Place not thy heart on transitory things.

Excerpt

Place not thy heart on transitory things. Long shall the Tigris on by Baghdad flow, When all the glory of the Caliph kings Has passed away. Be, if thou canst be so, Like the date, generous. Canst thou nought bestow From lack of means; at least resolve to be, Like the green cypress, fetterless and free.

Source Gulistan, Chapter VIII, §18 · 📖 Read the full passage

✨ To meditate on today

According to Saadi, in the Gulistan (“The Rose Garden”), the Tigris still flows by Baghdad when all the glory of the caliphs has passed away: do not attach yourself to what passes, be generous like the date palm and free like the evergreen cypress. Today, give or share something you are a little attached to, and taste the freedom this gesture leaves you.

Receive a lesson of this teaching every day by email or Telegram