Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “We can understand Rumi in today’s context”

President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan participated in the talk titled “Şeb-i Arus: Rumi Therapy” organized by the Rami Library. Addressing the legacy and profound words left to humanity by Rumi from a philosophical and psychological perspective, Tarhan made striking remarks on the repair of the human soul, referring to his book Rumi Therapy and emphasizing traditional Sufi teachings alongside modern psychological techniques. Stating that Rumi should be presented using today’s methodology, Tarhan stated that “What we need to do is bring Rumi to today. We can understand Rumi from today’s perspective. We must delve into Rumi’s ideas, theoretical foundation, and philosophy, and present them according to the thought patterns of this era.”

The talk, “Şeb-i Arus: Rumi Therapy,” was held at the Rami Library under the moderation of journalist Şaban Özdemir and featured a distinguished group of attendees.

“Everything Rumi said has a scientific basis”

Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that humanity is beginning to discover Rumi and stated that “We know Rumi as a cure for the soul. Rumi is like a remedy for the troubled and a healing balm for the soul. Those who read him feel better. Humanity is now starting to discover and seek him out. Everything Rumi said has a scientific basis. Having a scientific basis facilitates the persuasion process because, after modernity and the industrial revolution, scientific reliability replaced religious reliability. When you explain it scientifically, it convinces people of this era.”

“We will preserve the essence but reinterpret the substance in this era”

Tarhan emphasized that Rumi should be explained using today’s methodology and made the following remarks: “There is a cultural and moral crisis today, similar to Rumi’s time. Social decay is most prominent. Among the most used phrases, social decay stands out. For instance, if the Turkish Language Institution had chosen social decay as a candidate word, it would have come first. However, they chose ‘crowded loneliness.’ A million people chose ‘crowded loneliness’ as the word of 2024. Why? We are a close-knit society; therefore, how can we complain about loneliness? It means there is a bleeding wound inside. People are unhappy, restless, and not at peace with themselves. Such individuals have increased. What we need to do is bring Rumi to the present. It does not mean performing sema, wearing the same clothes, or attending ceremonies. These are forms and emotions. What truly matters is delving into Rumi’s ideas, theoretical foundation, and philosophy, and presenting them in today’s methodology. I tried to do that. I explained Rumi using today’s methodology. Clothes are forms; however, what is important is the essence. It is not the envelope but the content that matters. The traditional understanding of religion is stuck on the envelope. Because of this focus on appearances, it says the envelope is a must. We must preserve the essence but reinterpret the substance in this era. That means providing new answers to old questions and presenting Rumi according to the thought patterns of this era.”

“Those who best understand Rumi are those who question their pride”

Tarhan noted that prideful people cannot understand Rumi and stated that “Rumi is understood by people without pride. People with high egos and arrogance continue to look down on others. Pride can also appear in religious appearances, known as religious conceit. For example, there are types who speak while wagging their finger by being judgmental, accusatory, condescending. This behavior exists in parents as well. Such people cannot understand Rumi. Those who best understand Rumi are those who question their pride.”

“Sufi teachings mature the soul”

Highlighting the importance of religious sciences, Tarhan expressed that “In the past, the Islamic world could not build a bridge between Sufism and science. Sufi teachings are those that mature the soul. There are many religious people who do not understand Rumi, showing an opposition to Sufism. Yet, three pillars sustained the Ottoman Empire: the madrasa, the school, and Sufism. These three streams raised individuals. Now, two of these have been closed, leaving only the school. What remains is a type of individual focused solely on natural sciences…”

"The method of this age is the method of persuasion, convincing, and making people love"

Giving examples from Rumi's behavior, Tarhan said that "In Rumi's behavior, there is always compassion and mercy. This is more appropriate for this age. In the old times, methods of fear and intimidation were used. Now, the method of this age is the method of persuasion, convincing, and making people love. Rumi has embraced the Sufi metaphysics, which is what is most needed. In Sufi metaphysics, there is etiquette, compassion, and empathy. Empathy includes mercy, helping, and sharing. That is, 'The giver wins, not the receiver.' Rumi teaches this."

"The method applied globally by capitalist ethics..."

Stating that children should be raised with a focus on becoming good individuals in the family, Tarhan said that "Rumi compares state governance to watering a garden and growing plants. If you want to grow thorns and weeds in your garden, they will grow. If you want to grow roses, they will grow. He says this when discussing justice. 'What is justice?' they ask. 'Justice is like tending a garden.' A person who tends the garden can either grow thorns or grow roses. Thus, if we want to raise a family, we need to raise our children with a focus on becoming good people. Right now, capitalist ethics says that it is enough for children to be intelligent and successful. This is the method applied globally by capitalist ethics. In raising children, two parameters are insufficient. It is true that they should be smart and successful; however, it is also important for them to be virtuous. Then we need to teach them to become moral and virtuous people. Being smart and hardworking is not enough. We also need to teach them how to be virtuous. If we do not teach them to be virtuous, intelligence and hard work serve evil. In order for them to serve goodness, our education system needs a philosophical shift towards raising virtuous people."

"We will speak in the language of this time while preserving our essence"

Stating that Rumi first appeals to the hearts, Tarhan said that "If you want to teach someone goodness and beauty, you must first make them love. Rumi used that method. He appealed to their hearts. He made them find Allah through that. He triggered their emotions. Then, he taught them to use their intellect. In this age, the method should be suitable for scientific terminology. For example, the method of incapacity and poverty. When a person realizes their incapacity, weakness, and powerlessness, they find Allah. When going through love, they later discover love. First, they experience a crisis in the face of illnesses, disasters, and events. They see the ugly consequences of bad morals, they get slapped, and they pay the price. After paying the price, they begin searching and find Allah. Therefore, it is necessary to act with the methods of modernism and in the language understood by modernity. Thus, we will speak in the language of this time while preserving our essence. The language of this time is the language of scientific methodology."

"Emotional intelligence training is the reflection of Rumi's teachings to this time"

Emphasizing emotional awareness training, Tarhan said that "Humanism sanctifies man. Because of this, it does not make people question themselves. And because they do not question themselves, a type of person emerges who blames others occurs. The whole thing here is self-awareness. First, a person should know themselves. This is also emotional intelligence training. Emotional intelligence training is the reflection of Rumi's teachings to this time. The first stage is awareness. Being aware of yourself. Then comes self-management, managing yourself. The third stage is social awareness, being able to manage social relationships. In the fourth stage, there is reconciliation. That is, relationship management, social relationships. It includes stress management, relationship management, communication, problem-solving methods, and the ability to succeed in solving problems positively. Selfishness prevents doing these. What prevents and hinders a person from discovering themselves is saying, 'I know.' Those who say 'I know' have two characteristics. They do not trust anyone in social relationships, and their brains are constantly in conflict, always in defense mode. Their second characteristic is that they criticize everyone. Such a person is toxic. Thus, many toxic people have multiplied that they poison the surroundings. When you do not know how to live with them, you fall into their trap. Their battle strategy is to pull you into their negative space. Your battle strategy, however, will be to pull them into the positive space."

"The struggle a person has when they are sad is like jihad."

Emphasizing the concept of "the jihad of sorrow," Tarhan stated that "The struggle a person has when they are sad or in pain is like jihad. In Sufism, this is called the jihad of sorrow. You feel pain because you are sad. You struggle and come out relieved. The jihad of sorrow is one of the methods that develop a person. One of the methods of Sufi metaphysics is for a person to know and develop themselves, that is, to benefit from crises. Every stress, every sorrow that leads to depression or a breakdown is a demand for spiritual development. If we respond to this demand for development correctly, that pain will develop us. We call this 'developing trauma.' Therefore, we must focus on turning the negative into the positive."

"Democracy is not just a system of government, but also a system of values."

Explaining the four values of democratic culture, Tarhan stated that "If our goal is justice, the method of this age is democracy. Democracy is not just a system of government, but also a system of values. Democratic culture has four values. If these four values are present in the family, there will be peace in the house. Apply this, and the prejudices will completely disappear. The first is 'criticizability.' A system that is not open to criticism is not called democracy. It is a difficult path, but this is the method of this age. The second is 'liberalism.' This is indispensable in this age, and it is our greatest need. We cannot reform society by taking away freedom. The third is 'pluralism.' The opposite of pluralism is totalitarianism. The fourth is 'participation.' Decisions must be made together, and problems must be solved together. This is the method of peace."

"A person who manages to be at peace with themselves has inner peace."

Tarhan, who emphasized the inner peace given by belief, said, "The 'Cennet-i Muaccele' is the paradise in this world. The 'Cennet-i Muaccele' is the real paradise. A believer's life in this world can be a garden from the paradise garden, they are at peace with themselves. For example, people who get angry with everyone, who do not trust anyone, and who do not like anyone are not happy. They are in conflict with themselves. They fight with the threshold of the door. A person who manages to be at peace with themselves has inner peace. The peace given by belief. The person who catches this is a friend of Allah. Allah makes these people loved. That is why people who live like Rumi are loved because they are under the command of Allah. Rumi’s method of affecting hearts was through love. Our method will be different. To make people love, we will use the method of persuasion and convincing."

"Sociologically, we are in adolescence."

Commenting on Rumi becoming a tourism product, Tarhan stated that "Where there is interest, there is demand. Therefore, this is not bad. Let's not read into their intentions. Hopefully, they are well-intentioned. Those with bad intentions should not be allowed there. During the growth phase, imitation occurs. A child learns first through imitation and repetition. As they grow older, they understand the essence and approach it with internalization. Right now, we are sociologically in adolescence. Maybe in 20-30 years, our sociological adolescence will end, and we will grasp the essence at that time. Thus, I see this as the mistakes in the growth of a society, like the mistakes in the growth of a child. Let’s say the truth and be assured that this is a growth process. This is a phase of sociological growth. It is better for us to view it that way. Let's look at it with a positive outlook."

Tarhan's "Rumi Therapy" book was gifted...

At the end of the conversation, the participant who asked the most interesting question was gifted Prof. Nevzat Tarhan's "Rumi Therapy" book.

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜHA)