View source for Initiation


Rudolf Steiner wrote the book "How to Know the Higher Worlds". In many lecture cycles he elaborated on the various traditions in initiation: the Christian, Rosecrucian, the Eastern/Indian. He described the initiation process in the mystery schools in the different cultural ages and traditions (persian, egyptian, etc). 

However as the scope is Spiritual Science which should not limit itself to Rudolf Steiner's teaching, in this area we also include the work of another initiate/adept who incarnated into the body of Franz Bardon. Bardon's Initiation into Hermetics (IIH) is a base manual with practical exercises for initiation. Bardon wrote two more books, PME and KTQ, and thre also have been publications of notes and materials from his student group done by Dieter Rüggeberg and 

Steiner provided an introductory basis with his book KHW, but he never wrote the follow up book he intended initially. Bardon is much more hardcore magical training, without much explanations or theory, all for the student to practice and experience.

Interestingly enough, not only are both very consistent and compatible, but in the many lectures Steiner also explains the workings of the exercises that are described also in Bardon's manuals. For example conscious breathing, concentration exercices .. but also the PME/KTQ. 

It is true that Steiner was offering the rosecrucian initiation, whereas one could say Bardon is more egyptian-rooted hermetics such as theurgy and magic. 

Nevertheless it is our thesis that both Steiner and Bardon were linked to the White Brotherhood, and similarly so for Daskalos and Peter Dounov. Although these masters have their own style and flavour, the core essence of the teachings is still the same. And investigation shows alignment in many ways between the mission and teachings of the above-mentioned individualities. 

So the scope of this chapter is not to provide Initiation 'documentation', for this I refer to KHW and IIH. However the intention here is to cross-link Steiner's explanations of the underlying mechanics of the base exercises such as meditation and concentration, and also lay out the contextual landscape positioning the various traditions in initiation.