Continuing my commentary on paragraph 8 of Peter Staudenmaier's'Anthroposophy and Ecofascism':

Staudenmaier also seems quite fixated on the idea of superiority. Steiner did not ever claim the “superiority” or the European over the eastern esoteric traditions. He did claim that the European method of occult training was the only one appropriate for most modern Europeans, and gave quite specific reasons. Steiner allows that a European could take up the yoga path. However, given the demands, including a complete withdrawal from society and subsuming one’s own will to the guidance of the guru, it would be an unusual European who could do so successfully.

In Steiner's estimation, there are three paths of esoteric development: the Eastern, or Indian path, the Christian-Mystical and the Rosicrucian. Steiner professed to be working in the Rosicrucian tradition:

“The eastern way of development (also called yoga). Here an initiated human being living on the physical plane acts as a guru for another human being, who entrusts himself or herself - completely and in all details - to that guru. This method works best for those who, during esoteric development, entirely eliminate their own self and hand it over to the guru. The guru must advise students on their every action.” (Page 61)

“The Rosicrucian way of development. This path leaves the pupil at the greatest possible independence. The guru here is no longer a leader, but an adviser who gives direction for the necessary inner training. At the same time, the guru makes certain that, parallel with the esoteric training, there is a definite development of thinking - without which no esoteric training can be carried through. This is because there is something about thinking that does not apply to anything else. When we're on the physical plane, we perceive with the physical sense is only what is on that plane. Astral perceptions are valid for the astral plane; devachanic hearing is valid only in devachan. Thus each plane has its own specific form of perception. But one activity - logical thinking - goes through all worlds. Logic is the same on all three planes. Thus, on the physical plane you can learn something that his valid also for the higher planes. This is the method followed by Rosicrucian training when, on the physical plane, it gives primary attention to thinking, and for this purpose uses the means available on the physical plane. Penetrating thinking can be cultivated by studying spiritual scientific truths, or by practicing thought exercises.” (Page 62)

“The Christian way. In this Christian way can be followed with the adviser the teacher knows what has to be done and can rectify mistakes of every step. Keep in mind, however, that in Christian training the great guru is Jesus Christ himself. Hence it is essential to firmly believe in Christ's presence and his life on earth. Without this, feeling of union with him is impossible.” (Page 63)

Rudolf Steiner. First Steps in Inner Development. Hudson, NY: Anthroposophic Press, 1999. From a lecture titled “The Way to Inner Development”, given on September 2nd, 1906, and printed in volume 95 of the complete works.

If Staudenmaier wishes to judge the relative merits of the various methods of occult training it would be interesting to hear his criteria and conclusions.

How Waldorf Education got its name

I read an interesting book the other day: "Emil Molt and the beginnings of the Waldorf School Movement". It’s an autobiography by Emil Molt, the man responsible for the first Waldorf School. I wrote a review on my site. An interesting portion covered the story of how Waldorf Education came to be called “Waldorf”. According to Molt:

The story of the "Waldorf Astoria" goes back to John Jacob Astor. The Astor family, originally from Savoy, had settled in the south German village of Walldorf in Baden. Johann Jakob Astor was born on July 17, 1763. He emigrated to America as a young man and there, with luck and daring, made a great fortune. In the 1850s, the Astor house was the most elegant private home in New York City. Descendants of Astor later founded the famous "Waldorf-Astoria Hotel" in his memory.
Connected with the hotel was the "Waldorf-Astoria Cigar Store Company." Two of its managers, Mr Kramer and Mr Rothschild, had come to Germany around the turn of the century with the trademark rights. Originally, they produced their own brands; later, they had them made by Manoli in Berlin. They were unsuccessful, however, and eventually put their business up for sale. Müller and Marx heard of this, and, in 1905, bought the rights to the trademark.

Müller and Marx were Molt’s partners at the Waldorf Astoria Cigarette Company. It was after the war the Molt got the idea of a school for the worker’s children, and in its first year, the Waldorf School was a company school, with the teachers on the payroll of the Waldorf Astoria Cigarette Company. (A year later the school became independent). So that is how Waldorf Education got its name.