Talks, Audio, & Film

Here you will find a new selection of the many talks and events hosted by The Study Society over the years. We hope you enjoy the multidisciplinary perspectives of artists, film directors, poets, scientists, writers, musicians, dervishes, philosophers, actors, singers, professors, doctors, dancers, scholars and teachers who share our non-dual philosophy.

A Unified Vision of Reality
by Anne Baring

The journey in search of soul is difficult and even dangerous because it requires that we relinquish the certainty of what we think we know and what we have been taught for generations to believe. It means surrendering the desire to be in control and opening ourselves to a quest, a path of discovery – Anne Baring, The Myth of the Goddess

Anne Baring is a Jungian Analyst and one of the great pioneers of the Divine Feminine. She is author of seven books, one of the most famous being The Myth of the Goddess and the most recent being The Dream of the Cosmos: A Quest for the Soul, an absolute masterpiece which took twenty years to compile.

This talk was given to the Study Society in 2004 yet remains entirely relevant to this day. Anne presents a new vision of reality, the three stages of human consciousness, the myth of the Fall of Man and the loss of our instinctive participation in the Cosmic Soul of the universe. It displays a marvellous marriage of profound learning, mystical experience, and a vivid gift of communication. We are opened to a beautiful vision of reality and reminded of the issues facing humanity at this crucial time.

A Unified Vision of Reality

by Anne Baring

Winter Solstice Highlights:

Return to the Light, December 21, 2020

‘Return to the Light’ brought together thought provoking reflections on the solstice along with interludes of Mevlevi Turning from The Study Society’s whirling dervish community. 

Listen to Claire van Kampen share her unique insights into the music of the planets and their influence on earthly souls.  This highlight includes the exquisite short film she directed in honour of the 2020 winter solstice.  It is beautifully narrated by Mark Rylance with music from the Marini Consort.

The Cosmic Dance

by Philip Jacobs

Philip Jacobs describes Mevlevi Turning as a ‘cosmic dance’ so we have added one of his talks to our dervish community on the meaning of Turning in the context of non-dual philosophy.

In his meetings, Rupert explores the perennial, non-dual understanding that lies at the heart of all the great religious and spiritual traditions, such as Advaita Vedanta, Kashmir Shaivism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Mystical Christianity, Sufism, Zen etc., and which is also the direct, ever-present reality of our own experience. This is a contemporary, experiential approach involving silent meditation, guided meditation and conversation, and requires no affiliation to any particular religious or spiritual tradition. All that is required is an interest in the essential nature of experience, and in the longing for love, peace and happiness around which most of our lives revolve.

Given at the Monday Meeting 10.02.2020

The Essence of Non-Duality

by Rupert Spira | Good Company @ Colet House

Highlights from the Belief and Beyond Belief Festival at Southbank

On the last day of the Belief and Beyond Belief festival at Southbank, The Study Society was invited to create an experiential event for the general public in the Clore Ballroom. This vast open space lies at the epicenter of The Royal Festival Hall in London.

Over 500 people joined us in an integrated journey of stillness through a non-faith sharing of Rumi poetry, Mevlevi Turning (Whirling Dervishes) Kirtan Chanting and silent meditation. Here are some highlights.

Gerry Webber the station manager for Sino radio UK happened to be in the audience that afternoon and asked us to come in and talk about the history of The Study Society. Click here for his radio interview with trustee Margaret O’Keeffe.

Sino radio UK: Interview on history of the charity: 20 minutes

Sino Radio Interview

by Margaret O'Keeffe | History of The Study Society Charity