The Beshara Trust was established in 1971 around the central gure of Bulent Rauf. Rauf was ‘consultant’ to the Trust and its school from this time until his death in 1987. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi Society in 1977. Bulent Rauf was a highly educated scion of an aristocratic Ottoman family, who before becoming ‘consultant’ to the Beshara School had lived a life that moved between extremes of wealth and grinding poverty. These extremes of experience prepared him well for his later spiritual life, and allowed him to work effectively and closely with a broad spectrum of Beshara students.