Mystical Experience in “Boundary Situation” and Its Reflection in Mathnawi (A Case Study of the Anecdotes of Pir Changi and Moses and the Shepherd)
ادبیات عرفانی July 24, 2021 Ghodrat Allah Taheri
Mysticism is often divided into three domains: experience, practice, and theory, with debate over which comes first. One view holds that mystical experience arises when a seeker faces a 'boundary situation'—a moment of inner weakness, bewilderment, or existential emptiness—that drives them toward a supernatural force, fostering personal growth and spiritual excellence. This essay analyzes two allegorical stories from Rumi's Mathnawi: 'Pir Changi' and 'Moses and the Shepherd.' In both, the main characters undergo a transformative mystical experience during a boundary situation, facilitated by another figure (Omar ibn Khattab and Moses, respectively). Rumi argues that spiritual attainment depends not on prior knowledge or formal austerity, but on exposing oneself to meaning and seizing irreplaceable opportunities.