In Jalaluddin Rumi's Masnavi, the metaphor of the "lion on the banner" (شیر علم) illustrates the relationship between the physical body and the invisible intellect or spirit. Rumi explains that just as a lion painted on a waving flag appears to leap and move solely due to the hidden wind, the human body's movements and actions are animated entirely by unseen thoughts and the soul. This allegory highlights the dependency of the material world on the spiritual realm, asserting that physical existence is merely a passive instrument driven by subtle, imperceptible forces.