n nWritten in 1904 (CW 9)n nTheosophy is a key work for gaining a solid footing in spiritual reality as described by Rudolf Steiner. It is organized into four parts. First, Steiner builds a comprehensive understanding of human nature: physical bodily nature; soul qualities; spirit being, or I-being; and the higher spiritual aspects. This leads us to Steiners description of the human being as sevenfold: n n- Material, physical body n- Ether body, or body of life forces n- Sentient soul body n- Mind soul n- Spirit-filled consciousness soul n- Life spirit n- Spirit bodyn nIn the next section, Steiner offers an extraordinary overview of the laws of reincarnation and the principles of karma, as we pass from one life to the next. This prepares us for the third section, in which he shows the various ways in which we live--during life on earth and after death and in the three worlds of body, soul, and spirit.n nFinally, we are given a succinct description of the path of knowledge, along which each person can begin to understand the marvelous and harmonious complexity of the psycho-spiritual worlds in their fullness. n nCONTENTS: n nForeword by Michael Holdrege nPrefaces by Rudolf Steinern nChapter 1: The Essential Nature of the Human Being: n n1. The Bodily Nature of the Human Being n2. The Soul Nature of the Human Being n3. The Spirit Nature of the Human Being n4. Body, Soul, and Spiritn nChapter 2: Destiny & the Reincarnation of the Spiritn nChapter 3: The Three Worlds: n n1. The Soul World n2. The Soul in the Soul World after Death n3. The Country of Spirit Beings n4. The Spirit in Spirit Country after Death n5. The Physical World and Its Connection to the Worlds of Souls and Spirits n6. Thought Forms and the Human Auran nChapter 4: The Path to Knowledgen nRelated Reading nIndexn nThis volume is a translation of Theosophie, Einf hrung in bersinnliche Welterkenntnis und Menschenbestimmung (GA 9).n