Life After Death according to Sri Aurobindo and Rudolf Steiner

Rudolf Steiner and Sri Aurobindo might be two of the very few individuals who knew what we all want to know—what will happen to each of us when we die. Fortunately, as I will explain, their descriptions contribute to the meaning of our lives.

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), creator of the approach to both Waldorf education and biodynamic agriculture, lectured frequently on human life after death. By his account, beginning with its physical death, the enduring core of the human individual absorbs the essential experiences of its life through a series of spiritual transformations. At the end of this process this spiritual core, with its capacities, limitations, and aspirations, is born to another life.

Similarly, Sri Aurobindo, the foremost Indian spiritual teacher of the first half of the Twentieth Century, explained that the human individual begins life with capacities and fundamental (usually unconscious) intentions influenced by a previous life. Steiner and Aurobindo agree that each soul reincarnates in order advance both their individual evolution and the evolution of the culture into which they are born.

Robert McDermott, Ph.D. was president of CIIS from 1990 to 1999. He has published extensively on Sri Aurobindo (The Essential Aurobindo) and Rudolf Steiner (The New EssentialSteinerand Steiner and Kindred Spirits). He was secretary of the American Academy of Religion, Senior Fulbright Lecturer at the Open University, and director of a National Endowment for the Humanities Project for the Study of Hinduism and Buddhism. For 14 years he was chair of the board of Sophia Project (two homes in Oakland for mothers and children at risk of homelessness). He has been president and board chair of many other institutions.

This event is part of Reimagine End of Life, a community-wide exploration of death and celebration of life through creativity and conversation. Drawing on the arts, spirituality, healthcare, and design, it creates weeklong series of events that break down taboos and bring diverse communities together in wonder, preparation, and remembrance.

Participants will learn about various ways to approach the end of life experience and be exposed to various modalities that promote creativity, compassion, inspiration and self-acceptance. 

For more information visit Reimagine End of Life.