Yunus Emre

“We have given the key to your heart to Tapduk Emre! Go and find him. Receive what you desire,” said Hunkar to Yunus. Thereupon, Yunus set off towards Tapduk’s lodge in Nallihan. A few days later Yunus arrived at the lodge and was struck by an inspiring scene. The back of the lodge faced the mountains. He felt the fresh wind on his face, blowing towards the River Sakarya. It was the most exciting moment of his life. During his journey, he repeated to himself the name that Hunkar had used to address him, “Emrem Sultan, Tapduk Sultan!” The moment he first saw Tapduk in the backyard of the lodge, it seemed to Yunus that Tapduk had been waiting for him. Yunus was overwhelmed by a spirit of rapture he had never experienced before. He felt as though he was going to lose his mind in the presence of Tapduk, whose dervishes hovered silently around to serve him, like moths flying around a sacred light. He caught the delicious scent of soup and was torn between hunger and love. He said to himself, “It is not the time to think about eating.” He listened to the faraway sound of a water wheel turning heavily, which resembled the earth-shaking sound made by the voices of the dervishes, reciting the dhikr ‘Hu’ at sunrise.