Chapter 163: Supplement What Is Lacking
“Okay, then I’ll consider you my Master in my heart. Is it okay if I call you Big Brother?”
“That’s fine. Don’t just consider me your Master in your heart. You can even consider me a pig, it’s fine. Hahaha, as long as you’re happy, then everything is good.”
“Hahaha, I can’t say that. You’ve taught me so much, how could I think of you as a pig?”
The boy laughed heartily.
“Hahaha, it’s fine. What’s it matter if someone is like a person or like a pig? It’s just a name.”
“Big Brother, do you think vegetarianism is good for cultivation?”
“Not necessarily. Individual biological attributes are different. For example, if someone does physical labor, and you only give them green vegetables and steamed buns, their body can’t handle it. Why get hung up on this? For some people, it doesn’t matter what they eat or what they do; it doesn’t affect them. It depends on their own situation, there are no absolutes.
Take when I was recovering from my injuries back then. My Mom and Older Sister would stew big bones and make meat for me every day. I really didn’t like eating it. Who can stand eating that every day? But there was no other way. My body was very weak, and my family used this method to help me recover, so I could only grit my teeth and force myself to eat it. Even if I really didn’t want to eat it, I would still chew on a couple of pieces. Sometimes eating isn’t just about eating, but about conditioning and replenishing the Qi in your body.”
“Will it be different if I’ve been vegetarian for a long time?”
“It definitely will be, but there’s no need to force it. Just look at yourself. I don’t get hung up on what I eat. I approach everything I eat with gratitude. It’s all the same, even if I ate vegetarian my whole life, if my heart is bad, what’s the point? It’s okay to eat meat occasionally even if you’re mostly vegetarian. If your heart is good, even if you love barbecue, you’re still good. It depends on the specific situation. However, after eating vegetarian for a long time, those messy and chaotic tastes on your body will fade significantly. This has to do with the attributes of the energy you absorb.”
“Big Brother, didn’t you say that after cultivating to a very high level, one no longer distinguishes between good and bad?”
“Not distinguishing is a method, and distinguishing is also a method. There’s no need to get stuck on it. It’s like when I teach you to practice the Eightfold Vajra Technique when you have time. I still tell you to practice it for fun. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. When your state of mind is right, even a simple stretch is good. What’s important is the balance of Qi, which is Tai Chi.
Tai Chi is a profound culture. It both distinguishes black and white and is round and unified. Within black, there is white, and within white, there is black. Its meaning, beyond the role of dialectics, is the Way of Balance. The Way of Balance, applied to the body, is the operational law of the mind and Qi. When the mind is calm and the Qi is smooth, it is natural and complete.”
“Big Brother, where did you learn all of this?”
“I didn’t learn it. I’m lazy.”
“Then you know too much.”
“I have a strong curiosity and always like to research many things. After researching for a long time and combining various matters, I developed my own views on things. It doesn’t matter how I see it; the key is you. Take what you can use and leave what you can’t. Don’t force things onto yourself. Supplement what you lack, and don’t supplement what you don’t need. It all depends on you, hahaha.”
“Master, uh~, no, Big Brother, some people say drinking alcohol is bad, why do you drink it?”
“I just drink it for fun, like drinking water. It’s no different from drinking tea. If I want to drink, I drink. If I don’t, I don’t. Actually, alcohol was originally invented by ancient people for sacrifices. Because alcohol can numb the will, ancient people thought that by numbing the ego and weakening it, they could better communicate with deities. But hahaha. Most people experience side effects, often leading to messy things. For example, some people talk nonsense when they’re drunk, becoming erratic. Others become very lustful after drinking and can’t stay idle, always looking for girls.
Wait, wait, wait. But drinking a little alcohol can promote blood circulation, while drinking too much can easily lead to foolishness where one loses control. For me, I was troubled by heartbreak back then and tried to numb myself. Of course, I also embarrassed myself a lot. Later, after drinking for many years and achieving enlightenment, I used it to train my will so that I wouldn’t be controlled by external things. Don’t learn this; it’s just an external method. Once a bad habit is formed, it’s very difficult to change. I could change, so I don’t dwell on it; I rather exploit it. As the saying goes, Heaven and Earth Without Limit, Heaven and Earth Borrow Law. I borrow from all things to cultivate myself.
“Master, uh~, maybe I should just call you Master. I’m used to it.”
“Hahahaha, fine. Whatever you call me is good.”
“Master, why do you tell people who read your books not to get carried away when sending gifts? Don’t people usually hope for more gifts?”
“More is naturally good, who would dislike having more money? Besides, I haven’t earned much. Only a few yuan a day, which is enough to buy some water or green vegetables. But I can’t just ignore others because of that. You believe in me and like me, which is why you read my books. If I only thought about myself, why would I share what I know? Knowing it myself would be enough.
My Master tirelessly preached the Dharma and transmitted the Dao to help sentient beings achieve enlightenment. As a disciple, I have no way to repay my Master’s kindness other than to follow in the footsteps of my Masters and provide some inspiration to those who come after, in my own way, making it easier for everyone to hear Buddhist Dharma.
Besides, your kindness and I are one. Helping you is the same as helping myself. This is called Dao Benefits All Things and does not contend. This quality is very impressive. It means the Dao, like water, nourishes all things but seeks no reward. I am also acting according to the Dao.
Moreover, whether I’m willing or not, the Dao will nourish me in return. For example, when you read my books, the Great Dao will give me a bit here and a bit there. Accumulating a little bit is enough for a living. Also, you occasionally send me one or two mao, a few yuan, and some children even send me tens or hundreds of yuan. That’s enough.
I also know your intentions. It’s like how some people support elder masters, wishing for them not to be too tired with life’s struggles so they can spend more time enlightening sentient beings. I see all your intentions in my heart. Big Brother is not a fool! And I’m super intelligent too!”
“Hehehe, Master, you really speak your mind.”
“It is what it is. I don’t like to pretend. What is there that cannot be said? You’ve given me money, and I’ve spent it on tea and vegetables. Should I pretend and say, ‘Don’t send, don’t send,’ that I didn’t mean that? That would be too fake, hahahaha.
You’ve sent it, I’ve spent it, and I’ve also received your nourishment. Therefore, I should work harder and tell better stories and write better books to repay your goodwill.
“Wow, Master, you are too unique! Wait a moment, I’ll send you two mao to make you happy, hahahahaha.”
“Ahem, as long as it doesn’t affect your own life. It’s like those old fortune tellers by the roadside say, do as you please. You go with the flow, hahaha.”
“Master, if you have a lot of money in the future, what will you do?”
“Me? Of course, I’ll build a base! I want to build a headquarters for the Wuji Sword Sect. In the future, if you encounter any problems in life and want to find a quiet place, you can return to our headquarters. Then, we’ll make delicious food together and take you guys out to play. Of course, this is just a wish of mine, and I am working towards this goal.
“Will you charge a fee then, like other places?”
“Why would I charge a fee to return to my own home? You’ll pay for your own travel. I’ll support as much as I can. You’ll eat what I eat. If there are too many people, then we’ll buy groceries and cook together. Don’t let me run out of rice, hahaha. But I believe I can do it. I have absolute faith.”
“Keep it up, Master~!”
“I’m covered in oil! I’m a gas station myself, rest assured, hahaha.”
