Buddha organizes a race to say goodbye to animals, naming the years after them in order they win. They discuss the concept of zodiac signs, its significance, and beliefs about personality. They reflect on education, cheating, talents, and indifference. The animals participate in a race to reach Buddha, showcasing different strategies and the exclusion of a cat.
The Chinese zodiac was created through a race organized by Buddha to say goodbye to the animals, resulting in each year being named after the finishing animals.
Kindness was displayed by various animals during the race, like the rat cheating the cat, and the dragon helping people and saving the rabbit, highlighting the significance of compassion in the Chinese zodiac.
Deep dives
The Origin of the Chinese Zodiac
The podcast explores the Chinese zodiac, which is a system of animals that counts time. Buddha wanted to say goodbye to the animals but was too tired to go to them, so he called them to come to him. Only 13 animals came to say goodbye to Buddha. He decided to have a race and name a year after each animal in the order they finished. This race resulted in the Chinese zodiac.
The Cheating Rat and Kind Ox
During the race, the rat cheated the cat, causing the cat to fall into the river. The rat hitched a ride on the ox's back, who kindly agreed to carry them. The ox didn't mind being cheated. The rat reached Buddha first, giving it the first year in the Chinese zodiac, followed by the ox.
The Kindness of the Dragon and Betrayal of the Horse
The dragon, a fast and flying animal, made stops to help people and save the rabbit on its way to Buddha, showcasing kindness. The horse, frightened by the snake, helped the snake reach Buddha first. The snake got the sixth year, and the horse got the seventh year in the Chinese zodiac.
Buddha is about to leave Earth, and he wants to say goodbye to the animals in a special way: he will have a race, and name the years after them in the order they win.