The Fourteenth Tale of the Super Radish: The Radish and the Pig
Ever since he set the goal of surpassing heaven, he began to work hard again. However, it was extremely exhausting and not very effective, making him feel farther and farther away from heaven. As he kept practicing, he gradually developed anxiety and depression. After falling ill, let alone surpassing heaven or obtaining roses, Radish couldn't even be a superhero anymore. He couldn't control his own emotions and often felt inexplicably distressed and anxious.
One day, when he saw the pig lying peacefully on the grass sunbathing, he was quite envious and went up to ask for the secret of happiness. The pig said something to him that greatly enlightened him. Radish decided to take the pig as his teacher and learn the secrets of happiness and joy from him.
Radish has always learned from others who have their own skills. Brother Small Eyes, now Radish wants to take the pig as his teacher. What do you think the pig can offer besides eating and sleeping? Of course, the pig does have one use - its name can be used to scold people. But is this useful for Radish?
After saying so much, these are just our understandings. Let's see how Radish understands it.
Radish thought: Although pigs are greedy and lazy, they have good tempers and personalities. People say: personality is destiny. Since pigs have good personalities, their destinies aren't bad either. Like in the story of "Dandelion's Love", the roots say: This journey will be long and arduous. The leaves ask: Will this journey be filled with sorrow? Although pigs only live for a year or two, during this time, they don't have to guard homes like dogs every night, they don't have to scratch food from the ground like chickens every day, they don't have to build nests by carrying mud like swallows, and they certainly don't have to worry about clothing, food, housing, and transportation like us humans. Pigs can eat without worry, wear without worry, and live without worry. Therefore, they are plump and have Buddha-like faces. Additionally, pigs have good mentalities and never compare themselves with others. Even if you kick them twice, they only grunt slightly, unlike dogs which would surely jump up and bite after being kicked once. The only defect of pigs is their short lifespan, but although life is short, there are no regrets.
All of the above advantages of pigs are secondary. The key is what the pig said that day, which greatly impressed Radish.
That day, the pig lay on the grass, basking in the sun while speaking slowly to Radish: "Radish, haven't you seen humans? They are very capable. They can fly in the sky like birds, dive into the deep sea like fish. They can eat all of us animals, push down mountains, and fill up seas. In autumn, so what if they can do all these things? They are omnipotent, yet they aren't as happy as I am, the pig. Look at how capable they are, but they are also pitiful because they don't know it themselves. When they think, God laughs. They still claim to fight against heaven and earth, and the result is that everyone's life is filled with tears, setbacks, and pain. Everyone is pursuing happiness and joy, but for most people, happiness and joy are visible but unattainable. They don't know that the more they chase happiness, the more it drifts away like a soap bubble. Because they always make 'me' and what 'I want' their goals, they rush towards it without hesitation. Countless people keep rushing forward towards their defined happiness like moths flying towards light, only to get burnt and exhausted, scarred, and then complain about the unfairness of heaven and the difficulty of being human. They never wake up, 'Super Radish Thirteen - Goodbye Rose', the happiness they pursue is merely a soap bubble disguised as happiness, not true happiness. They always think they are smart and intelligent, they trust themselves, so God often laughs watching them trip over themselves."
Because of what the pig said, Radish insisted on taking the pig as his teacher.
After becoming his disciple, the pig began to teach him: Keep your heart calm, reduce desires, and contentment is a treasure. And he made Radish constantly recite these words, while doing slow exercises like yoga and Tai Chi.
After practicing for a while, seeing Radish gradually stabilize and forget about surpassing heaven and roses, the pig taught him: Life is a dream, everything is empty, if you truly understand, let the wind pass through your mind.
When Radish became calm and stopped being troubled by external things, the pig taught him: No self, no self, no self, no self. And he told him that achieving no self is a very high realm. Ordinary people are always thinking about 'me', all troubles and joys are related to 'me'. They spend their days considering human matters, their own matters, so it's difficult for them to reach no self. If a person can reach the state of no self, they transcend humanity and come closer to heaven.
At first, Radish felt lost when trying to achieve no self, feeling unable to find himself or Rose. But gradually, he entered the state of no self. At this point, Radish often forgot his own existence and the existence of the world. This led him to another world, a transparent and wonderful world, where the sky was bluer, water clearer, everything was serene, without any noise or utilitarianism. He existed like a wisp of smoke or a breeze.
He felt he had started to truly enter the realm of a superhuman.
Then, the pig taught him: Transcend self, transcend self, transcend self, transcend self. After transcending self instead of surpassing heaven, Radish changed again. He began to perceive the beauty of the world but still forgot his own existence. This made him involuntarily do many things beneficial to society and nature without expecting any reward. Although there was no reward, he felt extremely free and happy, drifting like a speck of dust between heaven and earth, able to wander in ancient Greece five thousand years ago, or roam in present-day China.
At this point, Radish was no longer just Radish, but the real Super Radish.
Super Radish was very grateful to his mentor, Mr. Pig, regarding him as the embodiment of wisdom and virtue.
Since then, some of his descendants stopped eating pork.