In Book Five, Section 127 of the Masnavi, Rumi recounts the tale of a monk carrying a lit lamp through a bustling bazaar in broad daylight. When questioned by a passerby about his search, the monk explains that he is looking for a true human being (adam-i) who is genuinely alive. He clarifies that although the market is crowded with people, a true man is exceptionally rare—defined not by physical form, but by spiritual mastery and self-control when confronted with anger (khashm) and lust or greed (shahwat). This parable, which echoes the classical story of Diogenes of Sinope, serves as a profound metaphor for the rarity of genuine spiritual maturity and the necessity of conquering the lower self (nafs) to achieve authentic humanity.