding spiritual knowledge?

A. p15: "...the knowledge due a seeker cannot be withheld/...esoteric knowledge may not be imparted to anyone not qualified to receive it." Fortunately or unfortunately, we all get what we deserve in this life.

Q #4. Where are the temples of the spirit found today?

A. Blazoned upon the portal of Apollo's temple at Delphi is: Gnothi Seaton,

KNOW THYSELF.

Q#5 What do we need to be before we can receive treasures of the spirit.

A. p16: "Before one can receive the highest treasures of the spirit one must develop definite inner qualities to a specific high degree...of devotion to truth and knowledge. Only those who have acquired this fundamental attribute can become pupils in the esoteric school." Personally, my own experiences in the love of truth prompted me to be an iconoclast where I have discovered treasures galore!

Q#6. What mood of soul is essential as a basic foundation for becoming a pupil in the esoteric school?

A. p18: "Whoever possesses an innate tendency toward feelings of devotion or has been lucky enough to receive an education that cultivated those feelings is well prepared in later life to seek the way to higher knowledge."
p25 "At the beginning of esoteric training, the student is directed first to the path of reverence and to the development of an inner life.

Q When are feelings of reverence appropriate?

A. p.16: "Anyone with any experience in this area knows that those who later became students of esoteric knowledge demonstrate this gift for reverence in childhood." Reverence: Honour or respect felt of shown. DEFERENCE: esp. profound adoring awed respect. Personally my (in)formative youth developed a contempt which despised the nonsensical status quo I couldn't understand, and hence the iconoclast revolt honoured that discontent permitting me to discover the esoteric significance of higher realities I absolutely adore. Consequently, I sing this ancient Vedic hymn:

I SALUTE THE SUPREME TEACHER THE TRUTH, WHOSE NATURE IS BLESS: WHO IS THE GIVER OF THE HIGHEST HAPPINESS WHO IS PURE WISDOM, WHO IS BEYOND ALL QUALITIES AND INFINITE LIKE THE SKY; WHO IS BEYOND WORDS; WHO IS ONE AND ETERNAL; PURE AND STILL; WHO IS BEYOND ALL CHANGE AND PHENOMENA AND WHO IS THE SILENT WITNESS TO ALL OUR THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS; I SALUTE TRUTH, THE SUPREME TEACHER.

Q#7 How do we find the strength to evolve to a higher level?

A p17: "..develop profound feelings that there is something higher." This is what qualifies a contemptuous iconoclast to become an aspiring candidate for initiation in my case, only recently graduating to a degree of Reverent Understanding and admiration of all that is, AS IS.

Q What do feelings of devotion produce?

A p18: "...an inner strength or force that sooner or later leads to knowledge." DEVOTION, LOYALTY, FEALTY, FIDELITY, PIETY mean faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty. FIDELITY implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust or duty. FEALTY implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow. LOYALTY implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce desert, or betray. DEVOTION stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication. PIETY stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental.

For the Love of Truth,

I'm blessed.