Page 101 - The Book of Rumi

“What are you searching for, my good man?” asked the shaykh with
compassion.
“Years ago, my king sent me in search of a tree that produces a fruit that
gives eternal life. I’ve wasted my youth searching for it, but I never found it. All
I found was sarcasm and pity!” whimpered the minister.
“My wise man, this tree you speak of is the Tree of Knowledge, which
grows within the human heart!” imparted the shaykh benignly. “You’ve been
searching for what’s readily apparent, and in the process, you’ve given up on
the real meaning of life. This phenomenon is called by different names; one
calls it the sea, another calls it a cloud, while another calls it a tree or even the
sun, and many more names besides. Knowledge has thousands of uses, one of
which is eternal life! God is one and without a rival, but He gives forth infi nite
signs. Think about it: a man may be your father, but he’s also someone’s son;
what may seem like anger in the eyes of an enemy is kindness to a friend.
“You’ve been saddled with only one of His signs, namely the tree that
you’ve been seeking. If you don’t want to remain defeated, it’s time for you to
ignore what you see on the surface and begin to concentrate on the essence.
What creates differences between men is precisely this superfi ciality, but once
they understand what lies beneath the surface, duality vanishes.”
The minister felt an immense burden lifted from his shoulders; he no
longer felt dejected or defeated. His heart had opened, and he knew that his
passage back home would be one of joy rather than grief.

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