Üftade: The Nightingale in the Garden of Love

Weekly on Saturdays/Sundays from 19th March, 2022
18:00 – 19:00 Saturday CDT
10:00 – 11:00 Sunday AEDT (09:00 – 10:00 AEST from 1st April)

A reading group for online study of the spiritual poems of Üftade, one of the greatest Ottoman Sufi masters, in English translation from The Nightingale in the Garden of Love.

Description

The Nightingale in the Garden of Love is a translation of the spiritual poems of one of the greatest Ottoman Sufi masters, Mehmed Muhyīddīn Üftade (1490-1580). Üftade was born and lived in the town of Bursa, a hugely important spiritual centre at the height of the Ottoman Empire. He was founder of one of its main dervish orders, the Jelvetiyye, through the training of his famous disciple, ‘Aziz Mahmūd Hüdäyi. In addition, Üftade composed a collection of poems, which express his spiritual quest in simple, direct and wonderfully human language.

Paul Ballanfat’s introduction provides a detailed overview of the main features of Üftade’s life and teachings. Particularly prominent in Üftade’s teaching was the thought of “the greatest master” Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi, and of Mevlana Jalâluddīn Rūmī. Üftade had a direct spiritual connection with both of these extraordinary men and an intense veneration for both of them.

Booking

Cost: FREE via Zoom

Participants will be expected to purchase the book – it is available in paperback from the publisher, Anqa Publishing.

And it is also available from Amazon, as an ebook or paperback:
Amazon.com
Amazon.com.au

Contact: Mary Boyd-Brent at boydb002@umn.edu

The Poems of Uftade

What is the single most important point that must be understood by a person who wants to know?

April 8 & 22, May 13 & 27
June 10 & 24, July 8
(11am – 1pm)
The Salisbury Centre, Edinburgh, UK

A series of themed explorations on the Way of Love

A Jewel of Indian Spirituality: Reflections on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

16th May, 2021
15:00 – 16:30 BST

An online seminar with Elizabeth Roberts

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is one of a number of sutra texts from the late Upanishadic period. According to its Indian origins yoga is not just a physical practice but a sacred science of right living and higher awareness aimed at coming to realise the inner truth of the universe – the Divine, God, the Absolute or whatever name one may use to refer to this highest value.

Registration via Eventbrite

Discovering Unity Weekend Retreat

November 25 – 27, 2016

Explore deeper questions in the light of the unity of all existence. Guided group study of wisdom texts, meditation and more. Held at the Chisholme Institute.

The Transformative Power of Beauty: Joseph and the Myth of Reconciliation

14th March, 2021
16:00 – 17:30 GMT

An online seminar exploring the Joseph myth. Joseph is understood as one of a community of prophetic figures, whose story emerges as the epic and emblematic story of divine knowledge revealed to humanity. The centrepiece here is beauty, and the focus of the presentation will be on beauty and its intimate relation to truth.

Registration via Eventbrite

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

Bede Griffiths: An Interspiritual Journey

November 18, 2017
The Sanctuary, Augustine United Church, Edinburgh

A day conference organised by the Edinburgh International Centre for Spirituality and Peace (EICSP).

The Voyages of Moses (3 of 3)

Saturday November 19, 2016

An afternoon meeting in London to study extracts from Secrets of Voyaging, by Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi.

Lightning Flashes and the Heart’s Yearning

February 4 – 19, 2017

An intensive retreat fortnight at the Chisholme Institute, led by Peter Young. 

Spiritual Addresses of al-Niffari

Weekly from 3rd June, 2023
Saturdays: 13:30 – 15:30 BST

Online study and contemplation of the Spiritual Addresses by al-Niffari.

Discovering Unity Introductory Weekend

March 10 – 12, 2017

Explore deeper questions in the light of the unity of all existence at the Chisholme Institute. Guided group study of wisdom texts, meditation and more…

Niffari: Spiritual Addresses

Weekly on Saturdays from 23rd October, 2021
13:30 – 15:30 BST/GMT
Or (Amero-Australian based group)
Weekly on Saturdays/Sundays from 13th November, 2021
17:00 – 18:00 Saturday CST / 10:00 – 11:00 Sunday AEDT

Online study and contemplation of the Spiritual Addresses by al-Niffari. Reading material will be provided.

These sessions are now full.

Contact:
Michael Cohen at london@beshara.org
(Amero-Australian group) Mary Boyd-Brent at boydb002@umn.edu

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.