How to Know Higher Worlds

Rating:
Summary: fantastic
Review: Although I have not yet fully completed this book, I have to say this has to be one of the greatest books ever written! "How to know higher worlds" has drastically changed the way I consider myself and the world around me. This book is a must have for those searching to enrich their inner (and somewhat outer) lives. Steiner introduces many basic esoteric priciples and clears up a lot of the stigma revolving around modern occultism. This book is a fantastic basis for the beggining occultist to take their first steps into the spiritual world. Most of the books content involves conditioning of the spiritual senses and occult philosophies. So, if you are seriously considering awakening yourself to the spiritual world, Steiner is a fantastic stepping stone and this book is a definite must have.

Rating:
Summary: A Manual for Living in this World
Review: Even if one is not interested in knowing about and experiencing higher worlds, this book is a great guide to living, full of wisdom and insight. A true spiritual path is also a path toward becoming a mature human being, which may not be terribly exciting to people seeking spiritual fireworks or wanting to promote egoistic aims. This path is one of selflessness and the strengthening of attention; both needed in an self-centered world suffering from an ever increasing attention deficit disorder. Steiner only speaks of what he has experienced personally. He is not a guru and expects no one to take his word for the truth of what he says. He encourages one to be open minded, try the exercises with patience and consistency(harder than one might think)and verify the truth for one's self.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most accessible of Steiner's works...
Review: I've read a vast assortment of Steiner's books and lecture series, but this book is far and away the best. There's really more information in Outline of Esoteric Science, but it's not nearly as easy to read and incorporate as How to Know Higher Worlds. This book is an invaluable aid in understanding the place of humanity in our universe.

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece written by the master
Review: In "How to Know Higher Worlds", Steiner undertakes the task of introducing the reader to the requirements of thought-life needed to percieve the higher processes of life and the cosmos. He provides a path of systematic development, for the faculties latent in each person, by which the development of a specific spiritual sensory organ may be cultivated. Once this is achieved, one is able to distinguish and move about with certainty in the subtle inner world of the human psyche, which is then shown to be interconnected to a vast realm of archetypal and spiritual forces which act upon the development of the cosmos. This book distinguishes itself as one of the definitive references on inner self-transformation, providing a path to a true self-knowledge, and expansion of one's empathetic relationship to the world.

Rating:
Summary: glittery feel-good, ego-flattering, metaphysical fairy tales
Review: Like Blavatsky and Bailey, twisted scripture, lies and theosophical racism paraded within the modern myth of "spiritual evolution" about sums it up.

Rating:
Summary: A book to show you the way
Review: Steiner explains in this great guide the reasons why we should walk the spiritual path to self-realization and how this happens if we so decide find the courage to do it. He talks about karma, higher beings, higher worlds, reincarnation, initiation, etc based on his own experiences. He also gives many practical excercises in it.

Steiner who had a highly developed intellect and spiritual faculties well-awakened makes use of his genius to explain the path in a simple and easy to understand way. I was shocked at how easy it was for me to read it, compared to some of his other important writings!

This book is essential and extremely important for anyone who is interested in learning about the path and higher worlds.

Also highly recommended is Samael Aun Weor who also wrote extensively as Steiner did.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Five Basic Books
Review: Steiner's written authorship was limited to a handful of written works and this one is the most accessible and thought-provoking.

With 1000's of lectures some available in book form (catalogued in German with English editions secondary), Steiner himself pointed out that his written works were intended for a reading audience, whereas the lectures were in the oral tradition, originally not intended for print and largely contextual within the time, place and attendence.

This is a great place to start to learn more about this spiritual Da Vinci. It focuses on his spiritual philosphy with supporting excercises. His Theosophy is transitional in that it bridges his roots in Theosophy with his founding of Anthroposophy. His Philsophy of Freedom is helpful in understanding his development. For Steiner the man, see his Autobiography.

From there the inquirer is encouraged to study his lectures as supplements to his basic books.