This volume contains a collection of short essays by Steiner for the members of the Anthroposophical Society. They were written near the end of Steiner's life and in a way summarize, in highly concentrated form, the whole of Anthroposophy. Each essay ends with a short summary of its contents and these are known as the "leading thoughts" or "guidelines." The guidelines are mantras and can be used quite fruitfully for meditation. One of the chapters of the on-line edition has been read over 300,000 times!