BESHARA SCHOOL

The first First Six Months Course at Chisholme House in the Scottish Borders, began in 1975.
Image by Pat Rafferty June 2009

Beshara South-East Asia

Since 2000, 6 nine-day courses have been run in Jakarta and the mountains of west Java (2 courses were run in parallel on 5 occasions). More than 70 people have attended, many of them returning annually.

A group now meets regularly in Jakarta to study and converse. Although most people attending the courses in Java have come from Indonesia, others have come from Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Spain, USA and Mexico.




Study groups in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Upcoming Courses

There will be a weekend introductory course on July 18-19 and a 9-day course on July 17-26, 2009. Registration has started and people interested can contact Rayanti or Murida.

Contacts

Rayanti rayanti@beshara-sea.org
Murida murida@beshara-sea.org

Report from the Nine day introductory Course, Jakarta March 2008

The 9 days began with a common understanding of the reasons for attending the course. We were reminded that our purpose was not to seek anything other than the realization of who we are, where we come from and where are we going. The course built upon the ideas of Ibn 'Arabi. “Reality is ultimately One, and Being (existence as a concept) is identical with the One Existing Reality which is the source of all that has existence.” (The Twenty-nine Pages, Chapter on Being).

However true this may be, and lying within the deepest recesses of our hearts, there still remains in our minds the deeply rooted belief and idea of our self, intertwined with beliefs about religion and the culture in which we reside. Our misconceptions and misunderstandings occur on both sides, in our ideas about Ibn 'Arabi on the one hand and religion on the other. A lot of these beliefs and ideas have to be clarified and cannot just be swept away. Questions about good and evil, heaven and hell, sin, free will, and destiny are only some of the examples that need to be examined.

And so they were examined throughout the 29 pages. Each page was diligently read, each paragraph studied, every sentence scrutinized and the meanings of words uncovered. It was not always easy as tears flowed freely, patience was shown, a stance needing to be defended and submission a necessity.  In the telling it sounds perhaps as though a battle took place, but actually it was peace that was being negotiated.

All of this was delivered and achieved in Love and Beauty. The inherent difficulty of the subject was made easier when patience assisted understanding, in a venue that was pleasant and a host most gracious.

The event ended with a heavy downpour, which not only added to the sadness that the course was ending but also the feeling of freshness and clarity shared among us. It was not 29 pages in 9 days, rather 9 days with the 29 pages. We were taken by a gentle hand and led through a journey.

Beshara in Israel

Some of us, who are involved in the new Center, opened about a year ago inTel Aviv, meet once a week for conversation. This core group runs 3 study groups – 2 in the Tel Aviv Center, and one in Kokhav Ya’ir. The Center holds once a month an open Zikr, and once every two months an intensive open study weekend (Friday-Saturday).

Bedhara House
13 'Atsmon Street
Tel Aviv
Israel
(0)3 5164291

For more information please contact:

Ruti Koren: 09-7493950, 054-5595294 ruthykoren@gmail.com
Judith Sternberg: 02-5639423, 052-6603250, judithst@netvision.net.il

The Beshara Center in Tel Aviv

After two years of meetings at friend's homes, we have registered as a non profitable educational charity. In March 2008, we rented and renovated a house near Migdal Shalom - Shalom Tower - in Tel Aviv. The Beshara House is a warm learning home run by a rota of members who live there. We keep it open most of the time and welcome visitors and anyone who wishes to be exposed to the unique body of knowledge concerning the unity of being and use it in their journey towards self knowledge. So, please, do feel free to come for an informal chat, or join us for a study or any other activity.

Short Courses in Idaho USA

Short courses of 3 and 9-day duration are available in Idaho for those who wish to delve deeper into the matter than is possible under other circumstances. These courses are a direct and intensive introduction to the key principles of the Unity of Existence and the perfectibility of Human-kind.  They have a full roster of activities, including meditation and the study of writings from various traditions, all of which form the context for discussion. They also include work activities such as cooking or gardening, which are integral to the comprehensive nature of this education. Though the length of the courses is brief, they are very concentrated and unlimited in potential.

Rinpoche visit to the Idaho center USA


Study groups

The primary focus of the courses is the study of texts drawn from a wide variety of sources. In form, small groups meet with one or two experienced facilitators who serve to guide, encourage and support.

An on-going program of study, conversation and qigong practice takes place in Hayden Lake, Idaho. These weekly meetings are on Tuesdays from 6 - 9 PM. For further information about Idaho activities, please email Janice McAllister at: janice@mcallister.com.