Amalgamation

[shas...@my-deja.com]

An amalgamation of the fundamental practices of Rudolf Steiner and Max
Heindel for Rosicrucian and Grail aspirants: I consider the following
exercises to be both basic and essential for development within a
Rosicrucian system.

Definition of the Grail: the development of man through the
purification of the blood by sexual abstinence (combined with
productive use of man’s creative energy), service to humanity and self-
discipline in regard to conscious thought—essential preparation for
speaking the creative Word.

Heindel called for two basic practices: retrospection and
concentration. Retrospection involves reviewing the events of each
day in reverse order. The goal is two-fold. The primary goal is to
judge and expiate one’s misdeeds. The secondary effect is the
development of visualization.
Concentration involves focused awareness on any high spiritual ideal
such as Christ—focused and disciplined thought and visualization.

Steiner’s opening practices include, first, a call for devotion.
Devotion effectively comes from humility and a profound respect for
the spiritual path. A devotional attitude will provide essential
motivation for the work to come. Also, Steiner endorses a positive
attitude, looking for the good in all things while intentionally
withholding criticism.

Second, Steiner’s take on retrospection includes a sense of
equanimity: a few moments of conscious detachment from one’s self-
centered view--reviewing one’s actions and place in life from the
perspective of a stranger. Can take as little as five minutes a day.

Finally, Steiner used a Rose Cross meditation which is in essence
Heindel’s concentration exercise, in order to reawaken his latent
occult powers. Steiner begins his concentration by comparing man and
plant. While man can move and think, a plant simply follows God’s
plan of development. In its simplicity, the plant is in some ways
more perfect than man. The meditation includes “feeling” the life in
the green sap of the plant. The meditation then brings to mind a black
cross, man-sized, with a circle of seven blooming roses in the
center. These roses symbolize purified passion, purified blood
following the plan of God for man—just as the plant simply follows the
plan contained within its seed.

Both men also talk expound on the Lord's prayer--Steiner showing that
it is the reverse of the chant heard by Christ that was used by the
spirits of evil (making it a good counter for those spirits), and
Heindel showing how the different parts of the prayer relate to the
different vehicles of man and the higher worlds.

The two sides of the disagreement between these two men are as
follows:

Steiner contended that Heindel stole his information and cut ties,
starting his own group in California in order to gratify his own ego.

Heindel contended that he learned nothing new from Steiner and was
selected by the Elder Brothers because he refused a condition of
secrecy when accepting their teachings where Steiner had “failed the
test” because he agreed to keep secret what was, since the
Crucifixion, open to everyone.

I don’t know who was right or wrong in this disagreement, but I find
the teachings of both men informative and beneficial. Steiner goes
into a bit more detail, but Heindel is much easier to read—more
accessible to the beginning student especially. Even Heindel’s Cosmo
Conception, however, is difficult to approach without guidance.

In summary then, I suggest the following exercises for anyone
interested in investigating or pursuing spiritual science from a
Gnostic perspective (Psalm 27:8):

1. A sense of humility and devotion to the cause of spiritual
development coupled with a willingness based in faith to see the good
in all things.

2. A practice of retrospection (reviewing visually the events of the
day in reverse order) which includes a sense of detachment—a viewing
of oneself as a stranger would view the aspirant.

3. A practice of concentration starting with a comparison between
plant and man with a focus on the pure life of the plant, then using a
black cross and a circle of seven roses blooming at the crux, the
roses being symbols of purified passions, purified blood and
blossoming chakras.

4. Finally, use of the Lord's prayer for the purpose of purifying the
various vehicles (mind, desire body, vital body, physical body).

I write this in hopes that the amalgamation of the teachings of both
men bring greater a greater depth of understanding to their common
exercises.

S~

I drew this information from the Heindel's Rosicrucian Cosmo
Conception and from various works by Steiner and Ravenscroft.
Comparisons and opinions are my own.