Kabbalah: The Mystic in the Marketplace

30th January, 2022
15:00 – 16:30 GMT

This latest in a series of seminars under the general title, Unity in Diversity.
To view all previous seminars see our Media page.

The seminar will be led by Kurt Browne & Joanna Lapage-Browne

Seminar Description

Kabbalah, meaning ‘receive’, is a living tradition concerning life – its Source, purpose and its Divine plan.

At its heart is Jacob’s Ladder, the extended form of the Tree of Life illustrating the relationship between the four levels within existence – physical, psychological, spiritual and divine. In its classical and contemporary form, the Tradition is relevant to all humanity, providing a path to Self-realisation.

In this online seminar, we will give a brief introduction to the Tradition and aim to show how the teaching is made real in the marketplace of life; providing perspective and hope for ourselves and our world.

Speakers

Kurt and Joanna have studied and worked in the Toledano Tradition School of the Soul, founded by Z’ev ben Shimon Halevi (Warren Kenton) since the early 1970’s.

Kurt is originally from Trinidad and has been a teacher for 37 years. Joanna was brought up in Northern Nigeria and returned as an Occupational Therapist to work there in the leprosy service.

They have a son, two daughters and seven grandchildren and their home is in NW London where they have run groups and courses for over 30 years, together with courses abroad. They currently run regular Zoom groups for the international school. For more information about the Toledano Tradition see their website.

Booking

Cost: FREE via Zoom

Registration is required via Eventbrite
https://toledano.eventbrite.co.uk

Nestled in the Womb of God

Hindu-Muslim comparative inquiry

9th December 2023
14:00–17:00 GMT
The October Gallery, London

A seminar by Hina Khalid

This seminar ventures into the relatively unexplored terrain of a Hindu-Muslim comparative inquiry into the intimate presence of the divine reality to the finite world. It offers a comparative analysis of the conception of the infinite in the worldviews of two major philosopher-poets of the Indian subcontinent – Muhammad Iqbal (1877-1938) and Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941).

Finding happiness and purpose in today’s world

A Blended Learning Course for Young Adults

Part 1: Introductory in-person weekend at Colet House in London
27th – 28th September 2025
(Attendance Face-to-Face or by Zoom)

Followed by.
Part 2: 10 weekly online sessions
6th October – 8th December 2025
Weekly on Mondays, 19:00-20:30pm BST/GMT

This is a course for young people who want make sense of the world and their place in it. It is designed as a voyage of discovery toward a more meaningful life. The course addresses the whole person – body, mind and spirit – by drawing on a rich range of wisdoms and techniques. Building on the successful pilot offered last year, the course invites anyone with curiosity and a desire to lead a more fulfilling life. The course begins with an introductory weekend in London and is then followed by ten weekly online sessions.

Contact: besharacourses4@beshara.org

This course has now been postponed to 2026. Date to be confirmed.

A field where we can meet…

RUMI 750 – a gathering

Saturday 2nd September – Monday 4th September, 2023
Chisholme Institute, Scottish Borders, UK

An immersive weekend marking the 750th anniversary of Rumi’s death, known as his Nuptial Night. Come and explore how Rumi’s relevance informs every aspect of the current era; from ecological to economic, cultural to spiritual, while also intimately connecting with our own lives.

Open meeting, people sat together on the ground in a circle

Open Meetings

Monday 13th April, 2026
From 17:30 BST

An ongoing open, creative discussion space and e-gathering for sharing thoughts and contributing to the development of Beshara. Please join us in exchanging ideas, having meaningful discussions, the chance to be heard and the chance to listen and for understanding to develop and flourish.

Revisiting the Kernel of the Kernel II

16th–19th February 2023

An immersive three days at Chisholme, in conjunction with the Beshara Trust.

Mysticism in Comparative Perspectives

December 14 – 16, 2016

A conference at the University of Glasgow seeking to renew the comparative study of mysticism

Discovering Unity Seven Day Retreat

May 14 – 21, 2016

Learn more about what discovering unity means during this week-long retreat course at The Chisholme Institute

“It is rather hearts, clinging to the door of the Divine Presence”

Learning from Ibn ‘Arabi

4th November 2023
14:00–17:00 GMT
The October Gallery, London

A talk and seminar by Eric Winkel

Mystic, philosopher, poet, sage, Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi (1165–1240) was one of the world’s great spiritual teachers. Since 2012, Dr Eric Winkel has dedicated his life to the first-ever translation of and commentary on the entirety of Ibn Arabī’s al-Futūḥāt al-Makkīyah (The Openings Revealed in Makkah). Ten thousand pages of the original handwritten manuscript make up 37 books of the complete work. In this seminar, he will discuss Ibn ‘Arabi’s seminal work and its significance for us now.

Qualities of Love: Trust, Certainty, Patience, Resolution and Veracity

Friday to Sunday, 19th – 21st May 2023
The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire

These five qualities have been at the core of practice at Beshara and are considered essential attributes to be developed by those wishing to know themselves in order to know God.

This residential weekend will provide an opportunity to contemplate their meaning and practice through meditation, study and conversation in a tranquil setting.

Ibn Arabi Study-Week Retreat

July 16 – 23, 2016

An opportunity to study Ibn ‘Arabi’s Fusus Al Hikam in a group setting at The Chisholme Institute, led by Avi Abadi

Union

An interactive seminar

Saturday 20th July 2024
14:00–17:00 BST
The October Gallery, London

Union is the only remedy for separation
Those who do not attain Union cannot be at peace. (Mehmed Muhyiddin Üftāde)

We shall investigate the theme of Union as exemplified in the writings of Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, Üftāde, Bulent Rauf and others.

This is an interactive seminar facilitated by students of Beshara.

The Letters of Bulent Rauf

Weekly from 19th November 2022

Saturdays 18:00–19:00 CST
Sundays 11:00–13:00 AEDT

A reading group for online study of the Letters of Bulent Rauf.