The Tree of Life.

 A certain wise man related that in Hindustan there was a tree of such wonderful virtue and whosoever ate of its fruit lived forever. Hearing this, a king deputed one of his courtiers to go in quest of it. The courtier accordingly proceeded to Hindustan, and traveled all over that country, inquiring of every one he met where this tree was to be found. Some of these persons professed their entire ignorance, others joked him, and others gave him false information; finally, he had to return to his country with his mission unaccomplished.
He then, as a last resource, betook himself to the sage who had first spoken of the tree, and begged for further information about it, the sage replied to him as follows:
The Shaikh laughed, and said to him, "O friend, This is the tree of knowledge, O knowing one; Very high, very fine, very expansive, The very water of life from the circumfluent ocean. Thou hast run after form, O ill-informed one, Wherefore thou lackest the fruit of the tree of substance. Sometimes it is named tree, sometimes sun, Sometimes lake, and sometimes cloud.
'Tis one, though it has thousands of manifestations; Its least manifestation is eternal life! Though 'tis one, it has a thousand manifestations, The names that fit that one are countless. That one is to thy personality a father, In regard to another person He may be a son. In relation to another He may be wrath and vengeance, In relation to another, mercy and goodness. He has thousands of names, yet is One, Answering to all of His descriptions, yet indescribable.
Every one who seeks names, if he is a man of credulity, Like thee, remains hopeless and frustrated of his aim. Why cleavest thou to this mere name of tree, So that thou art utterly balked and disappointed? Pass over names and look to qualities, So that qualities may lead thee to essence! The differences of sects arise from His names; When they pierce to His essence they find His peace!"

The Masnawi - Volume 2