Historical Notes
In the 1960's a revolution in consciousness began which gave rise to a sea-change in human awareness. Initially in the west, and predominantly youth-based, this movement had world-wide implications.
This was a time of great questioning of the established order, variously manifesting in political unrest, anti-war demonstrations, the growth of feminism, a profound change in race relations and a new kind of music. It gave momentum to the civil rights movement in the US, and led to world-wide protests against apartheid. Above all there emerged the feeling that there was more to life and another way to be than simply continuing in the ways of previous generations. And behind the face of 'flower power', there was also more than a little acknowledgement of the Reality of Love.
One of the places where this revolution began was England, and it was to England that Bulent Rauf, later to be Consultant to the Beshara School, was directed in the mid-1960's. Born in Istanbul, Bulent had received a traditional Ottoman education. He then went on to receive the best of Western education at Cornell and Yale in the US. All this came on top of what he called an 'atavistic' esoteric education, his family on both sides steeped in the inner, esoteric knowledge of the unity of all existence.
Bulent saw his work to be with those who were declaring that "all you need is love". Yes indeed, he would agree, adding however that the lover must know for certain who and what he or she loves, or else all the lover's energy will be squandered. Bulent recognised the need for education and was instrumental as consultant in the establishment of the Beshara School.
To summarise a long and intricate story, Beshara came about to promote the knowledge in this world of the unity of existence. This knowledge is the essential ingredient in the esoteric development of each person, so that first one knows that one has an aim and then that one reaches this aim. This aim – our purpose here in this life – is to come to know our real identity and consequently to know God, the Real. It was for this reason that the Beshara School was established at the Chisholme Institute in the Scottish Borders in 1975. Since that time, hundreds of students have come from all over the world to spend time at Chisholme, as students or working as volunteers. Here they are immersed in an environment of living study, undertaking an education devoted in every detail to the fact and truth of the unity of existence.
The Beshara School now also offers courses and study groups in many locations worldwide.
