Concept

The Psychosomatic Diagnosis and the 'Thorn in the Heart' Metaphor

In Jalaluddin Rumi's Masnavi, the divine physician employs a meticulous, psychosomatic diagnostic method to uncover the exact cause of the handmaiden's hidden lovesickness. Recognizing that her ailment is not a physical disease, he clears the room to ensure privacy and continuously monitors her pulse while guiding her to recount her past. Rumi illustrates the difficulty of identifying such hidden emotional afflictions through the metaphor of a 'thorn in the heart.' Just as locating a tiny physical thorn in the foot requires careful probing with a needle, discovering the invisible thorn of spiritual or emotional affliction demands the delicate, patient expertise of a spiritual master. By observing the handmaiden's physiological reactions—specifically her leaping pulse and changing complexion at the mention of the city of Samarkand—the physician successfully pinpoints the hidden object of her desire.

0

1

Updated 2026-05-08

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

Humanities

Literature

Islam

Religion

Science

Philosophy

Social Science