The Twenty-Nine Pages

8th September, 2021 – 24th November, 2021

A 12-week online course by the Beshara Trust studying ‘The Twenty-Nine Pages’, which serves as an excellent introduction to Ibn ‘Arabi’s metaphysics of unity.

Course Description

This is a course studying The Twenty-Nine Pages, which serves as an introduction to Ibn ‘Arabi’s metaphysics of Unity

Drawn from The Mystical Philosophy of Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi by A.E. Affifi, originally published by the Cambridge University Press in 1938, the extracts presented in this short book as a continuous text were arranged many years ago by Bulent Rauf, consultant to the Beshara Trust until his death in 1987.

His intention was to provide a complete introductory guide to the language and thought of Ibn ‘Arabi, particularly those aspects of his doctrine which refer to the unity of being and the perfectibility of man.

The rich content, inclusiveness and extraordinary scope of the passages from Ibn ‘Arabi make it an invaluable reference for students of mysticism and the spiritual life, whatever their background. Themes include the one and the many, immanence and transcendence, sainthood, knowledge, the heart, the soul, good and evil, and love and beauty.

Peter Coates, author of Ibn ‘Arabi and Modern Thought (2002), states: ‘This is no dry theoretical piece of metaphysicalising but rather an invitation to each reader to benefit from an acquaintance with one of the most complete and universal mystical visions of reality we have at our disposal.’

The course will be held over 12 sessions with a weekly Zoom seminar on Wednesdays at 19:30 – 20:30 BST/GMT. All Zoom seminars will be recorded should you miss one.

The course will be guided by facilitators who are long-term students of the work of Ibn ‘Arabi.

Students will be expected to have a copy of the book which is available from Beshara Publications.

Booking & Fees

Fees: The course is free but participants will be expected to have purchased a copy of The Twenty-Nine Pages – available from
Beshara Publications

Please contact besharacourses@beshara.org to apply for a place on the course.

Fusus al-Hikam Study

Weekly on Sundays
10:00–11:30 or 17:00–18:30 BST/GMT

Online reading group studying chapters from the Fusus al-Hikam by Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi, translated by Jane Clark, Stephen Hirtenstein and Cecilia Twinch.

Interweavings: Christian and Sufi Threads in a Divine Tapestry

Poetry and meditation workshops 

Fortnightly from 11th October – 21st February
Saturdays: 10:00am – 11:30pm (UK time)
or
Fortnightly from 1st November – 14th March
Saturdays: 5:00pm-6:30pm (UK time)

Workshop series following a format of reading lines of poetry with contemplative meditation and shared reflections. 

Impersonal Compassion

September 21, 2019 (2pm – 5pm)
Rudolf Steiner House, London

A seminar exploring the distinction between non-theistic and theistic spirituality according to Ibn ‘Arabi.

Singleness, Oneness & Singularity

Metaphysical Foundations of the Fusus

Fridays 21st and 28th April 2023
Online 19:00 – 20:15 AEST

An exploration of the metaphysical foundations of the Fusus al-Hikam, as they are presented in the introduction to the commentary rendered into English by Bülent Rauf and Jandi’s commentary on the Wisdom of Singularity.

A Day with St Cuthbert: Leader Valley to Old Melrose

August 11, 2018 (10am–3pm)
Scottish Borders, UK

With Katherine Tiernan, author of ‘Place of Repose; a tale of St Cuthbert’s last journey’.

Endless Voyaging; Spiritual Journeying in ‛Attar and Ibn ‛Arabi

Saturday, 15th October 2022
19:00–20:30 AEDT
9:00–10:30 BST

An online talk followed by Q&A with Jane Clark.

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).

Open Meetings

Monday 14th July, 2025
From 17:30 BST

Are you interested in sharing your thoughts and in contributing to the development of Beshara? We are excited to invite you to another online Open Meeting this summer.

Seven Days of the Heart

‘Seven Days of the Heart’ Study Retreat

September 30 – 7 October, 2017
Armagh, Melbourne, Australia

An intensive, non-residential study retreat, led by Stephen Hirtenstein.

Application deadline: June 30th, 2017

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

‘Truth is One but the wise speak of it differently’

(Rig Veda)

7th September 2022 – 31st May 2023

5 x 5 weekly modules over three terms. Wednesday evenings from 7-8.30pm GMT/BST

This course will introduce participants to four major traditions of human wisdom – the philosophies of ancient Greece and India, Christian wisdom and Islamic Mysticism. Students will have the opportunity to explore how these traditions might converse with one another and consider what light they have to shed on the issues the world faces today.

Contact: admin@beshara.org

Self-knowledge? Unity of Existence? Truth? Love? Beauty?

October 8 – January 28, 2017
The Salisbury Centre, Edinburgh

What is the single most important point that must be understood by a person who wants to know?
A series of seven themed explorations.