The Incarnation of Ahriman It is evident in these seven motifs that, almost and the Asuras without exception, they are connected with the manner of human thought. Either directly or indirectly, they by HANS-WERNER SCHROEDER are consequences of abstract thinking. In contrast to these are the descriptions given concerning the ac­ tivities and efforts of the Asuras. (Translated by Maria St. Goar from “Mitteilungen aus der anthroposophischen Arbeit in Deutschland,” THE ASURAS AS DESCRIBED Easter 1979. Published with permission.) B Y RUDOLF STEINER

In a previous article (Newsletter, Summer 1979), In attempting a survey of the lectures in which we looked to the end of the century and the incarnation Rudolf Steiner mentions the Asuras, we soon notice of Ahriman in the next millennium. In order to fully that there are not many, all told. First, I want to list the grasp the events connected with future develop­ lectures known to me in which the theme is touched ments, it will be necessary to include two additional upon: groups of beings which at the same time broaden the Berlin, May 23, 1904 (German GA93); view. One group concerns the activity of the Asuras in Berlin, October 7 and 17, 1905 (German GA93a); the present and in the future; the other is the activity of Munich, June 2, 1907 Theosophy of the Rosicru- the so called Sun Demon, whose mystery name is cians; Soradt. In this article, we shall mainly study the first. Kassel, June 24, 1907 Theosophy and Rosicrucian- (A subsequent article will deal with Soradt’s activity.) ism; Berlin, May 16, 1908 The Influence of Spiritual Be­ ings Upon Man; PREPARATIONS FOR THE INCARNATION Nuremberg, June 22, 1908 The Apocalypse of St. IN THE NEXT MILLENNIUM John; Stuttgart, August 7, 1908 Universe, Earth and In order to correctly characterize the activities of Man; the Asuras, we shall look once again at the prepara­ Berlin, January 1 and March 22, 1909 The Deed of tions for Ahriman’s incarnation. In the 1979 article, Christ and the Opposing Spiritual Powers; seven lectures were listed in which Ahriman’s incarna­ Duesseldorf, April 21, 1909 The Spiritual Hierar­ tion is referred to by Rudolf Steiner. The time in­ chies and Their Reflection in the Physical World; dicated by Rudolf Steiner was of particular interest to Basel, October 1, 1911 The Etherisation of the us. It became clear that Rudolf Steiner always refers to Blood; the following millennium or to the beginning of it. The Dornach, December 15, 1919 The Mysteries of date of the end of the century is never mentioned in this Light, of Space and of the Earth. connection. When we ask which motifs play a significant role There are thirteen sources of which twelve appear in Rudolf Steiner’s description of the preparations for within seven years, from 1904 to 1911; the last doesn’t this incarnation, we arrive at approximately the follow­ appear until 1919 and there, in close proximity to state­ ing seven. In the above-mentioned lectures, all or some ments concerning the incarnation of Ahriman. are repeatedly referred to. Abstract thinking, the We now seek for answers to three questions in mechanistic, mathematical world view, is designated as Rudolf Steiner’s description: the dominant motif. Six others are listed in addition. How do the Asuras fit into the realm of the adver­ 1. Abstract thinking, a mechanistic, mathematical sary powers? world view. What effects are described? 2. Preservation of the spiritual (libraries). What time span is given for their activity? 3. Faith in figures (statistics). 4. Action without interest (also: “Inability to be en­ WHERE DO THE ASURAS FIT IN? thused about spiritual science”). 5. Factions, disharmony among groups of men, na­ In studying the above-mentioned statements by tional impulses. Rudolf Steiner we soon realize that the Asuras belong 6. Materialistic interpretation of the Gospels neither to the Ahrimanic nor the Luciferic beings, but (leads to hallucinations of Christ). that they constitute a separate group of opposing 7. Establishment of schools for the purpose of mak­ powers. (This despite the fact that Rudolf Steiner occa­ ing people clairvoyant. sionally identifies their name directly with Ahrimanic