Dornach - the Centre for Spiritual Science?
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Dornach - The Centre for Spiritual Science? © Mark Willan 2001/2006 DORNACH - THE CENTRE FOR SPIRITUAL SCIENCE?............................. 1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................... 3 The Inner Heritage Outside the Anthroposophical Society in Britain and Italy .............................11 The Spiritual Background in France 2001 .............................................................................................15 Practical Aspects of the Inner Heritage ..................................................................................................19 Comments on Publications on Society in French...................................................................................37 Spiritual Science Betrayed by Anthroposophists...................................................................................38 Spiritual Science Betrayed - Continued. ................................................................................................41 Comments and Updates .............................................................................................................................44 Comments on Michaelmas Congress 2001..............................................................................................49 Suggestions for Future Working ..............................................................................................................53 Comments upon an Article Issued by a Vorstand Member.................................................................60 The 2nd Class and the 3rd Class..................................................................................................................63 Preliminary Conclusions............................................................................................................................71 PART TWO ................................................................................................... 75 The Legitimacy of the School of Spiritual Science at Dornach ...........................................................75 Invitation ....................................................................................................................................................101 Letter from 1992 .......................................................................................................................................119 APPENDICES ............................................................................................. 122 Appendices to “On Immortal Love” by Massimo Scaligero..............................................................123 The Path of Thinking as a Balance ........................................................................................................132 Research on Spiritual Relations .............................................................................................................143 Eyes Made by the Light ...........................................................................................................................148 - 2 of 148 - Introduction 2006 Update Since the words contained in this document were written, much has changed at Dornach. The signs are, in brief, that a more responsible attitude to spiritual reponsibility is starting to take hold. First of all, for those who do not understand the reasons for this whole volume, I would just set out a (modified) posting to an inner workgroup from this year-end, followed by the original introduction from 2004, and a call to spirit-arms in 2006. Lastly there is a brief summary fo the latest considerations on this topic. A certain degree of familiarity with the theoretical basis of Anthroposophical Spirit Science as founded by Rudolf Steiner, and further developed by other authors, is assumed throughout. Motivation I feel I must ask each of us to consider why we are doing inner work/Anthroposophy/Spiritual Science. Not because I want anyone's answer - but because asking the question itself is fundamental. Assuming we can each of us become clairvoyant (as defined by RS in Knowledge of Higher Worlds/Initiation) - which is in itself a big assumption for some - why should we bother? Does it make our lives richer? Does it deepen our understanding? Does it satisfy an inner need? Does it make us feel we are better off than the materialists around us? Does it make us stronger, and more able to cope with life's problems? Does it make us feel improved as people? Does is make us feel we are making a worthwhile contribution to humanity? Does it enable us to re-enliven the deadness of materialist thinking and truly re- enliven the spirit world around and within us? Personally, I say yes to all of these. - 3 of 148 - But I am also aware, that by saying yes to any one of them, I am in fact just showing that my motives are selfish - and by saying yes to them all i am just being very selfish. And there are plenty more such questions to be asked. So why bother? My personal answer is that, because of my answers to all of them, I can see that all mankind could benefit enormously from the knowledge that has become personal experience in me. So I wish to pass it on, and the techniques used in achieving those results, as faithfully as possible. But is that enough? I am aware (through Massimo Scaligero) that it can be the destiny of "initiates" in Spiritual Science to prepare bodies for new, more spiritual generations coming in to incarnate, through the experience of spiritual love. I have been blessed to live through this experience personally, and to have witnessed a number of such cases. But is that enough? Mankind is at a time of crisis - and there are heavy spirit burdens to be borne, which can only be taken on by people who are aware enough of what is going on in the spirit realm - the battle for mankind. So I can take on personal sacrifice, having learned how to suffer and go beyond pain, and by using the system of atonement and my personal love of free action (as in Phil. of Freedom), to help bring about the inflow of the Christ/Redemption/Resurrection forces that mankind needs as a whole. Is this enough? Is it enough for us spirit workers to re-enliven the spirit in our thinking, through the techniques we have learned by inner working, for us to have an impact not just on those around us, but also on the world as a whole, in a way that is beneficial to humanity and all levels of existence, from mineral to the highest hierarchies? Is this enough? For the time being I cannot answer, because any answer for the time being would be personal, and it needs to be impersonal -that is why I am offering the question to the group. What do you perceive of the ethical issues here? I await any answers with interest - even silence is its own answer. - 4 of 148 - Original Introduction from 2004 The Anthroposophical Society puts itself forward as the sole legitimate provider of Spiritual Science, as heirs to Rudolf Steiner. But in the past abuses have been perpetrated by those who have never practised the inner path. Mankind desperately needs access to the techniques Steiner bequeathed to it, so that qualified souls can work for their betterment, and thus contribute to the general progress of humanity. This cannot be done by those who seek merely to make Steiner’s assertions a form of book-learning, without the experieces involved in verifying the foundations of those statements. Such people have historically sought and obtained power within the Anthropospohical Society. They still effectively block the access of mankind to its spiritual heritage by practising spurious secrecy, and by delaying publication of fundamental texts on the basis of alleged spiritual legitimacy, This can no longer be tolerated. For this reason, an independent means of working has been put forward in my “Set of Keys”, so that anyone who wants full access to the New Mysteries founded by Steiner, can have it free from such blockage. Some people within the Anthroposophical Society are well intentioned, and some have in fact worked inwardly, and can be considered as guiding bretheren. But they are not alone, and above all the Anthroposophical Society is NOT the sole source of access to Spiritual Science. What follows are extracts from correspondence between the author and members of the Vorstand, which is the worldwide guiding body within the Anthroposophical Society. It must be stressed that the views expressed are the author’s own, even if shared by a number of other people who are inwardly active, and have been so for a number of years. They have been formed based on observations of the difference between book- learning and the actual practise Spiritual Science, in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, made over a period of about 30 years. - 5 of 148 - The author remains a member of the Anthroposphical Society in the hope that its Spiritual legitimacy can and will be re-established, hopefully within his remaining lifetime. A Call to Spirit-Arms I am aware of the sacrifice (in terms of personal illness also) made by the inner act of assuming the karma of the Anthroposophical Society that has been made by members of the present Vorstand. As I have previously stated, the Vorstand has our inner support in this initiative – and that inner support goes as far as sharing in the karmic burden on the part of certain individuals who work inwardly. I wish you to be aware that this is not taken on lightly, nor without awareness of the consequences