Esoteric Education: what is it?
Reality, which is ultimately one, is observable and manifest as the world all around us, and also interior, hidden behind the appearances. As such it is the unity behind the apparent multiplicity of existences. It is the being and identity of all we can see, hear, touch or even think about.
Whatever we know of reality falls into these same two categories, that is, our knowledge of the exterior world, and knowledge of its hidden interior. While exterior knowledge is to know about something, esoteric knowledge is to know from the interior, and in particular to know the self from itself.
Most of our school or university education leads to knowledge about the world in its various aspects - science, mathematics, languages etc. An esoteric education leads to knowledge of the self, of the real identity and the unity behind the various aspects, from the unity itself.
Esoteric education addresses the question: who is it that is learning?
The true aim of esoteric education is union, and this is the realisation in oneself of the unity of existence. Among its many outcomes is the unification of esoteric and exoteric knowledge in one's existence here in the world.
For the person whose aim is union, that is, the realisation of the identity of his or her self with the single reality of all existence, esoteric education is the process of learning and development, and its result, through the provision of the appropriate context, assistance and means for such self-enquiry.
The Beshara School of Intensive Esoteric Education is such a provision for our time, for any person, irrespective of nationality, religious or cultural background, whose aim is union.
