PUBLISHER'S PREFACE FOR
GOETHE'S SECRET REVELATION
Trismegistus Press is pleased
to re-publish this rare volume of Rudolf Steiner's early writings.
Steiner was most influenced by Goethe, and especially by his greatest
work, Faust. The Faust legend allegorically describes the development
of Western civilization which fostered an insatiable thirst for knowledge
and intellect at the expense of wisdom of the heart.
The theme of Goethe's Secret
Revelation is that the process of initiation is followed by a
loss of innocence and a struggle for survival in the pursuit of
Truth. The trials and tribulations of everyday life are the proving
ground for the Initiate. Eventually, we regain our innocence through
consciousness of our Inner Self.
Steiner's message, like Goethe's
Faust, is divided into two parts, the outer and the inner worlds,
the exoteric and the esoteric. The first section deals with the
fulfilment of worldly desires at the cost of the soul. The second
part deals with Faust's redemption through understanding altruistic
beauty, compassion and Love. The lesson Steiner brings to this work
is that the inner side of life must balance the outer world for
harmonious growth to take place.
In today's world, the technocratic,
mechanistic, scientific approach to life may desensitize us to our
inner soul consciousness. We re-release this book to illustrate
what may occur when the power of knowledge is unleashed without the
heart wisdom guiding it. Goethe's Secret Revelation also
reawakens a vision of unlimited possibilities for a new world filled
with the spirit of Love and Truth.
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