FOREWORD
It is possible to use the rapidly approaching end of this century as
a vehicle for deepening our understanding of the realities that stand
as sentinels behind the work that we do. As we gain further insights we
will be in a better position to meet the tumultuous times ahead.
Not only must we strive to accomplish our outer and inner work, but,
to be effective, we must develop our connections with like-minded people
and find those avenues where common endeavor will make the difference.
The difference could very well be the healthy future evolution of humanity
and the earth.
The following pages could easily serve as a testament to the central
role that Biodynamic agriculture needs to play in tomorrow's world and
the tremendous responsibilities that Biodynamic farmers have had placed
upon them by virtue of the times within which we live. Further, we can
infer from these pages the responsibilities we face as consumers and our
role in the marketplace in all of its forms.
We need to support biodynamic agriculture; we need to support Demeter
certification; and we need to support one another. Thank you very much,
Victor Landa, for your work and support in what is truly a spiritual (r)evolution.
Charles Beedy
Executive Director
Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Inc.
INTRODUCTION
"THIS IS A PROBLEM OF NUTRITION..." was the astonishing reply that Dr.
Rudolf Steiner gave to Ehrenfried Pfeiffer when he asked why is it that
your followers to whom you give so much spiritual impulse seem to be having
so little spiritual growth. He continues:
"NUTRITION AS IT IS TODAY DOES NOT SUPPLY THE STRENGTH NECESSARY FOR
MANIFESTING THE SPIRIT IN PHYSICAL LIFE. A BRIDGE CAN NO LONGER BE BUILT
FROM THINKING TO WILL AND ACTION. FOOD PLANTS NO LONGER CONTAIN THE FORCES
PEOPLE USED FOR THIS."
This quote from the inspiring lectures of Dr. Steiner published in the
book "Agriculture" speaks very clearly of the role of Biodynamic farming
in the process of human and planetary evolution.
The following article is an interpretation of Dr. Steiner's message
to the Biodynamic farmer as seen by one who is totally new to the area
of farming and is extremely impressed by the scope and depth of the farmer's
role in a spiritual process.
Dr. Steiner reminds us of the need for meditation. It seems but natural,
then, that the farm become a learning center for the spiritual truth of
man.
Victor Landa
October 1997
1. THE MESSAGE
In 1924, Dr. Rudolf Steiner set the foundation for what would become
a process of transformation for all of humankind. [Ref: 1] His lectures
on biodynamic farming were guidelines for a spiritual transformation of
the broadest scope. First and foremost, his teaching dealt with the soil,
initiating this way a reversal of one of the most threatening and harmful
environmental damages to the planet. Not only because of the soil itself
but because of the consequences.
We are now reaping the effect of a rapacious, absurd behavior towards
the soil. Dr. Max Gerson, a German medical doctor came to the same conclusion.
His work proved that degenerative diseases as a whole with the corollary
of terminal ones are the result of this slow "food poisoning" of the organism
that takes years to manifest varying with genetic disposition and with
generational degeneration.
Dr. Gerson's discoveries were made through the treatment of lupus but
the thrust of his work was with cancer. He demonstrated how the excessive
ingestion of protein along with a depleted soil gave origin to the formation
of degenerative diseases of deadly consequences. The therapy he developed
radically eliminated all animal protein from the diet but the most important
component of the therapy was the soil. He realized that the only way he
could bring about recovery for the patients was a strict diet based on
fruits and vegetables with no trace of chemical contamination - that is,
a diet based on organic produce. He determined that a combination of these
factors, i.e. exhausted, denatured soil plus the poisonous elements added
through chemical fertilizers and pesticides cause cumulative toxification
(through successive generations) and weakening of the immune system.
Dr. Gerson submitted many papers in medical journals for peer review
and has written a book "Cancer Therapy," [Ref: 2] which includes 50 cases
of cancer recovery all of them documented with medical history. In many
cases starting with his first one on cancer these amazing recoveries were
with people that were considered incurable by conventional methods and
whose doctors had said that there was nothing more they could do to help
them. Since then, his therapy has saved innumerable lives and continues
to do so. We must remark again that his main focus as clearly stated in
his book is "the soil".
This is the point of confluence with Rudolf Steiner who, in addition,
gives the explanation of why and how to care for the soil from physical
and spiritual perspectives.
The reason to mention Dr. Gerson's therapy is that it provides clear
confirmation that the degeneration of the soil is bringing about a degeneration
of the human species. This is something that should be appreciated in
its real dimension. The opposite now needs to be shown: Through the soil
and its fruits the physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being
of humankind can be achieved. This is why we need to appreciate, understand
and support the role of the biodynamic farmer as a crucial element in
the process of the upliftment of humankind, of the evolution and spiritualization
of the world, and of reclaiming a healthy land for generations to come.
2. ANCIENT PRACTICES
Ayurveda, the science of life, is the oldest form of medicine and the
sister science of yoga and tantra. "Ayur" means life and "veda" means
science. "Yoga" means union, from the Sanskrit root "yuj" that means to
join. It is considered that Ayurveda deals with the physical body, Tantra
with the mind and Yoga with the spirit. Yoga and Tantra use the Ayurvedic
principles in order to take care of the body.
Ayurveda considers diet one of the main means of preserving and restoring
health. This is very much in line with Dr. Gerson's therapy. There are
Ayurvedic physicians whose sole form of treatment is through diet. It
is taught that there are three main classes of food: sattwic, rajasic
and tamasic. Tamasic food induces lethargy, apathy, and moves the individual
away from its spiritual essence. Rajasic food induces activity and is
not conducive to meditation. Sattwic food, on the other hand, is food
easy to digest and assimilate and does not use our energy but on the contrary
brings into our body the spiritual forces necessary for our development.
As Dr. Rudolf Steiner and Dr. Gerson have pointed out, if the soil is
not healthy the necessary elements will not be present; it is biodynamic
agriculture that produces sattwic food.
3. CONTEMPORARY SIMILARITIES
Dr. Rudolf Steiner said: ..."IT IS NO TRUE ECONOMY TO EXPLOIT THE SURFACE
OF THE EARTH TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TO RID OURSELVES OF ALL THE THINGS I
HAVE HERE MENTIONED IN THE HOPE OF INCREASING OUR CROPS. YOUR LARGE PLANTATIONS
WILL BECOME WORSE IN QUALITY, AND THIS WILL MORE THAN OUTWEIGH THE EXTRA
AMOUNT YOU GAIN BY INCREASING YOUR FILLED ACREAGE AT THE COST OF THESE
OTHER THINGS..." These prophetic words have been proven true by the assertions
of Dr. Max Gerson that degenerative and terminal diseases are a consequence
of denatured food grown in exhausted land. Astronomical medical costs
are the consequence of this uncontrolled exploitation. The relationship
between the content of the soil and human disease is a whole chapter of
his book Cancer Therapy. He says:
"The familiar expression 'Mother Earth' is justified. Where we take from
and rob the earth, we disturb the natural equilibrium and harmony producing
sickness of the soil, sickness of the plants and fruits (the common nutrition)
and finally sickness of both animals and human beings."
"As a physician who spent much of his life investigating the nutritional
aspects of disease, I have often had occasion to observe a definite connection
between dietary deficiencies and disease, and between dietary deficiencies
and a sick or poor quality soil."
"The relationship between soil and plants on the one hand and animal
and human nutrition on the other is to me a fascinating subject."
Amongst other things at the conclusion of this chapter he says,
"We must conclude from those observations that unless the soil is cared
for properly, the depleted soil with its abnormal external metabolism
will bring about more and more abnormalities of our internal metabolism,
resulting in serious degenerative diseases in animals and human beings."
The final sentence:
"Organic gardening food seems to be the answer to the cancer problem."
4. SPIRITUALITY AND FOOD
The following passage taken from the preface of the book, Agriculture,
by Rudolf Steiner is very enlightening concerning the transcendental aspect
of properly grown food. A challenging question posed by Ehrenfried Pfeiffer
to him was:
"How can it happen that the spiritual impulse, and especially the inner
schooling, for which you are constantly providing stimulus and guidance
bear so little fruit? Why do the people concerned give so little evidence
of spiritual experience, in spite of all their efforts? Why, worst of
all, is the will for action, for the carrying out of these spiritual impulses
so weak?"..... He goes on to say, "I was particularly anxious to get an
answer to the question as to how one could build a bridge to active participation
and the carrying out of spiritual intentions, without being pulled off
the right path by personal ambition, illusions and petty jealousies, for
these were the negative qualities Rudolf Steiner had named as the main
inner hindrances." (emphasis added)
Then came the thought-provoking and surprising answer:
"THIS IS A PROBLEM OF NUTRITION."
"NUTRITION AS IT IS TODAY DOES NOT SUPPLY THE STRENGTH NECESSARY FOR
MANIFESTING THE SPIRIT IN PHYSICAL LIFE. A BRIDGE CAN NO LONGER BE BUILT
FROM THINKING TO WILL AND ACTION. FOOD PLANTS NO LONGER CONTAIN THE FORCES
PEOPLE USED FOR THIS."
Dr. Pfeiffer adds,
"A nutritional problem which if solved would enable the spirit to become
manifest and realize itself in human beings!"
Dr. Steiner:
"The benefits of the biodynamic compost preparations should be made
available as quickly as possible to the largest possible areas of the
entire earth, for the earth's healing." (emphasis added)
Only through committed farmers with full conviction of their spiritual
responsibility will this task be accomplished, and it is in the hands
of the biodynamic farmers that Dr. Steiner has placed this responsibility.
However, this is but one aspect of his teaching. He goes on to say:
"AND NOW, I ASK YOU TO OBSERVE: WHEN YOU MEDITATE, WHAT ARE YOU REALLY
DOING? (I must insert this observation: I want you to see that these things
are not coming "out of the blue"). The orientals used to meditate in their
way; we in the mid-European west do it in our way. Our meditation is connected
only indirectly with the breathing. We live and weave in concentration
and meditation. However, all that we do when we devote ourselves to these
exercises of the soul still has its bodily counterpart. Albeit this is
delicate and subtle, nevertheless, however subtly, meditation somewhat
modifies the regular course of our breathing, which as you know is connected
intimately with the life of man."
"In meditating, we always retain in ourselves a little more carbon dioxide
than we do in the normal process of waking consciousness. A little more
carbon dioxide always remains behind in us. Thus, we do not at once expel
the full impetus of the carbonic acid, as we do in the everyday bull-at-the-gate
kind of life. We keep a little of it back. We do not drive the carbon-dioxide
with its full momentum out into the surrounding spaces, where the nitrogen
is all around us. We keep it back a little."
"If you knock up against something with your skull, if you knock against
a table, for example, you will only be conscious of your own pain. If
however, you rub against it gently, you will be conscious of the surface
of the table. SO IT IS WHEN YOU MEDITATE. BY AND BY YOU GROW INTO A CONSCIOUS
LIVING EXPERIENCE OF THE NITROGEN ALL AROUND YOU. SUCH IS THE REAL PROCESS
IN MEDITATION. ALL BECOMES KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION - even that which
is living in the nitrogen. And this nitrogen is a very clever fellow!
He will inform you of what mercury and venus and the rest are doing. He
knows it all; he really senses it. These things are based on absolutely
real processes, and I shall presently touch on some of them in somewhat
greater detail. THIS IS THE POINT WHERE THE SPIRITUAL IN OUR INNER LIFE
BEGINS TO HAVE A CERTAIN BEARING ON OUR WORK AS FARMERS." (emphasis added)
Later on in the discussion after the same lecture (Lecture #4), Dr.
Steiner was asked: "Does it matter who does the work? Can anyone you choose
do the work or should it be an anthroposophist?"
Part of his answer was:
"THESE THINGS THAT TAKE PLACE THROUGH HUMAN INFLUENCE, THOUGH THEY CAN
NOT BE OUTWARDLY EXPLAINED, ARE INWARDLY QUITE CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT."
"MOREOVER, SUCH THINGS WILL COME ABOUT SIMPLY AS A RESULT OF THE HUMAN
BEING PRACTICING MEDITATION: PREPARING HIMSELF BY MEDITATIVE LIFE, AS
I DESCRIBED IT IN YESTERDAY'S LECTURE. FOR WHEN YOU MEDITATE YOU LIVE
QUITE DIFFERENTLY WITH THE NITROGEN WHICH CONTAINS THE IMAGINATIONS. YOU
THEREBY PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION WHICH WILL ENABLE ALL THESE THINGS
TO BE EFFECTIVE; YOU PUT YOURSELF IN THIS POSITION OVER AGAINST THE WHOLE
WORLD OF PLANT GROWTH." (emphasis added)
Dr. Rudolf Steiner was entrusting the biodynamic farmers with this extraordinary
responsibility of becoming channels and through meditation to bring the
spiritual forces into their being to do their work of bringing in the
spiritual forces in the plants. His answer becomes very clear that anybody
can do the work. You don't have to be an anthroposophist, but you must
do your spiritual work. The farmer must be a spiritual being in the first
place and must know the techniques as given by Dr. Steiner. On the other
hand, who fulfills these conditions? The biodynamic farmers. This is the
beginning, the starting point of the spiritual (r)evolution. Dr. Steiner
has very clearly entrusted the biodynamic farmers with the greatest responsibility
and an enormous task, the spiritualization of the planet through their
food and through their being, saving the soil restoring it to its healthy
condition and keeping alive the teaching to procure the total regeneration.
5. THE BIODYNAMIC FARMER:
Jesus Christ chose fishermen as his close disciples. Lets think for
a moment what are the life conditions of fishermen. Like birds and flowers
they rely on God's provision to ensure their daily sustenance. They can
not hoard or keep the fish because it spoils. They have to go out daily
into the sea. They must go before daybreak and they will spend many hours
in quiet and solitude, trusting again in Divine Providence to have a safe
return. They must learn to read the skies to decide whether to venture
into the sea or not, and to find their way back home.
Let's observe similarities with the farmers' life. To start with, lets
remember that many spiritual traditions will consider part of its requirements
for their members to rise before sunrise - true for both cases. Also,
the need to practice solitude and silence that prepare and are conducive
to a state of meditation. Physical exercise and adequate diet also true
in both cases. We can see very clearly that these elements of a spiritual
life are naturally part of the fisherman and farmer's life. The other
similarity is that they both act as channels to draw the spiritual forces,
in one case from the water in the other from the earth.
Every seed that is planted can become an act of worship. Every fruit
that is harvested can be a celestial song of gratitude that fills the
entire universe.
Farmers, like the birds and flowers, have to rely on God's provision
to ensure their daily sustenance. They also must learn how to read the
skies, more so in the case of farmers who go a step further since it is
in their hands to bring forth new life into the physical plane. They must
start from the seed and raise their "children" until they bear fruit.
But they are still dependent on the elements even though they have a greater
share in the exoteric responsibility of the process. It is their esoteric
responsibility that will render the other one effective.
Farmers are also moving one step further since their work favors a sattwic
diet. This is a vegetarian diet that fosters the practice of "ahimsa"
or non-violence. In the old vedic farming tradition "Homa farming" played
an important role. The practice of Agnihotra, which has a similar effect
as the biodynamic preparation, included the element of meditation which
Dr. Steiner stresses as a necessary adjunct to the farmers life.
6. MEDITATION - PRACTICAL USE OF SUBTLE FORCES
The practice of agnihotra consists in the burning of cow dung, rice
and ghee (clarified butter) in a copper pyramid of exact dimensions. This
must be done at exactly sunrise and sundown, preferable in the middle
of the field, while chanting the appropriate mantras. It is followed by
a period of meditation that has a very powerful effect on changing the
cosmic forces in the atmosphere of the farm, the effects reported in recent
experiments have been extremely rewarding confirming this ancient technique.
But what is more important is that with the integration of meditation
to a healthy lifestyle the farmer is naturally threading a spiritual path
that should qualify him/her to become a "beacon of light" for people who
are attracted to this life of service. In different mystery schools, the
apprentice approaches his spiritual preceptor and receives guidance through
the daily work in community. The apprentice not only learns the trade
but what is most important, he receives the spiritual knowledge through
daily interaction with the spiritual preceptor. The spiritual lessons
are learned within the context of this physical plane.
7. THE DREAM
It doesn't seem too outlandish to assert that this was the vision of
Rudolf Steiner; that spirituality be infused into the world by means of
a healthy soil and food, and that the teaching be kept alive on the farms
as schools of spiritual life where the high spiritual nature of the individuals
would have its effect on the spiritualization of the food and consequently
the planet and all of humankind.
Let's fantasize for a moment to that utopic time when each farm becomes
the nucleus or center of a human settlement limited by the radius established
by the maximum distance to which the produce can be transported with reasonable
means. At the same time, the farm is a center for spiritual education.
Remember, the lifestyle of the farmer naturally offers that possibility.
Meditation is part of the farming practice and apprentices are being prepared
in both aspects: farming and spirituality. In their turn, the apprentices
will run a similar concern. The collective meditation that takes place
on the farm in which all of the community participates draws in tremendous
spiritual forces that are integrated into the food that people are consuming.
To give this utopia an opportunity to come through, as Dr. Rudolf Steiner
said: "ONE MUST WORK IN A BUSINESS-LIKE PROFIT MAKING WAY OR IT WON'T
COME OFF." So, spirituality and practicality must go hand-in hand. This
is a big challenge as well - to raise the price of the produce to its
real value, to drop price competition and to acknowledge a quality difference
so substantial that competition doesn't even ensue.
My beloved friends, forgive my daring to interpret teachings that are
so dear to your heart and for talking so bluntly out of mine, but the
beauty of the mission that you have been entrusted by your teacher inspires
such a great admiration for your work, that I can only say thank you for
your commitment.
Reference 1: Agriculture, Rudolf Steiner; Bio-Dynamic Agricultural Association,
Rudolf Steiner House, 35 Park Road, London, N.W.1; 1974 (first printing
1958)
Reference 2: A Cancer Therapy, Max Gerson, M.D.; The Gerson Institute,
PO Box 430 Bonita, CA, 91908; 1990 (first edition 1958)
"By their fruits ye shall know them"
--Matthew 7:20
May wisdom shine through me.
May love glow in me.
May strength penetrate me.
That in me may arise a helper of mankind
a servant of holy things selfless and true.
--Rudolf Steiner
Christ's sacrifice as He united himself with the earth made it possible
for us to draw cosmic spiritual forces for the upliftment of mankind.
The Biodynamic form of agriculture makes use of this gift, but we cannot
rely only on the preparations. The system must work as a whole under
the direction and by the spiritual nature of the farmer.
"And when you begin to see that you cannot do so it is then that you
lose heart. That is the point my dear friends -- do not lose heart:
know that it is not the momentary success that matters; it is working
on and on with iron perseverance."
- Rudolf Steiner
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