Report on the
Goetheanum Meditation Initiative Worldwide
by Ron Dunselman, Bodo von Plato, Arthur Zajonc
February 2008
Anthroposophy is a path leading
from the spiritual in the individual
to the spiritual in the cosmos.
Rudolf Steiner
At its heart, Anthroposophy is a practice or path that gradually reveals the true nature of the human being, and leads the individual from self-knowledge to the spiritual in the world. The doorway that opens out onto that path is the portal of humility and reverence, which is to say, it is a path of love. Study of spiritual literature forms the first stage of the meditative path, which then continues with the establishment in the human soul of equanimity, attention, and faithfulness. One honors the sensory world, and yet simultaneously the path turns inward towards that world which lies beyond the sensory. Anthroposophical practice leads to a new domain of soul-spiritual experience termed imagination, through which spiritual realities first show themselves. Deepening the meditative practice further allows one to move beyond imagination to the living meaning that moves within and behind all experience, which is called inspiration. Finally, one’s journey leads to the complete loss of personal ego and the realization of the universal self, which permits one to live as one with the spiritual realities and beings of the cosmos.
Anthroposophy is a journey, not a codified, inert body of knowledge. Its insights are intended as an inspiration and guide for the traveler, not as an encyclopedia for the curious. All around the world aspiring individuals and groups seek to walk the path from the spiritual in themselves to the spiritual in the universe. “Goetheanum Meditation Initiative Worldwide” seeks to bring visibility to that work, to strengthen it, and lend it coherence in order that the distinctive and crucial contribution of Anthroposophy to meditation can be actualized throughout the world and in all fields of life.
We envision three components to the project:
- Colleagueality, Connection and Visibility: Identification an connection of those existing people and programs that are already active in the work of meditation
- Furthering and Deepening: Develop the work of meditation and to foster new applications of meditation.
- Administrative: Establish a small office that coordinates this work.
1. Colleagueality, Connection and Visibility
Early in the project (2007) we saw the need to establish a coherent core group of practitioners who could work together. We imagined 10-15 people working out of the spirit of the Goetheanum, who respect each other and are willing to learn from each other. It should represent diverse regions, areas of work, and should include artists. We need to simultaneously allow for different ways of supporting/teaching the meditative life, and also insure that the methods used are sound morally and spiritually. We should hold a series of meetings (annually or semi-annually) of the Core Working Group for anthroposophical meditation. The group would be a planning and advisory group for the project. Part of its work will be to assist in and to guide the development of meditation workshops. It would also have a small Coordinating Group of three persons as its executive.
The first steps towards the realization of the Core Working Group have been taken in January 2008. The first twelve members are:
Ron Dunselman (Coordination) / NLBodo von Plato (Coordination) / Goetheanum
Arthur Zajonc (Coordination) / US
Ursula Flatters / SE
Gertrude Hughes / US
Carina Schmid / Goetheanum
Robin Schmidt / Goetheanum
Wolfgang Tomaschitz / AT
Troels Ussing / DK
Rudy Vandercruysse / DE
Elizabeth Wirsching / Goetheanum
Heinz Zimmermann / Goetheanum
We have determined a calendar of meetings for the Coordinating Group and also for the entire Core Working Group.
Many fine efforts already exist in which the anthroposophical meditative path is being studied and taught. We need to identify such work of individuals and institutions where meditation instruction of high quality is already being offered. In this we search for help by the circle of general secretaries, their national societies and the leaders of the Sections of the School of Spiritual Science. We do not seek comprehensiveness but rather examples in many regions and subject areas. Members of the Core Working Group can assist and further this network of people and programs.
Until today, these are largely invisible beyond the locale in which they take place. One way in which Anthroposophy’s contribution to meditation has been minimized is through this lack of visibility. We, therefore, see a need for a thoughtful plan to make the meditation work visible. A dedicated website for the Goetheanum Meditation Initiative Worldwide will be designed. In addition to more visability, the website can become a resource on which anthroposophical meditation material can be published. Regular articles on the project will be crucial to give it visibility. We might consider a column or regular feature in which various persons are invited to write a short article on meditation for example in “Anthroposophy Worldwide”.
2. Furthering and Deepening
As an aid to the establishment and deepening of meditation courses, members of the Core Working Group, and others with suitable experience, would offer a series of workshops designed to assist in the development and deepening of such meditation courses in various regions and in a variety of fields. Participation in the workshops would initially be by invitation, and they would at least initially be directed at those in the anthroposophical society or movement who are in a position to contribute most to the culture of meditation. An example of such a workshop was the first event of the Goetheanum Meditation Initiative that took place in Holland, January, 2008. In this workshop, Arthur Zajonc worked with 43 leading members of the Dutch Anthroposophical Society on the theme of furthering and deepening the work of meditation in the Society. A similar meditation workshop is scheduled for adult educators from around Great Britain, which will focus on the use of contemplative pedagogy in adult education. Both of these workshops “teach the teachers,” that is they are designed to work with those who have significant responsibility for developing the inner culture of meditation in the anthroposophical movement and beyond. In 2009, similar workshops are envisioned in different regions, at different levels, and in different fields.
Another exemplary initiative of this project is support and counsel for development of a Goetheanum course which seeks to foster an inner culture through meditation. It is scheduled to begin already in the Fall of 2008. The projected format will be:
(I): „Anthroposophie entdecken“ (Herbst 2008, 2009)
(II): „Wege zu einer inneren Kultur“ (Frühjahr 2009, 2010)
(III): „Grundelemente der Meditation“ (Herbst 2008, 2009)
(IV):„Meditative Praxis“(Frühjahr 2009, 2010)
We expect that this course may be something that could be adapted and used in other contexts and settings. We also hope that written materials from this course will be published and use by others.
In addition, we invite other section leaders of the School for Spriritual Science and general secretaries of the Anthroposophical Society to collaborate in the development of appropriate meditation programs for their vocational fields and countries. They may wish to do this themselves, work with the Core Group, or they may identify others in their country or field of work with particular ability in the area of meditation.
Finally, we also have had important conversations concerning the development of the meditative work of the First Class. Several Vorstand members, section leaders, and class holders have expressed serious interest in working on this field.
3. Administrative
The project requires an administrator and a modest support staff. The office will manage the workshops, maintain the website and other publications, and help organize the meetings and communications of the Core Working Group. At our January 2008 meeting, it was decided that the office will be at the Forschungsstelle Kulturimpuls, Dornach, and Robin Schmidt will, for the beginning, help to administrate the initiative.
The design of this project was only possible through the inintiative and the support of three foundations: Vidar Foundation (Ursula Flatters, Anders Kumlander) Evidenz Foundation (Rolf Kerler) and the Iona Foundation (Ignaz Anderson). They were involved at every step in the development of the ideas and have provided initial support for our planning meetings. We imagine a separate account set up, probably through the Iona Foundation, to receive and disburse funds for the project.