Table of Contents
Rudolf Steiner on Moses and the Miracles of the Red Sea
Rudolf Steiner began by addressing a question regarding the miracles associated with Moses in the Bible, specifically the parting of the Red Sea. He emphasized that this event was not a sudden miracle but a result of Moses’ knowledge, particularly from his education in Egyptian mysteries, where he learned both spiritual and natural sciences.
Steiner explained that Moses understood the ebb and flow of the sea and timed the crossing to occur during low tide when a sandbank was exposed. The miracle, therefore, lay in Moses’ knowledge, not supernatural intervention.
The Ancient Tibetan Culture and Its Decline
In response to a question about Tibetan culture and its potential decadence, Steiner traced its origins back to ancient Atlantean times. Steiner explained that, long ago, much of Europe was submerged, and the continent we now call Atlantis was above water.
The culture from this ancient time was preserved in Tibet, specifically in underground caves and rock formations. Over time, this culture became less suitable for modern conditions, leading to its decline.
Steiner highlighted that the dense mist and lighter air of those times allowed for different ways of living, and people communicated through scratched signs on rocks rather than paper or parchment.
He further discussed how the Dalai Lama’s soul was believed to reincarnate in successive leaders, but this practice became corrupted over time.
European Influence in Asia and the Future of Cultural Exchange
Steiner discussed the role Europeans might play in Asia’s future. He acknowledged that European missionaries had little success in converting Asians due to the differences in cultural and spiritual values.
Asians, according to Steiner, were more impressed by ancient wisdom and symbols, such as the swastika, than by modern European scientific or technological advances.
He suggested that instead of imposing European culture, Europeans should respect and incorporate Asian traditions into their efforts, much like Alexander the Great had done by respecting local customs while introducing Greek culture.
Steiner critiqued modern European attitudes, particularly the tendency to impose theories without understanding local realities.
He argued that Europeans must rediscover their own spiritual knowledge through anthroposophy to have meaningful exchanges with Asian cultures. Only by valuing ancient wisdom and the spiritual dimension of culture could Europeans help reverse Asia’s perceived cultural decline.
Steiner’s Perspective on the Decline of Western Civilization
In discussing the decline of the West, Steiner referenced Oswald Spengler’s work, The Decline of the West. He agreed with the idea that European civilization was in decline but criticized Spengler’s vision of a future dominated by brute force and conquest.
Instead, Steiner argued that a revival of spiritual knowledge was necessary to counter this decline. He noted that early Christianity and Europe’s spiritual heritage had been lost during the migrations of the 3rd to 7th centuries, and that the superficial understanding of religion, as exemplified by Luther’s Bible translation, had contributed to this spiritual loss.
Conclusion
Steiner concluded by emphasizing the need for Europeans to reconnect with their spiritual roots. Only by rediscovering a genuine culture of mind and spirit, through anthroposophy, could they contribute positively to the world and to Asia. He reiterated that Europeans would only be able to engage meaningfully with other cultures once they had regained their own spiritual insight.
