The Sun Mystery and the Mystery of Death and Resurrection

These lectures were given in 1922, midway between World War I and Steiners death in 1925. They will be of particular interest to anyone wanting to comprehend Rudolf Steiners mature understanding of his mission: enchristing the world. The first two lectures constitute a call to arms or return to basics. Steiner speaks existentially and phenomenologically, building upon recognizable descriptions of actual experiences. His theme is the three states of consciousness (waking, dreaming, and dreamless sleep), and he shows how these ordinary human functions have initiatory possibilities. The next four lectures deal with the evolution of consciousness in relation to the universal significance of the Christ event. Through the resurrection, Christs being entered earthly evolution. As a result, we see the world differently. Where ancient humanity experienced, Not I but the divine spirit around me, we can experience, Not I, but the Christ in me. With this insight, we reach the heart of this volumeesoteric Christianity. For Rudolf Steiner, the most important task for human beings is to learn to overcome death by uniting with the Christ, who overcame death. Humanitys survival depends upon the enchristing of the world. It is the purpose of Anthroposophy to bring this reality into world evolution, to enable all religions and all human beings to experience the new reality.