Talks & Articles by Subject

Listed here is a selection of lectures and talks given within the context of the education presented on this website. Many are transcripts of talks given by visitors to the school at Chisholme, in the Scottish Borders, or alumni at conferences worldwide.

They include a number of talks by Peter Young, the Principal of the School, and some papers by Bulent Rauf, who was instrumental in establishing the Beshara School and served as its consultant between 1975 and 1987.  

Please note that the views expressed by visiting speakers are not necessarily those of the school.

Also see the talks arranged in order of author.

About the school and experiences of courses
Ibn 'Arabi: towards a universal point of view – the far-reaching implications of Ibn 'Arabi's legacy for the twenty-first century, by Peter Young
Notice to Cooks – by Bulent Rauf'
Between two worlds – by Carol Banks; a poem offered at the end of her  six-month retreat course, March 2016
Seeing' Myself in Scotland – what is it like doing a six-month course, by Eva Muchtar  
A Beautiful and Challenging Metaphysics – a  personal story of transformation, by Grace Connor.
Cool detachment and the power of transformation - the Chisholme Kitchen - by Aaron Cass

Essential Themes (papers by Bulent Rauf)
What is the single most important point that must be understood by a person who wants to know? - by Bulent Rauf
The Essential: A lover has to know for certain that the love is returned for love…' by Bulent Rauf
Union - by Bulent Rauf
Humility: But how can one practice humility?' 
Prayer and Meditation: The meaning of theophanic prayer as divine service - by Bulent Rauf

Global Issues

A Heart capable of every Form - 2014 Beshara Lecture by Jane Carroll
Tender Exchange with the Earth - Interview with Peter Young 
for WiserEarth online Magazine,
The Gift - a short paper for Christmas, by Peter Young
Working Together Between God's Two Hands – written for a MIAS Symposium, by Peter Young. Ibn 'Arabi and the Ecological Crisis by Peter Coates
Towards a Unified Vision:  Introduction to the first Self Knowledge Global Responsibility Symposium in 2009, by Peter Yiangou
Mindfulness - an introduction to the modern secular mindfulness movement, by Alison Yiangou (2013)
11th September 2001 – a response from love, by Peter Young
Letter to a war zone – by Peter Young
Esoteric Exposition of Finance – by Bulent RaufIntroduction to Climate Change – by Michael Shallis

Education
An Education for the Heart – written for a Teacher's Forum on Faith and Philosophy, by Peter Young
Educating the Heart: Establishing a spiritual perspective in the modern world, The first in the Beshara Lecture series, by Jane Clark
A personal response to giving the 2011 Beshara Lecture, by Richard Twinch
Listening on the Fourth Plinth – part of Antony Gormley's One & Other, Trafalgar Square, London (2009) by Evelyn Morrison
The Globalisation of Consciousness by Peter Yiangou

Mystics, saints and thinkers

Ibn Arabi
   Ibn 'Arabi: The Treasure of Compassion, by Stephen Hirtenstein - An introduction to his life   and works.
   Ibn 'Arabi and the Circle of Inclusion: article for the Huffington Post, by Cecilia Twinch
   The Wisdom of the Heart – written for a MIAS Symposium, by Cecilia Twinch
   Ibn 'Arabi: towards a universal point of view – the far-reaching implications of Ibn 'Arabi's legacy for the twenty-first century, by Peter Young

Bridges to Self-Knowledge: William James, Ibn 'Arabi and Nabalusi - by Peter Coates

Jelaluddin Rumi
   At the still point... – by Peter Young
   Open Heart Surgery – the operation of love in Rumi's Masnavi, by Alan Williams

Hakki Bursevi – biographical notes, collected & translated by Christopher Ryan
Christ - exploring the chapter on Christ in Ibn 'Arabi's Fusus al Hikam; by Richard Hornsby 
Meister Eckhart by Adam Dupre 
Meister Eckhart Commentaries by Dom Sylvester 
Dom Sylvester Houédard by Charles Verey
A relationship with Dom Sylvester Houédard, Part 1, by Charles Verey
Osman Fazli by Christopher Ryan
Soren Kiekegaard by Peter Coates
Gregory of Nyssa by Edward Hallinan
Sadr al-dīn Qunawī by Jane Clark
Plato by Peter Coates
William James, Ibn 'Arabi and Nabalusi: Bridges to Self-Knowledge - by Peter Coates

Talks by Guest Speakers
J G Bennett - The Meaning of Hu (given at Swyre Farm in 1974)
Tai Situ Rinpoche – a talk given in Tibetan, at Chisholme (1981)
Lama Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche – speaking at Chisholme (1987)
Kathleen Raine - Poetry as Prophecy  
Ken Holmes - Compassion 

 

On-line Magazines:

Self Knowledge Global Responsibility Journal