Welcome back to wisdom from the Golestan of Saadi.

This tale is a beautiful, philosophical meditation on the nature of true freedom and spiritual independence, using the imagery of the noble cypress tree.

Saadi writes:

A philosopher was asked: "Of the many famous and fruitful trees that God, exalted is His glory, has created, none is called 'Free' (Azad) except the Cypress, which bears no fruit. What is the wisdom in this?"

He replied: "Every other tree has a specific fruit, by the existence of which it is refreshed at a certain time, and by the absence of which it becomes withered at another time. But the Cypress is free from all this; it is always happy and green. And this is the quality of Free Souls (Azadegan)."

Poem:

Set not your heart upon that which passes, for the Tigris river

Will flow through Baghdad long after the Caliph is gone.

If you are able, be generous like the Date Palm;

If you are not able, be free like the Cypress.

Reflection on this Hekayat:

The Cypress tree, by having no material fruit, is unaffected by the seasons of plenty or scarcity. It remains upright, green, and beautiful regardless of time or external change. This tale teaches us that true freedom is found in detachment. If you can be generous and impactful (like the fruit-bearing palm), do so. But if you cannot, at least achieve the higher moral state of the Cypress: don't be emotionally dependent on transient things—not on success, possessions, or external validation. By detaching your heart from what passes away (like the flow of the Tigris after the Caliph's reign), you achieve the perpetual, inner happiness of the Azadegan (The Free).