Open-mindedness

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Open-mindedness, unprejudicedness, unbiasedness or faith in the occult sense is the fifth of the so-called subsidiary exercises, which according to Rudolf Steiner are a necessary precondition for any spiritual training. Steiner has occasionally also called the fourth subsidiary exercise, which is directed towards finding the spark of positivity even in the worst things, impartiality, but it is not the name but the meaning of the exercise that is to be paid attention to here above all. The main point is openness for new experiences and ideas, however unbelievable they may seem.

„In the fifth month, then, try to form in oneself the feeling of facing each new experience with a complete lack of bias. The esoteric student must break completely with the attitude that we encounter when people say to something they have just heard or seen: 'I have never heard that before, I have never seen that before, I don't believe that, it is a deception'. He must be prepared to accept a completely new experience at any moment. What he has hitherto recognised as lawful, what has appeared to him as possible, must not be a fetter for the reception of a new truth. It is indeed radically expressed, but quite true, that if someone comes to the esoteric disciple and says to him: "You, the steeple of X church has been completely leaning since this night", the esotericist should leave a back door open for the possible belief that his previous knowledge of the laws of nature could yet experience an extension through such an apparently outrageous fact. Whoever, in the fifth month, directs his attention to being so minded, will notice that a feeling creeps into his soul, as if something were alive in that space spoken of in the exercise in the fourth month, as if something were stirring in it. This feeling is extraordinarily fine and subtle. One must try to grasp this subtle vibration in the surroundings attentively and let it flow in, as it were, through all five senses, namely through the eye, the ear and through the skin, insofar as the latter contains the sense of warmth. Less attention should be paid at this stage of esoteric development to the impressions of the lower senses, taste, smell and touch. It is not yet well possible at this stage to distinguish from the numerous bad influences which mingle with the good ones also present in this region; therefore the pupil leaves this matter to a later stage.“ (Lit.:GA 245, p. 15ff)

Literature
References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com.
Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books
A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works
Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English.
Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold
steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA)
Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.
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