Drowning in the depths of Rumi’s Masnavi
‘You are not a single you, o good comrade; nay, you are the sky and the deep sea’ – Rumi
30th October – 27th November 2023
Weekly Zoom sessions, 19:00–20:30 GMT
This course is an opportunity to study and explore some of Rumi’s main spiritual teachings from the Masnavi, which is considered to be his masterpiece. Rumi’s Masnavi or Mathnawi, is considered by many to be the greatest mystical sufi text ever written.
How to Book
Cost £35 https://beshara.org/donate-21
Contact besharacourses2@beshara.org for an application form
Closing date for applications: 25th October 2023
Please note the course is limited to 20 people. Early booking is recommended.
Concessions for students and unwaged is £25. A bursary is also available.
Course Details
We all have heard of Rumi’s lovely poems, yet this course is an opportunity to delve deep into Rumi’s masterpiece and explore some of his main mystical teachings concerning the obstacles on the path of self-knowledge and how one can remove them using both one’s own strength and God’s grace.
In order to get his profound messages on self-knowledge across to his readers, Rumi used stories and anecdotes drawing from sacred history. The course will journey through five main stories within Masnavi’s volume 1, selected by the facilitators, with the aim to give students the knowledge and wisdom on how to travel, from their lower self (nafs-e-ammareh) to self at-peace (nafs-e-mutmaeneh) and true freedom.
Weekly readings will be sent up to a week in advance of each session. Each session will start with a short introduction to the text by one of the facilitators followed by reading and then discussion. The first session will start 15 mins earlier at 18:45 GMT to allow time for participants to introduce themselves.
Course structure:
The course is divided into 5 weekly sessions every Monday from October 30th – November 27th 2023.
Themes/titles:
Week 1: The King and the Maiden
Week 2: The Arab of the Desert and his Wife
Week 3: The Caliph ‘Umar and the Ambassador of Rome
Week 4: The contention between the Romans and the Chinese artists
Week 5: The Merchant and the Parrot
Course facilitators:
Ali Saeedi has been teaching the Masnavi in Farsi for nearly 15 years at Colet House (The Study Society) in London, UK. Since the Covid-19 lockdown, the classes have been on Zoom. Ali has also written poetry books and articles on Sufism in Farsi. He is a painter and calligrapher and works with several museums in the UK.
Sam Fardghassemi is a psychology researcher and has been studying the Masnavi with Ali Saeedi for the past four years. He has also been a student of Beshara for nearly four years. Sam recently joined the Beshara Trust as a Trustee to support its aims and objectives to make the knowledge of the unity of being more widely known to people.
Kernel of the Kernel
Weekly from 19th September 2026
Saturdays 14:00–15:00 GMT
Online study of The Kernel of the Kernel, a selection of key passages from Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi’s Futūḥāt al-Makkiyyah, translated into Turkish with commentary by Ismail Hakki Bursevi (1652-1728AD). Translated into English by Bulent Rauf.
Love and Knowledge in the Light of Unity | the Direct Path
The Beshara Foundation Blended Learning Course
Part 1: Introductory weekend at Sutton Courtenay Abbey, Oxfordshire
16th – 18th October 2026
(Attendance Face-to-Face or by Zoom)
Followed by.
Part 2: 10 fortnightly online sessions
29th October 2026 – 18th March 2027
Thursday evenings, 19:00 – 20:30 GMT/BST
Part 3: Optional residential weekend and/or 10 days at Chisholme House, Scotland 1st–11th April 2027
This course provides a full introduction to the principles of Beshara in terms of both knowledge and practice. Taking the metaphysics of Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi as a starting point, the course explores what it means to know oneself and the world in the light of the Unity of Existence.
BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW
Contact: besharacourses3@beshara.org
Mystics and Metaphysicians, East and West, Past and Present – and Future
An online course presented by Jim Griffin
Fortnightly from October 2026 – May 2027
Saturdays: 10:00am – 12:00pm (UK time)
or
Saturdays: 5:00pm-7:00pm (UK time)
Workshop series following a format of reading with contemplative meditation and shared reflections.
“The traditions of the past are very great in their own place, in the past, but I do not see why we should merely repeat them and not go further. In the spiritual development of the consciousness upon earth the great past ought to be followed by a greater future.”
Sri Aurobindo
Daily Meditation
From 6th January 2025
07:30–08:00 GMT
Daily 30-minute silent meditation beginning with a dedication of intent and ending. All welcome.
Contact: John Brown at besharacourses@beshara.org for a Zoom invite
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