Tasavvufî Tecrübede Empati Anlayışı ve Carl Rogers’ın Terapötik Empati Modeli: Mevlânâ, Şems-i Tebrizî ve Yunus Emre Örneği

This study comparatively examines Carl Rogers' person-centered therapeutic empathy model and the concept of "understanding others' states" (halden anlama) reflected in the works of Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî, Shams-i Tabrizi, and Yunus Emre through a phenomenological approach. The primary aim is to analyze the similarities and differences between the structured concept of empathy in modern psychology and the spiritually-centered empathic consciousness shaped around intuition, divine love, and moral responsibility in Sufi experience. A qualitative research design was adopted, and document analysis was employed as the data collection method. The primary sources included Mevlânâ’s Masnavi, Yunus Emre’s Divan and Risaletü’n-Nushiyye, and Shams-i Tabrizi’s Maqalat. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis, conceptual analysis, and narrative analysis; the cognitive, emotional, and intuitive dimensions of empathy were coded and compared with Rogers’ model. Findings indicate that empathy plays a central role in both Rogers’ therapeutic model and Sufi understanding in facilitating inner transformation, self-awareness, and authentic relational bonds. However, while Rogers conceptualizes empathy as a psychological healing and self-actualization tool, Sufi thought frames empathy as a necessary stage for attaining a transcendent consciousness and divine truth. Moreover, it is determined that the Sufi empathy perspective can be integrated into modern therapeutic approaches such as mindfulness-based therapies, compassion-focused psychotherapy, and existential therapy. Consequently, this study aims to establish a new interdisciplinary dialogue between psychology and Sufism through the lens of empathy, offering a unique contribution to individual and collective spiritual development processes.