This short book consists of three sections. Each section was originally a lecture (6, 7, and 8 June 1911) but was subsequently reworked by Steiner and cast into the form of an essay. It has been published in English under 4 separate titles, all translated from the same German text.

Some of the topics treated in this book are: the nature of the brain, the development of speech, angelic beings, ancient language, Zarathustra, Buddha, and Christ.

Spiritual Guidance ... Selections ...

Spiritual Guidance of Mankind

The first English translation of this book, we present the Authorized English Translation by Harry Collison, published by the Anthroposophical Society of Great Britain in 1921.

• Spiritual Guidance of Mankind (1921)

Spiritual Guidance of Man (Mankind, Humanity ...)

Steiner describes the spiritual potentialities the human being brings with him at birth and shows how in successive world epochs these potentialities have brought to earth, through reincarnation, new impulses and forces out of the cosmic spiritual world. Translated and edited by Henry B. Monges, this book has an Appendix and the Genealogy of Jesus from both Matthew and Luke:

• Spiritual Guidance of Man and Humanity (1970)
• Spiritual Guidance of Man (1976)

Spiritual Guidance of the Individual and Humanity

A second, wiser self guides us through life. Without it we would not go far, for it is what makes us human. In the first years of life — before memory and ego — it guides us to stand upright and to learn to speak and think. Then we exchange this wisdom, which is still connected to the spiritual hierarchies, for our ego-consciousness. Yet it remains ever-present and through meditation we can consciously connect to it. What or who is this wisdom? It is the same higher self of humanity that lived in Jesus during the years between the Baptism and the Crucifixion. This mind-bending book constitutes an important contribution to our understanding of the working of the Christ impulse in humanity. Translated by Samuel Desch, this book has an extended Appendix and Notes:

• Spiritual Guidance of the Individual and Humanity (1992)

Other Activities ...

Side by Side Compare

The books in this area can be compared side by side in the same browser window. Select any combination of chapters, prefaces, appendixes, etc., from any of the editions found here.