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Discovering Unity: a course over five weeks exploring human consciousness and meaning

6 March 2016 10:30 to 03 April 2016 16:00

Woodgate Retreat Nr Hastings/Rye

 

The course will meet each Sunday, and combines theory and practice, group investigation and private contemplation, in order to uncover some of the profound meanings entailed in being human.

Our premise is the ultimate unity of all existence. The course's development reflects this unity as it reveals itself by degrees in our everyday experience, as light and love, knowledge and beauty. It is a journey of self-enquiry and discovery of the unified whole that is our human nature.

This course is offered by John and Carolyn Markson-Brown, students of the Beshara School, and is based on material and a structure developed by the School for the completely independent use of its students.  

Dates:  

  • Sunday 6th March all day 10.30 -16.30. Sessions 1 & 2
  • Sunday 13th March 14.00 - 16.30 Session 3
  • Sunday 20th March 14.00 -16.30 Session 4
  • Sunday 27th March all day 10.30 - 16.30. Sessions 5 & 6
  • Sunday April 3rd 10.30 to 12.30 end of course lunch Session 7

Pot luck Lunch  on full days                                         

Course Fee: £75
Venue: Woodgate Retreat Nr Hastings/Rye
Booking and more information: www.woodgate-farm.co.uk    
or phone John Markson-Brown on 01797 260 763

The course is held over five consecutive Sundays, combining personal enquiry through selected readings, audio, video with contemplative daily practice at home. Its inspiration and direction derive principally from the teachings of two spiritual giants of the 13th Century, Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi and Jalaluddin Rumi.

The course material and its method have been distilled from forty years of experience running Beshara School courses at Chisholme House in the Scottish Borders.

Syllabus
The meetings will start with a guided mindfulness meditation, followed by 'checking in' and discussing any questions, feelings and insights which may have arisen during the previous week. After a short break, the week's new theme will be introduced, with discussion and notes relating to the theme including texts, artwork, film and audio material, as well as specific questions to contemplate over the week.

Week 1 
Session 1: Beginning from the Beginning: 
How can we create an ideal space, within ourselves and as a group, for this course to happen? How can we establish 'beginners mind'?
Session 2: The One and the Many, Being and Consciousness: 
An exploration of the principle of unity and its relationship to diversity and multiple points of view.

Week 2
Session 3: The Human Reality and Experience:
 What is the place of the human being and how do we experience unity in everyday life?

Week 3
Session 4: Relationships: What is the nature of relationship, be it to ourselves, to others, to the earth and its other inhabitants or to God and reality?

Week 4
Session 5: 'Closing the Shop that Sells Fishhooks'. 
What kind of work is required to realise our essential reality and to become free of our habitual mindsets?
Session 6: Love & Beauty:
 What do we mean when we speak of love and what is its relationship to knowledge, service and beauty?

Week 5
Session 7: Conclusions and Beginnings: 
A final meeting to address endings, new beginnings and to tie up as many loose ends as possible.

Course Facilitators: John and Carolyn Markson-Brown

 

The course will meet each Sunday, and combines theory and practice, group investigation and private contemplation, in order to uncover some of the profound meanings entailed in being human.

Our premise is the ultimate unity of all existence. The course's development reflects this unity as it reveals itself by degrees in our everyday experience, as light and love, knowledge and beauty. It is a journey of self-enquiry and discovery of the unified whole that is our human nature.

This course is offered by John and Carolyn Markson-Brown, students of the Beshara School, and is based on material and a structure developed by the School for the completely independent use of its students.  

Dates:  

  • Sunday 6th March all day 10.30 -16.30. Sessions 1 & 2
  • Sunday 13th March 14.00 - 16.30 Session 3
  • Sunday 20th March 14.00 -16.30 Session 4
  • Sunday 27th March all day 10.30 - 16.30. Sessions 5 & 6
  • Sunday April 3rd 10.30 to 12.30 end of course lunch Session 7

Pot luck Lunch  on full days                                         

Course Fee: £75
Venue: Woodgate Retreat Nr Hastings/Rye
Booking and more information: www.woodgate-farm.co.uk    
or phone John Markson-Brown on 01797 260 763

The course is held over five consecutive Sundays, combining personal enquiry through selected readings, audio, video with contemplative daily practice at home. Its inspiration and direction derive principally from the teachings of two spiritual giants of the 13th Century, Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi and Jalaluddin Rumi.

The course material and its method have been distilled from forty years of experience running Beshara School courses at Chisholme House in the Scottish Borders.

Syllabus
The meetings will start with a guided mindfulness meditation, followed by 'checking in' and discussing any questions, feelings and insights which may have arisen during the previous week. After a short break, the week's new theme will be introduced, with discussion and notes relating to the theme including texts, artwork, film and audio material, as well as specific questions to contemplate over the week.

Week 1 
Session 1: Beginning from the Beginning: 
How can we create an ideal space, within ourselves and as a group, for this course to happen? How can we establish 'beginners mind'?
Session 2: The One and the Many, Being and Consciousness: 
An exploration of the principle of unity and its relationship to diversity and multiple points of view.

Week 2
Session 3: The Human Reality and Experience:
 What is the place of the human being and how do we experience unity in everyday life?

Week 3
Session 4: Relationships: What is the nature of relationship, be it to ourselves, to others, to the earth and its other inhabitants or to God and reality?

Week 4
Session 5: 'Closing the Shop that Sells Fishhooks'. 
What kind of work is required to realise our essential reality and to become free of our habitual mindsets?
Session 6: Love & Beauty:
 What do we mean when we speak of love and what is its relationship to knowledge, service and beauty?

Week 5
Session 7: Conclusions and Beginnings: 
A final meeting to address endings, new beginnings and to tie up as many loose ends as possible.

Course Facilitators: John and Carolyn Markson-Brown

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