“Staff in hand”: selected poems of ‘Attar

Saturday 4th June, 2022
19:00 – 20:30 AEST / 10:00 – 11:30 BST

An exploration of a selection of poems by Farid al-Din ‘Attar translated by Ken Avery from the Farsi (Persian).

Contact: markvtemple@gmail.com

Event Description

“The great 13th century Sufi poet Farid al-Din ‘Attar is renowned as an author of superb short lyrics written in the Persian language. Dealing with themes of love, passion and mysticism, the versions presented in this book – Fifty poems of ‘Attar – are the first sustained offerings of ‘Attar’s lyric poetry in English. Award-winning Iranian-born poet, Ali Alizadeh, and Persian specialist, Kenneth Avery, have collaborated on this project which aims to bring this remarkably vigorous yet subtle poetry to an English reading audience.”

The session will last 90 minutes. Ken Avery will be present to participate in the conversation. Reading materials will be provided.

Booking

Cost: FREE via Zoom

Contact: markvtemple@gmail.com

A pdf of the selected poems translated by Ken Avery will be sent to participants on confirmation of attendance along with a Zoom link to join.

Bewildered: The Mystical Love Poetry of Ibn ‘Arabi

February 16, 2019 (2–5pm)
The October Gallery, London

Introducing a new English translation of Ibn ‘Arabi’s extraordinary cycle of mystical poetry Tarjumān al-Ashwāq (Translation of Desires) with publisher, Simone Fattal.

Nine-Day Study Retreat

December 3 – 11, 2016

A fully residential course in Cinere, West Java, reading from the Fusus al Hikam, by Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi. Organised by Beshara South East Asia and led by Avi Abadi.

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

The Ways of the Heart II: Oneness

14th October 2022 – 20th December 2022
20:00–21:15 BST/GMT

An online Beshara course exploring a spiritual life in the contemporary world.

Socrates’ exhortation was to “Know Yourself”: an exploration according to 4 wisdom traditions

22nd February – 31st May 2023
4 sessions on the final Wednesday of each month
19:00–20:30 GMT/BST

*NEW COURSE*

An online opportunity to contemplate this essential concept according to four major traditions of human wisdom – the philosophies of ancient Greece and India, Christian wisdom and Islamic mysticism.

God created God’s own being

Weekly on Mondays from 28th March, 2022
19:00 – 20:00 AEST

A series of online sessions exploring creativity and meaning through Poetry, Writing, Images & Song.

Contact: markvtemple@gmail.com

St Martin and the beggar

The Practical Wisdom of Ibn ‘Arabi

13th January – 3rd March, 2026
Tuesdays at 19:00 – 21:00 GMT (8 sessions)

Exploring Ibn ‘Arabi’s great metaphysical vision and its many implications for our conduct in everyday life. No previous knowledge is required, all texts provided.

This course is now fully booked. To join a reserve list or to receive notification of a future possible iteration of the course, email besharacourses3@beshara.org

The Alchemy of Human Happiness

December 7th, 2019 (2–5pm)
Rudolf Steiner House, London UK

An introduction to a new translation of a core chapter from Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi’s Futūḥāt al-Makkiyya with the translator, Stephen Hirtenstein.

The Secret of God's Most Beautiful Names

The Secret of God’s Most Beautiful Names

Weekly from Saturday 26th April 2025 (USA) / Sunday 27th April 2025 (Australia)

Weekly on Saturdays (USA)
18:00–19:30 CDT online via Zoom

Weekly on  Sundays (Australia)
09:00–10:30 AEST online via Zoom

An opportunity to study and explore a recent translation of a seminal work of Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi. Participation is free but it will be necessary to purchase the book.

This is an existing study group timed for participants in the Pacific Rim. There is room for a few additional participants who would like to join the group.

Contact: Mary Boyd-Brent, mboydb3.11@gmail.com

The Ways of the Heart IV: Praise and Service

21st November – 19th December 2024
Thursdays, 19:30 – 21:00 GMT

A new 28-day intensive online course combining daily (individual or group) meditation, study and contemplation.

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

Love Divine: a conversation between Rumi and St. John of the Cross

Meditation and poetry workshops 

Fortnightly from 18th January – 29th March
Saturdays: 10:00am – 11:30pm (GMT)
or
Fortnightly from 25th January – 5th April
Saturdays: 10am – 11:30am (Pacific Time), 12:00pm-13:30 (Central Time), and 5:00pm-6:30pm (UK time).


Meditation workshops following a format of reading some lines of poetry with contemplative meditation and shared reflections. There are a few places left.