Superman Pickled Cabbage's Fourteen: Pickled Cabbage and the Pig
Ever since he set the goal of surpassing heaven, he started to work hard again. The result was extremely exhausting, with little effect, and he was getting further and further away from heaven. As he practiced, he gradually developed anxiety and depression. After falling ill, let alone surpassing heaven and roses, Pickled Cabbage couldn't even be a superman anymore. He couldn't control his own emotions and often felt inexplicably upset and anxious.
That day, he saw the pig lying on the grass basking in the sun, very peaceful, and he envied it greatly. So he went up to ask for advice on the secret of happiness. The pig said a few words to him that greatly inspired him. Pickled Cabbage decided to take the pig as his teacher and learn the secrets of happiness and joy from him.
Pickled Cabbage taking others as his teacher, they all had their own skills. Now Pickled Cabbage takes the pig as his teacher, what skills does this pig have? Apart from eating and sleeping, what else can it do? Of course, the pig has another use, its name can be used to insult people, but is this useful to Pickled Cabbage?
After saying so much, but this is just our understanding. Let's see how Pickled Cabbage understands it below.
Pickled Cabbage believed: Although pigs are greedy and lazy, their temperaments and characters are good. People say: character is destiny. Since the pig's character is good, its fate isn't bad either. Although it only lives for one or two years, during these one or two years, the pig doesn't have to guard the house like a dog every night, doesn't have to scratch food from the ground like a chicken every day, doesn't have to build its nest by carrying mud like a swallow, and doesn't have to worry about clothing, food, housing, and transportation like us humans. The pig can be said to not worry about eating, wearing, or living. Therefore, the pig is broad-minded and plump, with a face resembling a Buddha. Moreover, the pig has a good mindset and never compares itself with others. Even if you kick it a few times, it will only grunt a bit, unlike a dog which will definitely jump up and bite you after being kicked. The pig's only defect is that it lives too short a life, but although life is short, there are no regrets.
These above advantages of the pig are secondary. The key is the words the pig said that day, which greatly impressed Pickled Cabbage.
That day, the pig lay on the grass, basking in the sun while stretching out its tone and saying to Pickled Cabbage: "Pickled Cabbage, 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 in seas. But so what? They can do anything, but they aren't as happy as I am. Look at how capable they are, but actually, they are also pitiful because they themselves don't know. When they think, God laughs. And yet they still claim to fight against heaven and earth. As a result, everyone's life is filled with tears, setbacks, and pain. Everyone is pursuing happiness and joy, but for most people, happiness and joy are often visible but unattainable. They don't know that the more they chase after happiness, the more happiness drifts away from them like soap bubbles. Because they always set me and what I want... as goals, rushing towards them without hesitation. Countless people rush forward one after another, tirelessly chasing the happiness they define, like moths rushing to the flame. They get burned, exhausted, and scarred, then complain that heaven is unfair and life is hard. They never realize that the happiness they pursue is a soap bubble that looks like happiness but isn't real happiness. They always think they are smart and clever. They trust themselves so much that God often laughs watching them fall over."
Because of these words from the pig, Pickled Cabbage insisted on taking the pig as his teacher.
After becoming his disciple, the pig began to teach him: the mind must be calm, desires must be few, contentment brings constant joy. And he made him repeat it continuously, while letting Pickled Cabbage practice yoga, Tai Chi, and other slow exercises.
After practicing for a while, seeing Pickled Cabbage slowly stabilize and gradually forget about surpassing heaven and roses, the pig taught him: life is a dream, all things are empty. If you want to truly understand, let the wind pass through your head.
When Pickled Cabbage slowly calmed down and was no longer troubled by external matters, the pig taught him: no self, no self, no self, no self. And he told him that no self is a very high realm. Most people are always thinking about 'me', all troubles and joys are tied to the word 'me'. They spend their days considering human affairs, all related to 'me'. Therefore, it's difficult for them to reach the state of no self. So, if a person can reach the state of no self, they transcend humanity and get closer to heaven.
At first, when starting the state of no self, Pickled Cabbage felt lost, feeling unable to find himself or the rose. But gradually, he entered the state of no self. At this time, Pickled Cabbage often forgot his own existence and the existence of the world. This gave him access to another world, a transparent and wonderful world where the sky was bluer and the water clearer. Everything was serene, without a trace of noise or profit. He existed like a wisp of smoke or a breeze.
He felt that he was now truly entering the realm of a superman.
Then, the pig taught him: transcend self, transcend self, transcend self, transcend self. Since transcending self rather than surpassing heaven, Pickled Cabbage changed again. He began to perceive the beauty of this world but still forgot his own existence. This made him involuntarily do many things that benefited society and nature, and he never thought about recompense. Even though there was no recompense, he felt that he lived very freely and happily. He floated like a speck of dust between heaven and earth, able to wander in ancient Greece five thousand years ago or travel in modern-day China.
At this point, Pickled Cabbage was no longer just Pickled Cabbage, but the true Superman Pickled Cabbage.
Superman Pickled Cabbage was very grateful to his mentor, Mr. Pig, believing him to be the embodiment of wisdom and virtue.
Since then, some of his descendants stopped eating pork.