Representation of the Force Schemas of Mystical Journey in Hadiqah al-Haqiqah (Garden of Truth) and Tamhidāt (Preparations)

AbstractThe path of mystical journey is a path that is full of meanders. A mystic must overcome obstacles heroically to reach God. These are not physical barriers. According to the theory of image schemas first presented by Lycoff and Johnson, the mystic thinks and speaks about these obstacles by using force schemas. This study tried to compare Sanā'ie and Ayn al-Quzāt Hamadāni’s views about obstacles in the path of mystical journey by analyzing force schemas in their two works of Hadiqah al-Haqiqah (Garden of Truth) and Tamhidāt (Preparations) through a descriptive-analytical method. The units of analysis were the distiches and stanzas that contained force schemas in the mentioned works. The scope of our research was all their contents. The similarities of the intellectual foundations of the two mystics were reflected in the schemas of the second and third types. The word of God, moral vices, dependence on the world, soul, and knowledge of God were the main axes of these two types of schemas in the two works. The differences between the lived experiences and types of mysticism of the two mystics were found to have led to a significant difference in their use of the first type of schema. Also, they were different in their frequencies of using schemas, such as appearance of Shari'a, the devil, moral vices, divine zeal, and status, because of their varied lived experiences and intellectual foundations.IntroductionAccording to the theory of image schemas first presented by Lycoff and Johnson, we think and speak about abstract matters by using bodily experiences. Each schema can be generally defined as a repetitive and dynamic pattern, which is the result of the poet/author's interaction with the universe (Renner et al., 2005: 15). Thus, image schemas are basic categories based on bodily experiences. The term 'schema' refers to their generality. If schemas are so fundamental, the question arises as to whether a change in culture and ideology will affect the ways schemas are used. To clarify the role of lived experiences in the application of force schemas in mystical journey, we selected two mystics, who had somewhat different lived experiences, i.e., devotional mysticism and romantic mysticism. What were the differences and similarities between Ayn al-Quzāt Hamadāni and Sanā'ie’s views on mystical journey considering that Ayn al-Quzāt Hamadāni belonged to the mystical center of central Iran and Sanā'ie lived in the center of eastern Iran and regarding that th