Jan Dostal lays out four steps for the development of spiritual thinking, beginning with the expansion of pure thinking, which can be released via reverence, into love, and finally into sacrifice. Anyone working toward a deeper understanding of human existence will invariably encounter many paradoxical and contradicting phenomena in life, as well as in Anthroposophy and the work of Rudolf Steiner. "Growing into Anthroposophy" makes it clear that we should view such paradoxes as the very foundation for a realistic way of knowing; the many-layered, contradictory facets of life cannot simply be captured in schemes and theories.
By applying our contemplative capacities as well as by developing higher cognitive powers, polarities and contradictions can live side-by-side, offering a more complete view of the world, humankind, and spirit."