Thanks to a generous sponsor, this "Introduction to anthroposophy" lecture is free and open to all.

Every climatological, political, or social issue that arises today calls upon us to be active in an unprecedented way. A century ago, Rudolf Steiner, like other progressive thinkers of his time, recognized that the fate of the earth was going to be determined by the actions of human beings.

But he went further, and taught that women and men also had a responsibility for the further development of the spiritual world. The success of our activism on earth would have to be supported by our spiritual activity to be truly effective.

With this in mind, Steiner developed a path of individual development that, while cognizant of the demanding nature of contemporary life, is able to provide the inner strength and resilience we need to bring change to the world. The growth and sustainability of such movements as Waldorf education and biodynamic agriculture are testaments to the prescience of Steiner’s vision. In tonight’s lecture, we will describe some of Rudolf Steiner’s contemplative and meditative exercises, and explore the results of his spiritual activism.

Eugene Schwartz is a graduate of Columbia University. He has worked with all stages of life, from the young child to the elderly and the dying. He began his teaching career by adapting the Waldorf schools’ curriculum to educate a group of adolescents with disabilities and emotional challenges in the Otto Specht School, which he helped to found. He then became a class teacher at Green Meadow Waldorf School, taking three groups of children up through Grade Eight. Eugene also served as Director of Teacher Training at the Sunbridge Institute and for over a decade lectured frequently at Rudolf Steiner College. Eugene now works worldwide as an educational consultant and lecturer.