The Spiritual Guidance of Man and of Mankind BY DR. RUDOLF STEINER EDITED BY H. COLLISON THE AUTHORIZED ENGLISH TRANSLATION COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY H. COLLISON The copyright, the publishing rights, and the editorial responsibility for the translation of the works of Rudolf Steiner, Ph.D., with the exception of those already under the editorial supervision of Max Gysi, are now vested in Mr. Harry Collison, M.A., Oxon. PREFACE In the following pages are reproduced the contents of some lectures delivered by me at Copenhagen in June last, in connection with the General Meeting of the Scandinavian Theosophical Society. What is here set forth was therefore spoken to an audience acquainted with occult science, or theosophy. A similar acquaintance is assumed in this work. It is throughout based on the foundations given in my books, “Theosophy” and “An Outline of Occult Science.” To anyone taking up the present work who is unacquainted with these premises, it must needs appear the strange outpouring of mere fancy, but the above-named books point out the scientific basis of everything stated in this one. I have completely re-written the shorthand report of the lectures; nevertheless it has been my intention on publishing them, to preserve the character given in oral delivery. This is specially mentioned because it is in general my opinion that the form of work intended for reading should be quite different from that used in speaking. I have expressed this principle of mine in all my earlier writings, as far as they were intended for the press. If in this instance I have worked out my subject in closer connection with the spoken word, it is because I have reasons for letting the work appear at this juncture, and an adaptation completely in accordance with the above rule would take a great deal of time. RUDOLF STEINER. _Munich, August 20, 1911._ The Spiritual Guidance of Man and of Mankind LECTURE I. A man reflecting on his own nature soon becomes conscious that there is within him a second and more powerful self than the one bounded by his thoughts, his feelings and the fully-conscious impulses of his will. He becomes aware that he is subject to that second self, as to a higher power. It is true that at first he will feel it to be a lower entity as compared with the one limited by his intelligent and fully-conscious soul, with its inclinations towards the Good and True. And at first he will strive to overcome that lower entity.