Sunday 18 August

Anthroposophy in Hawkes Bay

Newsletter 33-24                     

Calendar of Coming Events-- Diary Dates

In the Rudolf Steiner Centre, 401 Whitehead Road, Hastings
unless stated otherwise.

• Friday 23 August 7 p.m. Study: Letter "The Experiences of Michael in the course of his Cosmic Mission: (p76 - 79) and Leading Thoughts 109 - 111
• Sunday, 25th August  5.00 p.m. Living on the Pathway towards Death. Session 1.  
  Forum with Anthroposophical Nurses  (Note the 5 p.m. starting time)
•  Sunday,  1st Sept  3.00 p.m. Living on the Pathway towards Death (2)
•  Sunday, 8th Sept  3.00 p.m. Living on the Pathway towards Death (3) 

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Living on the Pathway towards Death

Sunday afternoon, 25th August, 5.00p.m.

 FORUM with Anthroposophical nurses who will talk of their experiences when working with people who are nearing death, and with their families and friends.  

All welcome.  Soup (at 5.0p.m.)  then the forum.  A koha towards food and printed verse would be appreciated.

TRUTH

A few thoughts following our Friday conversation on “the Quest for Truth”.

We notice that when Rudolf Steiner comments on the same topic numerous times, he does not repeat himself but characterises the topic from a different perspective or point-of-view.  He describes different moods and philosophic world views, including opposites such as Materialism and Spiritism, Realism and Nominalism from which he describes things.  Each view has its validity or truth.  Truth is multifaceted.  If we look at an object, we may see it from in front, behind, left, right, above and below.  Every viewpoint contributes to the full picture.  Each person’s viewpoint is unique and thus can contribute to the ‘whole’ picture.

For millennia, a universal element of education has been the study of mathematics and geometry.  Why?  Because in studying these subjects, students are able to have an experience of TRUTH.  Early topics in arithmetic involve the nature of numbers and of mathematical processes such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, for example: 1 + 1 = 2 or 3 x 5 = 15.  This not a matter of opinion, or of a majority vote, or of a convocation of scientists agreeing that this or that is true or false.  The nature of a triangle or a circle is not an opinion, but a 'spiritual' truth that can be discovered by inner activity.  The experience of truth is a vital part of anyone’s education.  You experience ‘truth’ when what you perceive, your percept, fully coincides with the concept or spiritual archetype that you connect with it.  You can then ‘feel’ the truth – a warm feeling of enthusiasm.

The Quest for Truth is never-ending; it is life-long.  In some subjects it is not so straight-forward and is a lengthy process.  Indeed, I would say the continual striving for the truth is just as important as the truth itself.

RB