The Higher Education of the Soul - From “The Way of Initiation” by Dr. Rudolf Steiner (vegetarian), Part 2 of 2

Let us now continue with the extract from the chapter “The Higher Education of the Soul” from Rudolf Steiner’s book “The Way of Initiation,” also known as “How to Attain Knowledge of the Higher Worlds Initiation.”

“Many people grow impatient or skeptical, because they have for years cultivated certain qualities of the soul and yet clairvoyance has not ensued. They have developed only a few qualities and have allowed others to run wild. The gift of clairvoyance first manifests itself when all those qualities that do not permit the development of the latent faculties are suppressed.”

“By thoughts of such a kind, the mode of action and the character of the student will become permeated with gentleness, one of the most essential qualities for the reception of occult teaching. Harshness obscures that internal image which ought to be evoked by the eye of the soul, while by gentleness many obstacles are cleared from the way, and the inner organs opened.” “Along with this gentleness another trait will presently be developed in the soul. He will make a quiet estimate of all the subtleties in the soul-life around him, without considering the emotions of his own soul. And if this condition has been attained, the soul-emotions in the environment of others will have such an effect on him that the soul within him grows, and, growing, becomes organized, as a plant expands in the sunlight.”

“Finally: ‘Make no attempt whatever to attract any of these higher powers to yourself by an effort of the will.’ These are instructions that every occult student receives from his teacher at the entrance of the way. If he observes them, he then improves himself; and if he does not observe them, all his labor is in vain; but they are difficult of achievement for him only who has not patience and perseverance.”

“Suddenly, while tranquilly seated in his quiet chamber, light envelops him, the walls become transparent, they vanish away, and a new world expands before his opened eyes, or is audible to his awakened spirit.”