Concept

The Metaphor of the Schoolmaster's Delusion in the Masnavi

In Book 3 of Jalaluddin Rumi's Masnavi, the continuation of the tale of the schoolboys illustrates the profound destructive power of delusion (wahm) and psychological suggestion. After being tricked by his students into believing he is gravely ill, the schoolmaster's physical state deteriorates simply through the force of his own imagination. Upon rushing home, his delusion breeds intense paranoia and resentment toward his wife. He bitterly accuses her of ignoring his 'burning' state and being absorbed in her own vanity. When his wife attempts to present a mirror to prove that his complexion is perfectly healthy, the master angrily rejects it. Rumi uses this episode to demonstrate how a deluded mind not only manifests self-inflicted suffering but also violently opposes objective reality, preferring to cling to its false narrative rather than face the truth.

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Updated 2026-06-13

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