One morning, Date seed
awoke with a question in her mind. She pondered for a moment and realized that
only Walnut tree could provide the answer she sought. She approached Walnut
tree and asked, "Oh Walnut tree, tell me, what is the secret to growth and
ascendance? How is it that a tree like you lives for two hundred years,
becoming majestic, while some other plants remain small and weak?"
Walnut tree replied, "The secret to a tree's
growth lies within her sap, the life force of the tree."
Curious, Date seed asked,
"What is sap? Do I have sap as well?"
Walnut tree explained,
"Not yet. Sap is like water, but slightly thicker. Despite its simple
appearance, it is incredibly rich. Sap flows from the tree's earthly roots to
her branches, reaching toward the sky. As long as the tree isn’t cut and her
sap isn’t wasted, this vital circulation continues, driving her growth many
times over."
Date seed asked, "How is this sap even produced?"
Walnut tree replied, "As the tree grows, water
gradually moves within her, like a stream. At first, this water is thin, but
over time it thickens and transforms into life-giving sap, rich with the
minerals needed for growth and fruit-bearing. The magic of this transformation
lies in the tree’s ability to absorb the murky water around her roots and
purify it. Once cleansed, the water flows upward as sap, nourishing the stem
and branches. What begins as dirty, unusable water becomes pure and clear as it
reaches the tree’s uppermost parts."
Date seed exclaimed, "So, the dirty water at the roots becomes
pure and beneficial when it reaches the top?"
Walnut tree nodded. "Exactly. The quality of a tree is determined
by the purity of this water."
Date seed then asked, "Why is this water so
important? What gives it such significance?"
Walnut tree explained, "Water is essential, but
an excess of it can lead to decay. Many ground plants wither due to too much
water. However, something more important than water itself exists. Water contains
vital minerals, and when these reach the upper parts of the tree, a valuable
process begins. Only some large trees can effectively transport this water to
their fruits and branches, fostering healthy growth. In ancient trees, this
water transforms into sap, signifying their extensive growth and long
life."
"But I don’t have fruits or branches yet,"
Date seed said. "What does it mean for me to bring water to my upper
parts?"
Walnut tree replied, "Your growth will begin soon. However,
remember that the direction of your growth depends on where you focus your
attention. If your thoughts are filled with despair, your growth will start in
sorrow and end the same way. Similarly, if you dwell on philosophy, you’ll grow
into those philosophies and eventually wither within them. If you view the
world through a lens of pessimism, you’ll cultivate negativity and perish in
that lowly sentiment. You must be mindful of what you are growing in and what
you are growing with."
Date seed asked, "Oh Walnut tree! What did you focus on during
your growth?"
Walnut tree said, " From
the very beginning, I’ve always focused on the Sun. I was born with it and have
grown alongside it. Even today, it resides within me, and I within it."
Walnut tree then shared a story: "Every day, I remind myself never
to forget the Sun. When I was a small sapling, a thorny bush grew next to a
beautiful Chamomile flower. I adored Chamomile then and still do. Chamomile
often complained about the thorn bush next to her, expressing her discomfort.
For a while, I was drawn in by her words; her beauty captivated me, and I forgot
about the Sun. Her words seeped into me, and I didn’t realize their effect.
Soon, I began to see Chamomile’s beauty everywhere and became consumed by her
sentiments. Time passed, and I became convinced she was right. Why should a
thorn grow next to such a lovely flower? A flower is a joy to behold, so why
should her beautiful view be spoiled by a thorn?
I spent my days and nights pleading with the gardener to remove the
thorn. One day, the gardener finally arrived, and I was overjoyed, thinking my
prayers had been answered. But instead of removing the thorn, he came straight
to me and cut off a branch! I cried out, 'O gardener! Why are you cutting my
branch? Remove the thorn!' But the gardener couldn’t hear me. Before leaving,
he whispered in my ear, 'Face the Sun and grow toward it.' Then, he quietly
removed the thorn and left. The gardener wasn’t troubled by the thorn's
presence; he was upset with me. That day, I wept and sank into despair,
questioning the fairness of the world."
Days passed, and the gardener's words echoed in my mind: 'Face the Sun
and move towards it. One day, I found
myself repeating them: 'Only the Sun! Just the Sun!' A sudden realization
surged through me. 'Where is the Sun? Why have I forgotten it?' I retraced my
steps and recognized that Chamomile's complaints about the thorn had distracted
me. Her beauty consumed my thoughts, causing me to forget the Sun. The gardener
had removed the Thorn, but my neglect of the Sun was unforgivable. I realized I
had allowed a flaw to grow within me, diverting my growth. The precious sap,
which should have been directed toward the Sun, had instead flowed toward that
flaw. At that moment, I made a vow to the Sun: 'No matter what happens, I will
never forget you again.'"
Walnut tree glanced down at Date seed and noticed she had peacefully
fallen asleep. He chuckled to himself, thinking, "Date seed is sleeping;
perhaps I should have kept this story to myself." Despite all the
responsibilities weighing on his shoulders, he wished he could find a peaceful
rest like Date seed, even if just for one night.
