Life Increasing Light
Anyone who passes by my grave will be drunk.
Whoever stands over my grave will be drunk forever.
If the drunkard of my grave dives into the sea, the sea gets drunk, overflows and foams.
If he enters the earth, both the grave and the sarcophagus become drunk. [1]
Who knows how many lovers of the Prophet Mevlana had been ecstatic with these divine words. He had experienced an infinite passionate love with dreams of Konya, with the love of Hz. Pir. He was mesmerized by the Dîvân-ı Kebir and Masnavi. At the cost of his life, in a mysterious realm full of secrets, he had become the Phoenix and crossed Mount Kaf. Around that divine sham-i nûr, like a moth, he spun and spun, and burned and burned in a helpless, indecisive state.
Who knows how many wise conquerors of "Burcu belâ", like Seniha Bedri Göknil, had gathered roses and tulips from the flames that burned the heart. In the infinite unknown depths of love, he said, "The thorn of the beloved is sweeter than all roses". "Before plucking a single rose from his rose garden, hundreds of thousands of thorns had pricked his chest."[2]
He said, "I came to the tavern of truth in a state of ecstasy. I was ecstatic, so I did not think about ascending or descending." [3]
Seniha Bedri Göknil, who realized the infinite might and power of the Almighty, accepted her own nothingness in front of that great divine love and lived in this ledunni consciousness; Throughout her life guided by her sacred ideals, she left a pleasing voice in this world with her beautiful material and spiritual services that few people will be blessed with. Seniha Bedri Göknil, whose fame spread abroad with her achievements, left us in 1973, leaving deep traces in our world of science, education, ideas and culture with her valuable literary works, and in our world of feeling and heart with her eternal love for Hz. Mevlana, to whom she was irresistibly passionate.
In an article written by İbnülemin Mahmut Kemal, our world of ideas, art and literature is overflowing with meşahir-i meçhule (unknown celebrities). While statues of such people are erected in the West, in our country, after a wife, perhaps there will be no one to remember their names, he expressed his regrets about our material and spiritual values that have been left to be forgotten. It is impossible not to agree with this very valuable biographer. Maybe we have not forgotten yet, but if this continues, one of those who will soon join the list of those who will be forgotten is Mrs. "Seniha Bedri Göknil". This exceptional name of our Culture and Heart world has opened wide horizons for future generations with her strong character, scientific identity, artistic temperament, knowledge, delicacy, pleasure, and excitement full of material and spiritual works. He has made great efforts to cultivate the most valuable feelings in our garden of hearts and ideas.
Seniha Bedri Göknil, one of the most competent translators of Turkish literature, was born in Istanbul in 1901, the daughter of Ziya Bey of Crete, Minister of Nafıa (Minister of Public Works) and Undersecretary of Sadâret (Deputy Prime Minister), a religious aristocrat from a well-known family in Istanbul, and his esteemed wife Dilistan Hanım. She graduated with great success from Dame de Sion, one of the most popular schools of her time. In addition to the deep and deep-rooted material and spiritual education provided by her family, she combined her foreign language education with the love of literature in her heart, resulting in unique translations that could not be satisfied. Starting in the 1920s and continuing until the 1960s; Friedrich Schiller, Henrik Ibsen, Peter Weiss, Ludwig Fulda, Gustav Freytag, Edmund Morris, Hermann Sudermann, Gerhardt Hauptmann, William Shakespeare, and the great German thinker Goethe. Seniha Bedri Göknil, who brought quality translations to Turkish literature for years, received the Order of Goethe in 1933 for her valuable contributions to Turkish and world literature, especially for her skill and success in translating Goethe "s Faust. Seniha Bedri Göknil, who brought many works to the Turkish Theater with her translations during her long and sincere friendship with our esteemed theater master Muhsin Ertuğrul, translated many well-known plays such as Edmund Morris's Wooden Bowls, Gerhardt Hauptman's Zeynebi of Seven Villages, Peter Weiss's Mara and Ludwig Fulda's Volcano into our language with great skill. Theater lovers still watch these plays with great appreciation. Seniha Bedri Göknil, who is a beautiful, ambitious and successful woman of our literary world, a kind, elegant and rare lady of our world of feeling and heart, has never prioritized her fame, which has overflowed her borders abroad, and her successful literary works over spiritual values. As an unpretentious, modest, humble, virtuous lady who did not aspire to populism, she became a very important guide and idol for the young generations after her. Without further mentioning her literary personality and achievements in this field within the limited pages, I would like to mention her passion for Hz. Mevlânâ and her extraordinary spiritual services.
As soon as Seniha Bedri Göknil opened her eyes to this world with the grace of Allah Almighty, she became a beloved spiritual child of His Holiness Asad Erbili, to whom her beloved father and all her family members were deeply devoted. He spent his childhood days listening to the conversations of His Holiness Asad Erbili, whom he often visited with his family, and having close friendship and companionship with his beloved sister-in-law, Mrs. Saadet. When he was still a little boy, he used to kneel beside His Holiness Asad Erbili; "From Tecellâ-yı cemâlinden habibim nev-bahâr âteş. Listening to his verses, "The rose is on fire, the nightingale is on fire, the baybül is on fire, the sunbül is on fire, the hak-ü hâr is on fire," in his loud voice that burned hearts like fire, he had fallen into a divine fire that he could not understand. She had the bliss of being a beneficiary of that great Sufi's feyz-i spirituality. When she was a young girl, His Holiness Asad Erbili wanted to marry Ms. Seniha, whom he regarded as his own daughter, to Nedim Bedri Göknil, the son of Mr. Ahmet Nedim Göknil, who served as the governor of Damascus in the last periods of the Ottoman Empire. For this reason, he brought these two young people he loved so much together in his mansion in Erenköy, Istanbul and introduced them. Both young people were very pleased with this meeting, and in the very first meeting, they had achieved a unique happiness that would last a lifetime with the wishes and advice of His Holiness Asad Erbili. Nedim Bedri Göknil, who was a tobacco merchant in those days, later became an MP from the Democratic Party. Seniha Bedri Göknil, who, together with her husband and family, was close to Hazrat Asad Erbili until her last breath; In her marriage, which lasted for many years in happiness and peace, she gave birth to two daughters. Seniha Bedri Göknil, who was an enlightened Istanbul Lady of knowledge and wisdom with her intellectual personality, could not understand the storms that raged in her soul from time to time, and could not prevent the volcanoes that burned and erupted in the depths of her heart, despite her successful works that were worthy of the Goethe Order, the happy years full of love and respect she spent with her husband, all the worldly peace and bliss, and her two children who added unique beauties to her life. His family friend, Hazrat Asat Erbili, whom he had the blessing of knowing in his childhood days, had planted a fire in his soul that he could not understand with his verses, "Rose fire, nightingale fire, baybül fire", and planted many seeds of love in his heart, without him even realizing it, while he was still living in the innocence of a child. The fire that burned his heart was the explosions of a sublime love that broke its shells and cracked and blossomed, the burning of bread baking in the oven. For years no one noticed this deep pain in his heart. The bitterness and pain in his heart despite all the happiness that Allah had blessed him with. The poverty in his heart despite all the generosity of life. It had become a part of his life, poverty in wealth, unhappiness in happiness. The loneliness in his soul despite the crowd around him. Actually, he didn't know himself. He couldn't solve this complicated riddle. It continued for years, this ember flame falling on his heart. Sometimes it burned inside him as love. Sometimes a sweet spring breeze. Sometimes it greened and cooled his heart like April rain.
Her beloved life partner, Mr. Nedim Bedri Göknil, who was the only harbor she took refuge in the stormy days of her soul, went on an eternal journey, leaving this precious Istanbul Lady alone with her loneliness that she could not understand. Seniha Bedri Göknil was now looking at this world differently with the pain and sadness of separation from her husband, to whom she was devoted with great love. She already knew the emptiness of the world and the transience of its pleasures. He had never had a heartfelt attachment to the mortal world. Nevertheless, the unbearable pain and anguish of separation from her husband had pulled her a little more from this glittering world. It had led this elegant lady to turn inward even more. After many days spent in pursuit of an unknown love, on a night of Shab-i Arûs with Fisûn in Konya, all her pain was relieved and her darkness became light. In the infinite depths of his soul, he realized that the feelings of longing he had kept like a sacred secret for many years were "Love" and "Divine love". He had finally found the answer to the questions he had been unable to solve for years. A cold snowy winter night in Konya had brought spring into his life and roses and tulips had bloomed in his heart. This Shab-i Arûs was like his own wedding day. The process that promised the highest point of pleasure was over, and now he was experiencing vûslat to the fullest. As the neys were blown and the strings of the tanbur touched, familiar hands were ecstatic with terennums. From the sound of the groaning rebap, he felt the address "I am not your Lord" in his whole being. While these divine sounds echoed over and over again in every cell of his body, he was spinning, spinning, spinning around the Sheikh Master with great enthusiasm, inviting him to a mysterious enlightenment by opening his heart, which was as bright as the sun, to the realm of the spiritual. If you ask, how many years, how many centuries did this spiritual sky of the heart continue like this? No one knows how many lifetimes a moment of divine love is worth. He had become a propeller circling around the divine light of Hazret Mithat Bahari, one of the great Mevlevi Sheikhs of his time. These exuberant spiritual feelings in his soul were like an unstoppable flood. Despite all the opposition of his relatives and many people who had difficulty in understanding him, even condemning him and taunting him at every opportunity, he devoted every breath he took and all his material and spiritual existence to His Holiness Mithat Bahari. Because he knew very well that in one of his ghazals, Hazrat Mawlânâ said, "A person who has lost his heart to a beauty will never turn away from his love, even if he hears reproaches and condemnation from the right and left. Just as it is customary to be condemned and shamed for love, it is also customary for the lover's ear to be deaf." [4] As the Prophet said, he had closed his ear to everything but the sound of God's voice and submitted to love in surrender.
For you, my friend, if the world becomes an enemy to me.
It's not a worry because you are enough, friend, only you are enough for me.[5]
In these thoughts, he set an example of loyalty, faithfulness and service to the generations that would come after him by walking with love on thorny roads with a few heart friends with whom he shared the same spiritual feelings.
Seniha Bedri Göknil”in güvenli coşkun hizmet duyguları, Mithat Bahari Hazretlerinide çok etkilemişti. Bu nedenle de yaşamını tümüyle değiştirecek çok önemli kararlar almıştı. O günlerde müzik öğretmeni olan kızı Mutahhara hanım ve Fransızca öğretmeni olan küçük kızı Destina hanımla birlikte İstanbul Cadde bostanda güller içerisinde, iki katlı güzel bir köşkte yaşıyordu. Devrinin tanınmış bu Mevlevi büyüğüne birçok kişi gönül vererek, yakınında olmanın huzur ve saadetini yaşıyordu. Bir cilve-i Rabbâni neticesi, Peder-i âlilerinin mânâsına vakıf olamadıklarından, Mutahhara ve Destina Hanımlar aynı huzur ve saadeti hissedemiyorlardı. Bu nedenle de Mithat Bahari Hazretlerinin; Kendi devlethanesinde yapmış olduğu sohbet ve toplantılara çok az kişi katılabiliyordu. Mutahhara ve Destina hanımları rahatsız ediyor olmanın verdiği sıkıntıyla, zaten bu sohbetler fazlada coşkulu geçmiyordu. Bu duruma fazlasıyla üzülüp rahatsız olan, Seniha Bedri Göknil; Mithat Bahari Hazretlerinin isteğiyle bu gönül sohbetlerini, İstanbul Göztepe”de bulunan kendisinin yaşadığı villada yapmaya başladı. Çok kısa bir zaman sonrada; O yıllarda ileri yaşlarda olan şeyhine karşı duyduğu şefkat, sadakat ve bağlılığının, yüceliği ve derinliği neticesinde, çok değer verdiği mânevi büyüğünün, daha uygun ortamlarda ve en güzel şartlarda yaşamasını sağlamak, özelliklede yaşlı olması dolayısıyla sağlığıyla yakından ilgilenebilmek için, Mithat Bahari Hazretlerinin de arzusu doğrultusunda, ûlvi bir aşkla gönül verdiği şeyhini, kendi yaşadığı villasına taşımıştı. Şeyhinin her zaman yakınında olmanın verdiği huzurla yaşayan, Seniha Bedri Göknil, o yıllarda doksan yaşlarında olan bu değerli mânevi büyüğünün her türlü hizmetini inanılmaz bir aşkla, büyük bir şefkatle yapıyordu. Mithat Bahari Hazretleri artık kendisine ilâhi duygularla gönülden bağlanan, Seniha Bedri Göknil”in Göztepe”de bulunan villasında yaşamaya başlamıştı. Çarşamba ve Cumartesi günleri de, Hâk âşıklarına sohbetler yapıyordu. Çarşamba günü yapılan toplantıya mânevi olgunluğa erişmemiş yeni dervişler katılıyordu. Cumartesi toplantıları ise; Seniha Bedri Göknil”in, entelektüel kişiliği, geniş dost yelpazesi, kişisel gayretleri, özelliklede özverili sonsuz hizmet etme aşkı neticesinde, büyük bir coşkuyla geçiyordu. Dönemin çok değerli ve tanınmış Tasavvûfçuları, Edebiyatçıları, Şairleri, Mûsikişinasları, Âlimleri, Hattatları, Hâfızları, en önemlisi de, Mevlânâ âşıkları bu sohbetlere huzur içinde büyük bir şevkle katılıyordu. Seniha Bedri Göknil; gönlü gibi güzel ve geniş olan, yaşadığı hanesinin kapılarını, samimi duygularla herkese sevgiyle açmıştı. Böylece bir çok kişi bu sohbetlerin müdavimi olurken, Mithat Bahari Hazretleri de, huzur içerisinde bir çok kişinin gönül hanesine mihman olmuştu. Her hafta yapılan sohbetlerin ana konusunu genellikle, Mithat Bahari Hazretleri ve Seniha Bedri Göknil”in çok yakın dostlarından; Şefik Can hazırlıyordu. Özellikle bu gün için Divan-ı Kebirden bir gazel seçerek, Mithat Bahari Hazretlerine getiriyordu. O zamanlar fotokopi makinesi yaygın olmadığından, seçilen gazeli kopya kağıtlarıyla çoğaltarak gelen bazı misafirlere de dağıtıyordu. Mithat Bahari Hazretleri de Farsça olan bu gazelleri tercüme ederek açıklamalarını yapıyordu. Bu vesileyle sohbetler genişleyip derinleşiyordu. Güne iştirak eden mûsîkîşinasların, Mevlevi ayini ve tasavvûf müziği icrasıyla bu günler büyük bir zevk-i mânevi içinde geçiyordu. Seniha Bedri Göknil; Şefik Can”ın hazırladığı Osmanlıca el yazması olan gazelleri, yine Mithat Bahari Hazretlerinin el yazması olan tercümeleriyle birleştirerek, evde yaptıkları amatör bir çalışmayla kitap şeklinde getirmiştir.Mânevi değeri yüksek bu kitabı daha sonraları, Şefik Can”a armağan etmiştir. Yaşadığı dönemlerin çok kültürlü, ilim irfan sahibi, varlıklı elit bir Hanımefendisi olan, Seniha Bedri Göknil; bu sohbet günlerinde yanında çalışan aşçı, uşak ve diğer hizmetliler yardımıyla, tüm misafirlere beş çayı ve akşam yemeği servisi yapıyordu. Gelenlerin tümüyle tek, tek çok yakından ilgileniyordu. Her biri farklı, farklı meşreplerden olan bu misafirlere, kendi meşreplerine göre ayrı, ayrı büyük bir özenle nâmütenâhi, sofralar hazırlıyordu. Bu mânevi ailenin çok değerli bir üyesi olan, Neyzen Halil Can”ın; şeker hastası olmasına rağmen; Kapıdan çıkarken, aşçının eline küçük bir not sıkıştırarak, haftaya bu yemek ve tatlıları isterim deyip emirler yağdırması da, günün espiriler içinde neşe ile kapanmasına vesile oluyordu. Seniha Bedri Göknil; Böylece, yıllar süren ilâhi ince bir duygu ve anlayışla, Mithat Bahari Hazretlerinin her türlü hizmetini sonsuz sevgi, saygı ve edeple, büyük bir özveriyle yapmaya çalıştı.
They say that Eren's are unpredictable, and for some reason, His Eminence Mithat Bahari had decided to hold the Saturday meeting, which had been held in Seniha Bedri Göknil's villa, in his own state house. Seniha Bedri Göknil, who lived Saturdays with great excitement in the joy of a feast, felt such pain and anguish that her sheikh and her dear friends were not at home that day that the house turned into a place of mourning. While she was in an unbearable state, there was a knock on the door and Şefik Can entered unexpectedly.
Our esteemed teacher Şefik Can, who still remembers that very special day as if it were yesterday, describes it with great excitement as follows: "Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil told me with tears what she went through with great anguish. They say that you can't shoot the messenger. Please, go to Mr. Mithat Bahari and inform him of my misery. (Seniha Bedri Göknil addressed Mithat Bahari as Mr.) Please tell His Excellency how I am wailing and in what state I am. She asked me to go to His Holiness Mithat Bahari with tears in her eyes, saying that they would be gracious enough to honor my poor house again. I was very saddened to see Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil, whom I cherished very much, in such a sad state. I hurriedly went to the mansion of His Holiness Mithat Bahari to tell him about her misery. What did I see, neys were being blown and sazes were playing, there was such a state of affairs that despite all my efforts, I could not show courage and present her condition to His Holiness Mithat Bahari.With the distress of not being able to help, I rushed back to Seniha Bedri Göknil's villa. I knocked on the door with great sadness and desperation. Seniha Bedri Göknil opened the door with a great joy that I did not expect. It was as if the weeping and distraught Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil had disappeared and was replaced by a more excited and joyful Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil than I had ever seen her. I could not make sense of this situation. With great curiosity, I asked, "Madam, what makes you so happy and joyful all of a sudden? I asked her what could have made you so cheerful when you were so unhappy and miserable a short time ago. Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil started to explain with great excitement and joy: "You left home to go to Mr. Beyefendi. A little later there was a knock on the door. Maybe it is hard to believe, but Hazrat Mevlana came. He sat on this very seat." Seeing the excitement and astonishment on my face after this sentence, the lady, in order to explain what she had experienced in its true dimension, after describing at length the clothes the Prophet was wearing, the destar on his head, which is similar to a turban as we call it, said, "Don't be so upset and cry for nothing, your Sheikh will come here again. Don't make yourself miserable like this." When he consoled me, I couldn't help but search the whole house for the Prophet with my eyes. Of course, it was impossible for me to see him. This state was a spiritual state arising from the honesty, sincerity, great love and loyalty of Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil to our Prophet. I never doubted anything she told me about this blessed visit of our Prophet Pir to Seniha Bedri Göknil, because she was not a simple-minded lady who would engage in false narratives. She did not need this anyway. For this reason, I felt a great excitement. I experienced the joy, peace and bliss of Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil, who received the good news from Hazrat Pir himself that Hazrat Mithat Bahari would come again. As I have repeated on every occasion, I once again said with great excitement to this precious lady, whom I have always held in the highest esteem, whom I call my spiritual sister, the most perfect lover I have ever seen, an exceptional person, "Madam; I am the lover of your love." I have always been the lover of Seniha Bedri Göknil's love. "
Indeed, His Holiness Mithat Bahari came back to Seniha Bedri Göknil's villa in Göztepe as soon as possible. The most beautiful mehks, words and conversations always took place here. Again the nightingales were in ecstasy, and the lovers of Allah considered Saturdays as a feast.
Seniha Bedri Göknil, who considered it a sacred duty to serve her spiritual elder, to whom she was connected with a divine love, made great efforts to introduce His Holiness Mithat Bahari to our world of literature and to keep him alive forever with his works. Seniha Bedri Göknil covered the printing and publishing expenses of all the published works of His Holiness Mithat Bahari, except for a few small books he had previously published. With her own personal means, material and spiritual help, efforts and endeavors, she printed the books of His Holiness Mithat Bahari. Seniha Bedri Göknil again showed the greatest effort in the printing of the book "Selections from Divan-ı Kebir" published by the Ministry of National Education and gave great support to her sheikh in this regard. With her many unspeakable and unspeakable services, she served Mithat Bahari Hazret in every subject for many years with great devotion and endless love, and was instrumental in many people benefiting from this table of heaven and earth. Despite this, he never brought himself to the forefront as a result of his immense humility. He always hid behind his sheikh and considered it the greatest bliss for him to stay in his shadow. These beautiful, spiritual, fruitful and fertile days were disrupted due to the onset of health problems of His Eminence Mithat Bahari, who was quite old. Seniha Bedri Göknil did not leave her sheikh's side for a moment. She was serving her sheikh with her superhuman love and compassion throughout his illness. But she also knew that no precautions were valid in the face of Divine Providence. Like every lover, he felt in the depths of his heart that the crown of his head was very close to vuslat. Just as everything has an end in this mortal world, Seniha Bedri Göknil had accepted to the extent of her own perfection that it was time to part with the light of her eyes and heart, whom she had held above all kinds of love throughout her life. In silence, hiding all her sadness, she knelt with great dignity beside her sheikh, who had opened many spiritual doors for her for years. Like an innocent child, he looked deeply into the eyes, which he called the mirror of the Truth, with great love, as if to say, "Don't leave us without light in this dark world. In order to feel the warmth that warmed his heart once again, he gently held his sheikh's hands as if touching a sacred relic. He kissed and smelled them with great respect and dignity. His tears became rivers of love. They silently overflowed into the pool of his heart. Who knows what he felt and experienced after that moment. These feelings were beyond words, beyond words. Thus, Mithat Bahari Hazretleri lived with the most beautiful of loves in both the heart and the mortal worldly house of Seniha Bedri Göknil, the Mevlânâ lover, until his last journey. She was served in the most ûlvî, most loverly way. She was loved and respected.
Seniha Bedri Göknil had learned Persian after the age of sixty, with the advice and efforts of Şefik Can, in order to be able to recite the Prophet's ghazals in their original form. These ghazals were her only solace in the absence of her shaykh. He was reading all the ghazals on the blessed sarcophagus of our Prophet, which we call death, which we call absence, but which actually describe birth, and he was trying to extinguish the fire of his heart in the shadow of the words of the Prophet Mevlana. But he could not get used to waking up every morning to find his sheikh's room, which he considered a holy shrine, empty. He felt his sheikh's absence everywhere he looked, everywhere he touched, in all the objects he used, in every breath he took. His sensitive soul could not tolerate this suffering any longer. Believing that it would alleviate his suffering, he sadly left the villa in Göztepe, which was of incomparable spiritual value to him, where he had experienced the peace and bliss that could only be attained in Paradise, together with His Holiness Mithat Bahari and his dear ones. As a bright star slipped away from the realm of meaning, he left Seniha Bedri Göknil in a lonely, helpless, blind well. In these sad and lonely days, she moved to a house near her sister Nahide Hanım's house in Kalamış, which she believed would be her companion. After these days, he continued his holy service from where he had left off, hiding all his pain and sadness in the depths of his heart. He devoted himself to the lovers of Allah (swt) with a zeal that was unlike the old days. He especially tried to make Saturday conversations without fail. Because His Holiness Mithat Bahari wanted these conversations to continue after him and wanted Şefik Can to undertake this task. For this reason, all the friends of the heart were coming together again with great enthusiasm. As in the old days, Şefik Can would prepare ghazals from the Divan-ı Kebir and translate and explain them himself. Thus, Seniha Bedri Göknil continued to serve with great love together with Şefik Can after His Holiness Mithat Bahari, without changing anything. Although everything seemed to be going well with this exemplary lady's usual love, effort and diligence, her health was not getting any better. She had been ill for a long time. She did not take her illness too seriously and tolerated her pain and suffering. But his health problems were quite serious. He didn't even realize it, but he actually had pancreatic cancer and needed surgery very urgently. Unfortunately he never had time for himself. After that, it was too late for some things. From time to time, he was inwardly thinking that it was time for him too. For this reason, he wanted to go to Konya with Şefik Can, his sister Mrs. Nahide and a few close friends. Who knows, maybe he was making this sacred journey for the last time.
When he came to Huzoor-u Sharif, every fiber of his being was in prayer. He was very ashamed towards his Master; he had come to this world, and he was going to leave very soon. He knew that. But despite his best efforts, he thought that he would leave before he could circumambulate the "Kaaba of Lovers". He left the presence of Hazrat Pir with his eyes teary and his neck bent. The pain and sadness in his heart made him forget the pains in his body. He thought about the old days absentmindedly and silently. Who knows how many times they had come to Konya together with his spiritual elder, his Sheikh, Mithat Bahari Hazretret, whom he accepted as the mirror of the truth. He remembered Shab-i Arûs, the first time he saw it and was ecstatic. Years had passed, but he thought he was still a moth. He was spinning around that magical light again. Without even realizing it, he had already arrived at the Başak palace where Mithat Bahari Hazret had stayed when he came to Konya. Everyone already knew this beautiful lady. Without even having to tell him, they handed him the key to the room where his sheikh was staying. She herself did not know what was going on. She climbed the stairs in silence. She washed everywhere her feet touched with tears. With trembling hands he opened the door, which was an ordinary room for someone else, but a sacred sanctuary for him.
He hadn't slept that night. He was aware that he had come here for the last time. In the morning, he said goodbye with very sincere and heartfelt feelings; he planted seeds of love with every tree, bird, flower, insect in Konya, everywhere his eyes touched. He said goodbye to the soil he stepped on with great respect. With teary eyes and a heavy heart, he looked back one last time. "To the Dome of the Rock." At that very moment, life had stopped. His test in this mortal world was over. But he returned to Istanbul as he had come with his friends to complete the few days he had left. Not many days later, unable to bear the pain and anguish he was suffering, his sister Nahide Hanım, his little daughter Nazan Hanım and his close friend Şefik Can took him to the hospital by ambulance as a last hope, but in his life dedicated to love and service, he had already embarked on an irrevocable journey, silently closing his eyes, which were stuck on that green dome, adhering to his sheikh and ideals with his memories and services that he kept alive until his last breath.
Now, in the middle of the sea, on the "Big Island", in a place where his heart as wide as the oceans is like a tiny likeness, like a fresh rose sapling, he whispers the love of the Prophet Mevlana to the loving hearts that still hear and hear. With the waves of the sea and the sound of the wind.
In his memories, Şefik Can Hoca, who had a long and sincere friendship with His Holiness Mithat Bahari and Seniha Bedri Göknil with respect and love, who shared many bitter, sweet, material and spiritual realities of life together; I can say this with peace of mind; If it wasn't for Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil's love for serving His Eminence Mithat Bahari, today everyone would know His Eminence Mithat Bahari as a humble, modest Mevlevi Postmaster living quietly in his corner in Konya. He would not have been known for his works, conversations and literary personality. Just as His Holiness Mithat Bahari was a divine blessing for Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil, Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil says that His Holiness Mithat Bahari, who was at an advanced age in those days, was a divine blessing of Allah.
Many years later, when I had the pleasure of getting to know Şefik Can Hodja, I saw that he had met many dervish people who were devoted to Hz. Pir in his life. Each of them left a trace and a memory in their hearts, which were very sensitive. But it is a fact that none of them left a deep mark on Şefik Can Hoca as much as Seniha Bedri Göknil. They always speak of this precious lady, who was a lover of Mevlana, with great respect, and they often repeat that she was a lover of his love. From time to time, there are two ladies whom I regret that I could not introduce you to because they passed away. One of them is Seniha Bedri Göknil. The second one is İzzet Çelebi, the honorable mother of Celâleddin M. Bakır Çelebi, the twenty-first generation grandson of Hz. Mevlânâ, and they always express their sorrow on this subject.
As I often listen to the life story of Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil, who is a very important distinguished example for me with her love, loyalty, faithfulness and services, dedicated to love and service, from my teacher Şefik Can, I cannot say anything other than "This poor person is a lover of both of your love" with great admiration.
In another article written by Master Ibnülemin Mahmut Kemal titled Forgotten men, he wrote: "The bodies and names of other talented (skillful) and valuable men raised by the nation in various professions have also been nâbud (disappeared). It is also a benefit if everyone writes and tells what he knows, no matter how little or much. [8] [8] he says.
I do not think that I can properly understand and explain Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil, a very exceptional personality. As I do not have such a claim, being aware of my inability to describe this esteemed lady, with the spiritual support I receive from the infinite respect and love I feel for her, and encouraged by the words of our esteemed master Ibnülemin Mahmut Kemal, which are like a testament that he said almost seventy years ago, I tried to share with you the memories I listened to from Seniha Bedri Göknil "s close heart friend Şefik Can and the information I obtained from her close family members. For these lines, which are insufficient to describe their very valuable personality, I ask for forgiveness from their souls and once again commemorate them with respect, love and mercy.
Acknowledgments I would like to express my sincere and sincere gratitude to my esteemed teacher Şefik Can, who frequently mentions Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil in his memoirs with great respect, love and reverence, to the nieces of Mrs. Seniha Bedri Göknil (Nahide Hanımebi's daughters), who showed great interest in the preparation of this article and tried to help me with great effort in accessing all kinds of information, with very sincere and sincere feelings; Ms. Sevgi Çilingiroğlu and Ms. Melike Ateş, and the very valuable Mr. Fuat Çilingiroğlu, who have helped me to access all kinds of information, with my sincerest love, respect and esteem.
[1] Hz. Mevlana Rubailer. (Şefik Can no 843)
[2] Divan-i Kebir (Şefik Can vol. 1 no 320)
[3] Divan-i Kebir ( Şefik Can vol. 1 no 235)
[4] Divan-i Kebir ( Şefik Can vol. 1 no 246)
[5] Fūzūli
[6] Every Month, Year, Issue 3, May June 1937, pp.125-133)
