Courage and Fearlessness

The would-be initiate must bring with him a certain measure of courage and fearlessness. He must positively go out of his way to find opportunities for developing these virtues. His training should provide for their systematic cultivation. In this respect, life itself is a good school — possibly the best school. The student must learn to look danger calmly in the face and try to overcome difficulties unswervingly. For instance, when in some peril, he must swiftly come to the conviction that fear is of no possible use: I must not feel afraid; I must only think of what is to be done. And he must improve to the extent of feeling, upon occasions which formerly inspired him with fear, that to be frightened, to be disheartened, are things that are out of the question as far as his own inmost self is concerned. By self-discipline in this direction, quite definite qualities are developed which are necessary for initiation into the higher mysteries.

~ Rudolph Steiner, “Knowledge of the Higher Worlds”

Rudolph Steiner

In “Sintesi di dottrina della razza” (Synthesis of Racial Doctrine), Evola included several pages of photographs illustrating various aspects of Aryan men. He included not one, but two, photos of Rudolph Steiner with this caption:

Among the race of the nordic-dinaric body type, we see the solar element differentiating itself, predominantly in the “ascetic” sense … The physical traits give the sense of a condition of illumination and a power of spiritual penetration.

8 thoughts on “Courage and Fearlessness

  1. “The things you never did,
    Cause you might die trying;
    You’d be as good as dead.”

  2. On Fears , i have a different perspective, regarding sharks, I’m not so sure thats irrational , although i was influenced by “jaws” at a young age, but if you look at a shark and its teeth, its not a pretty sight, it repels me, and then if you realise that the only place you may encounter a shark, is in the water which happens to be its natural habitat and not yours, therefore my own fear of a shark would be rational in that I’m repelled by its look, i would be in an unnatural habitat where it is far faster than me, and i would fear it might just want to take a bite, even for the hell of it , that bit maybe is irrational in retrospect, but while in the water facing a shark, i would rationally fear that possibility being at its mercy , which brings me into the fear, real fears and anticipatory imagined fears, initially it is a warning of something known that may threaten you, or something that is unknown that may threaten you , which can be from reality event or from an imaginary anticipated event . The reality events are something than can evolve as a person understands , comprehends them, the reasons for the fear, and by these actions they either dissipate the fear or realise the limitations and dynamics of it, and can manage it in this manner without any recurring oscillating psychological disturbances beyond the boundaries of engaging the reality event . It is the imaginary anticipatory fears that certainly can dominate a persons existence to a very negative effect on their quality of being . There are just infinite endless possible anticipatory fears , and the only way to surmount these obstacles is to use the fine edge of the analytical magic sword to examine each and every one, and in that examination , very positive steps are taken not just in the understanding of the reason that the fear is there but also in tandem further understanding of the self itself . Fear is the key, most people repress and suppress fears to various extents and only isolate them when forced to do so by realitys events pushing them into a corner, (cue drink or tablets for many at this juncture) which is exactly what reality constantly does in a very mysterious manner, it attempts to manifest conditions that will lead the host into situations where the fear equation can be comprehended and possibly overcome, some fears may be essential in a manner that is irrational if only to adjust a persons destiny in a certain proportional manner after which the fear itself arrives at its own solution, there is just so much to consider on this subject. If i go down to any local pub right now, i will encounter people , all with varying levels of reality and imaginary fears haunting them to various events , won’t that be a fun night , i think i would need a drink !, but there are some very happy souls too balancing out the fear factors if only on a temporary shift, we all play our parts to various extents day in day out. but i hear what your talking about, the self-realization of the nature of fear in yourself is so crucial to evolving beyond the societal personality that you travel in

  3. @swimming with sharks:
    You should check this out: Qualifications for Initiation. Perhaps it is more than just symbolic.

  4. Overcoming irrational fears would be a good place to start for those like me who are too careful. Think of the fear of sharks, totally irrational but very gripping on the minds of people!

  5. Perhaps I should watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre after-all.

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  7. “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

    ? Frank Herbert, Dune

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