Beyond The Conflict Of Inner Forces
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life:
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.”It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?”
You might heard the story ends like this: The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
In the Cherokee world, however, the story ends this way:
The old Cherokee simply replied, “If you feed them right, they both win.” and the story goes on:
“You see, if I only choose to feed the white wolf, the black one will be hiding around every corner waiting for me to become distracted or weak and jump to get the attention he craves. He will always be angry and always fighting the white wolf. But if I acknowledge him, he is happy and the white wolf is happy and we all win. For the black wolf has many qualities – tenacity, courage, fearlessness, strong-willed and great strategic thinking – that I have need of at times and that the white wolf lacks. But the white wolf has compassion, caring, strength and the ability to recognize what is in the best interest of all.
"You see, son, the white wolf needs the black wolf at his side. To feed only one would starve the other and they will become uncontrollable. To feed and care for both means they will serve you well and do nothing that is not a part of something greater, something good, something of life. Feed them both and there will be no more internal struggle for your attention. And when there is no battle inside, you can listen to the voices of deeper knowing that will guide you in choosing what is right in every circumstance. Peace, my son, is the Cherokee mission in life. A man or a woman who has peace inside has everything. A man or a woman who is pulled apart by the war inside him or her has nothing.
"How you choose to interact with the opposing forces within you will determine your life. Starve one or the other or guide them both.”
–Cherokee Story
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to both good and evil needing to be fed to serve us? How does one stay mindful while engaging with both forces, not as a reaction, but out of a true sense of freedom? Can you share a personal story that illustrates the Cherokee wisdom?
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105 Past Reflections
On Jun 5, 2024 Aurora wrote :
Inner conflict personified in the scalpel of the surgeon who must inflict controled trauma and thus pain to reach healing and happiness. The talent of cuttting, the desire to cut and the healing intended and outcome desired.
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On Mar 3, 2024 Michael wrote :
I have heard this story so many times, but only with the conclusion to feed one of the wolves. Feeding both completely changes the game for me. This ending contains the whole truth, a very deep one. Thank you for this inspiration!
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On Jan 26, 2023 John Morabito wrote :
Such a powerful force to follow
Being aware of both wolves in us will improve our well being.
Being aware of both wolves in us will improve our well being.
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On May 17, 2022 Barb Sickles wrote :
By embracing all parts I myself, I can determine what to feed. Mara is always there, beckoning. Instead of banishing Mara, I welcome her, as a friend, invite her to tea. This diminishes the power of Mara. I can then water the positive seeds. When I became so angry at my adult son, i embraced the anger, allowing love and compassion to flow. The anger lessened, and I am at peace.
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On Mar 12, 2022 MartinaMonicaMaestas wrote :
I replied on the reflection of “Thos isn’t a Cherokee story..â€
We do not know the complete thoughts and verbal meaning of the Native stories when only part of the story and part of an explanation. While it is true others relay the story their own way or for fun a varied way, the meaning becomes hidden or is purposefully evading and another meaning shows clear. However the meaning might show itself, peace comes with a cost. But the cost is in the eye of the beholder as two who would fight approach the each other.
Therefore, perhaps Mr Graham actually heard the story and relayed it again as he wanted, perhaps the originator of the story was actually a Native man who decided to rely on a known predator friend, the white wolf, and really seeing on the ground the shadow recalling how the black wolf was there reflecting, so he decided to talk as the white wolf to Graham, looking all the time at his shadow and remembering, if I do not remember his black wolf, I would ... [View Full Comment]
1 reply: Barb | Post Your Reply
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On Apr 24, 2021 Casey wrote :
Man I'm a great grandson of a lost daughter of the Cherokee nation. Also independently identified myself as a medicine man, using the word creator when speaking to the infinite. Birthmark on my head & the Cherokee religion which I practiced before discovering it. I just followed my instincts and low & behold the lost was not actually lost. The destruction of faith is ugly & wrong and obviously didn't work. Fucking the one who will bring balance back to the world
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On Mar 8, 2021 Wayne Perrin wrote :
I've Found That Believing Story of Truth. Now I've Singled Out the Acquired Brain Damage Is Bad n Me Is Good Its like Me Leg's are Still Alive & Going Off now & Oh Paraplegic with Highest Spasm's Physio Had Seen in 15yrs. And Drug's don't Work the Pain Is Indescribable, I Follow 1O Indian Commandments Best I Can & Was Shown Indian Healing Himself By Woman gone In The Wind only She's Waiting for Me to Become 1 Again & In Shadow. Like Myself Waiting on Cares to Ease My Suffering.But then Again Government Payed People with No Regard Just Evil Paperwith Number's On It Bound By those Above
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On Jan 23, 2021 Thomas wrote :
Permission to be kind to others not at your expense but to be kind to yourself at the same time. Win Win
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On Jul 8, 2020 Clare Davoy wrote :
This brought me to tears as a family member us struggling so.
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On Feb 28, 2020 Steven wrote :
When the right qualities of the white wolf and the right qualities of the black wolf are brought together, they will merge - and from its synthesis a third and higher wolf will emerge.
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On Feb 11, 2020 Jodi Pearson wrote :
I believe in my white wolf. I know she is strong and has tancity and strong will. She is not lacking in anything that My Great Spirit or God has not blessed me with. If that black wolf is called evil, I would not want it around to devour me. If I kept evil alive I would be less of a good spirit. I thrive when my spirit is good. I feel lost and ugly when my spirit is dark. However, I think the black wolf is not evil. My black wolf is only my yesterday. I made many mistakes yesterday and today I am a white spirit. I needed those dark days yesterday to show me how to be strong and how to fight off my weaknesses. we need to experience sorrow and pain to know joy. We need that rain to grow and sunshine comes after the rain. However, I don't call sorrows evil. Nor is pain evil. So that black wolf that lives in me is just my teacher. Like my drill Sargent. I need both night and day.
1 reply: Kasia | Post Your Reply
On Sep 22, 2019 Dianne wrote :
A lovely illustration for all people. Politicians, international companies and leaders power hungry. As well for ourselves.
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On Jun 13, 2019 S Newman wrote :
This isn't a Cherokee fable; it's a story made up by Billy Graham, and he first attributed it to the Inuit (an Eskimo elder tells the story). When they objected, he turned the Inuit into a Cherokee,and it has been repeated ad nauseamfrom there.
I'm Cherokee (like, an actual Cherokee Nation citizen, not the Elizabeth Warren "high cheekbones" kind); I'm not an expert on traditional Cherokee religion, but you cando as I did and consult the mystical oracle known as Go-og-le,and it will reveal all. The book it first appeared in ("The Holy Spirit," by Billy Graham), is still in print. The origin is credibly documented and easy to find online.
Cherokee spirituality is about balance, not dualism. This story distorts and misrepresents traditional Cherokee religion while simultaneously romanticizing it. I think it's fine to talk about what this story means to you, but please leave the Cherokee people out of it.
I'm Cherokee (like, an actual Cherokee Nation citizen, not the Elizabeth Warren "high cheekbones" kind); I'm not an expert on traditional Cherokee religion, but you cando as I did and consult the mystical oracle known as Go-og-le,and it will reveal all. The book it first appeared in ("The Holy Spirit," by Billy Graham), is still in print. The origin is credibly documented and easy to find online.
Cherokee spirituality is about balance, not dualism. This story distorts and misrepresents traditional Cherokee religion while simultaneously romanticizing it. I think it's fine to talk about what this story means to you, but please leave the Cherokee people out of it.
4 replies: Sinida, Casey, Nat, Martinamonicamaestas | Post Your Reply
On May 11, 2019 Beth Price-Almeida wrote :
You can't have"Good" without having"Evil". Everything in God's creation has this balance. The Cherokee know this.
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On Mar 7, 2019 Adam Dunbar wrote :
I wish that balance existed and maybe it does in people. I can only speak to my experience. Abuse survivor, ex-military, Metis struggling with ptsd, depression and anxiety. The thing is, is that it sounds bad, difficult and hard and I guess it is but be it black wolves or black flags which I have fought with, fought under, nurtured, suckled and fed to a point where I knew no other way to be. Black wolves and Flags are powerful, they allowed me to disavow my humanity in a cauldron of rage, hate, violence and destruction. When my soul was nearly eaten, my energy gone, I used booze and drugs to continue to stoke the furnace. I was morally insane but no one ever hurt me as much as I could hurt myself and THAT, for me, was power. The thing is, is that I had no understanding of white flags or wolves. No concept at all until I got help, discovered that surrender was NOT capitulation or weak or feeble. I learned to love, to forgive, to breathe but it came through feeding the white wolf from th... [View Full Comment]
2 replies: Shawn, Danny | Post Your Reply
On Nov 2, 2016 Judy wrote :
Thank you, Audrey for that great story. I had not heard that ending before. I facilitate a grief group on Wednesdays. It is a safe place for people to feed that dark wolf. Sometimes we feel that we are not allowed to feel those sad feelings, that we are considered weak and at a disadvantage. What we acknowledge in the grief group is that the only way to allow feelings to pass is to feel them. We do some crying and some laughing in equal measure in the group. Beneath it all is great love, for without love, there would be no grief.
1 reply: Dave | Post Your Reply
On Nov 2, 2016 Angela C. Montano wrote :
I love this story and have shared it many times myself but the version I have is not this one. This one is better. What a powerful teaching. To honor both the light and the dark of our own nature.
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On Apr 10, 2016 Yogi One wrote :
OMG what a twist! you added to the otherwise grand story. So the Black wolf is now courageous and foregoing and brave? No in this story, the essence is to go for good even when that is the road less travel or the aparently harder route to take. No short cuts!
The way the story goes, its bad vs god, evil vs virtue, the black one is corrupted will never be good, there is no Yin and Yang, its pure duality, but the bad will never die - even if you try to kill it. Don't get confused adding niceness to the black one, it has none, its deceiving, it will tell you differently do, it will always cone you into its ways if you let it - That what evil does, and no one needs evil!
2 replies: Neveah, Wolfgang | Post Your Reply
On May 17, 2015 Gwyn wrote :
My part in a relationship seems to suffer due to my lack of self worth this a negativity that i have always struggled with regards all aspects of my life. Not a balanced view of one self. I don't want to let anybody down but my approach seems to do just that. The balanced aproach that you refer to of the 2 wolves how can that be practiced?
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On Dec 12, 2014 david doane wrote :
What I call good and evil are all me. Qualities in me that I like, I call good, and qualities that I don't like, I call evil, and all qualities are me. The qualities are different but they are not separate from me, and in proclaiming some of them separate and evil I split myself and make some of me my enemy to deny or repress or destroy. I become a house divided. The challenge is to feed both, accept and incorporate all of me, and become whole. I can learn to use all of me and have all of me be of service to me rather than aspects of me that I don't like taking control of me. All that is easier said than done, but I have a lifetime to work on it. Being mindful is a way of seeing that what I call good and what I call evil are me, which helps me be free to get to know and utilize all of me. As for a personal story, what comes to mind is that I've come to know that I don't have to or need to be angry, and the energy that used to become ange... [View Full Comment]
2 replies: Maria, Jason | Post Your Reply
On Nov 15, 2014 Maria wrote :
I really thought that this story was very interesting, I enjoy Indian sayings and proverbs from Rolling Thunder,Lloyd Carl Owle (Cherokee) and Crowfoot (Blackfoot) and some from unknown authors. But the story puts to my mind how we all have good and bad in all of us, none of us are without sin. GOD gave us free will, HE created us in HIS own Image not the other way around. Satan likes to twist the truth ever so slightly just enough to confuse us, because that is what he is the master of confusion. I've heard people say making reference to the scriptures we have created GOD in our own image, Shame on you! That's idolatry in my book. When we continue to feed the darker side of ourselves doing wrong when we know what is right. I think many people have heard that old saying, "The devil made me do it." Whose voice do you follow more?
1 reply: Akshay | Post Your Reply
On Sep 20, 2014 marlene wrote :
I did not find anything inspiring or informative.
2 replies: Killer, Akshay | Post Your Reply
On Sep 19, 2014 Jenna Berrie wrote :
Perhaps, rather than labelling them 'good' and 'evil' (which also has unpleasant christian nuances or hellfire etc), we could think of our selves as being a mix of love and fear. It is our fear which drives us to fight, to resent, to protect our 'fragile' selves against real or imagined threats. Our fear prompts us to draw back from others, to view them with suspicion, alert for danger. It is our love which prompts us to compassion, to empathy, to kindness, to move out into the world of others with confidence in our strength and abilities. We need our fear - we've survived as a species because of it - but we need not live in it.
7 replies: Mish, Jenna, Amy, Jenna, Aj, Jenna, David | Post Your Reply
On Jul 11, 2014 Akshay Sadana, NJ wrote :
Inner forces do not fight only for evil or anger, there are many other types of fight goes inside us.
Many times it is between right or wrong, favor to one and disfavor to other, between love and duty, between friend and family what to choose. All the life we have situations where by we are unable to decide what to do and what not to do.
Hundreds and thousands of times in our life we have situations where by we have to fight with our selves to find what to do and what not to do and what is right and what is wrong. Lot many times there is no evil in what we are unable to decide. It is only the justification what to do in a particular situation.
Many a times we have a problem in our mind to continue with the present job and between joining a new Job.
So we are in conflict of thoughts and that is the practical problem we face in situations where there is no one to guide us. So what we should do at that time?
Many a times i have been in that situation with no answer.
At ... [View Full Comment]
13 replies: Maria, Marlene, Marylin, Maria, Marlene, David, Jo, Marlene, Maria, Blessings, Maria, Akshay, Akshay | Post Your Reply
On May 10, 2014 Prudence wrote :
i did this, paid the black wolf and the white wolf equal respect. the black wolf saw this as a weeknes. i think this is a nice idea, but dangerous. remeber the gingerbread man.
2 replies: I, I | Post Your Reply
On Apr 13, 2014 Celestial Elf wrote :
Greetings, I thought you might like my animation of The Legend Of Two Wolves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N67Yu7uHECk
Blessings ~
1 reply: Mish | Post Your Reply
On Apr 8, 2014 Catherine Cadden wrote :
This is not of Cherokee origin. It has been passed around the internet alot. A lot of digging and research on this story has been done. Theearliest form of this story is found in 1978 written by the EvangelicalChristian Minister Billy Graham in his book,The Holy Spirit: ActivatingGod Power in Your Life. Of all native peoples of the land now called USA,the Cherokee kept impeccable records of many of their stories because they have the written word and this story is not in their collection.I bring this forward because enemy-images are very damaging -even if theyare positive images. I have found that politically correct and "positive";labels can keep just as much distance between people as "negative"; ones. I have found that Idle No More has encouraged me to speak more on matters - even something as small as this ...I call this small because I trust that your sharing of this story is trying to contribute to well-being, love, learning, compassion, and care. And at the same ti... [View Full Comment]
4 replies: Leigh, Shoshi, A, Jorge | Post Your Reply
On Apr 8, 2014 Leigh Anna Kennemore wrote :
I have never thought about my inner self in that way and never realized that I needed to pay attention to both because of the qualities that each brings to my life. I appreciate the insight. Thank you.
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On Apr 8, 2014 Mish wrote :
I love all parts of me.love, acceptance, forgiveness. I give all to me. And, in doing so, I have more to give to others.
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On Feb 23, 2013 Raghu wrote :
One more beautiful story of self realization and balance comes to light! I am struck by how easily I had bought into the version that would subconsciously justify my self oppression and guilt. And once I had pushed the black wolf into the shadow, I could feel heroic by projecting it on to the other and blowing them to bits!! Is is one more of the stories that have been distorted, monetised and colonized in the 'chicken soup' books?
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On Feb 23, 2013 Raghu wrote :
One more misuse of a beautiful story of balance and self realization that has been subverted to justifying guilt and oppression of ones self comes to light! I am struck by how easily we buy into stories that will lead to the projecting of ones shadow on the other! i hope that this story gets reinstated the right way, and gets its due credits. Is this also one of the stories of the wisdom traditions that gets distorted and monetised and colonized by the 'chicken soup' stuff?
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On Feb 7, 2013 a wrote :
Matthew 13:24-30 The parable of the weeds among the wheat:
Jesus says, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field . . . the enemy came and sowed weeds . . . the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well . . . His servants asked, 'Do you want us to pull up the weeds?' Jesus said, 'No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until the harvest. . . . at that time, harvesters will 'First, collect the weeds and tie them up for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
Wheat and weeds grow together "in the soil" that is each one of us. We don't want to "feed" the "bad stuff", but we naturally do because "we are soil".
God, in His wisdom, knows this! Though we would never feed a weed (or I can't say I know anyone that does) . . . they grow. Though I try to pre... [View Full Comment]
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On Feb 7, 2013 Dan kariuki wrote :
I think tolerance is the word. Without tolerance, you can not have the tenacity to be able to have both natures live on the inside of you at the same time, each with distinct craving. We also need maturity in order to grow up
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On Feb 6, 2013 V Anand wrote :
Wonderful Story Sirjee!
Also that Good Wolf and Bad Wolf are manyatimes interchangeable in terms of their roles, qualities and manifestation.
Guess, that's what makes Life Worthwhile and lot more Interesting.....
Also that Good Wolf and Bad Wolf are manyatimes interchangeable in terms of their roles, qualities and manifestation.
Guess, that's what makes Life Worthwhile and lot more Interesting.....
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On Feb 6, 2013 Jaquelyn P wrote :
This poem is a beautiful expression of the necessity of dichotomy. How would we know what joy is without having known sorrow? How can we distinguish what is true without knowing what is not true (lies)? It's all relative. If all we experienced was so-called good, we would not know it as such because we would not have a point of reference to contrast what it would be like otherwise. Each are two sides of the same coin, without one side, it would be incomplete.
2 replies: Prudence, Mish | Post Your Reply
On Feb 6, 2013 Willow wrote :
I think that maybe when we assign values like 'good' or 'evil' to each force, we immediately start to preference one over the other and create internal imbalance. If we don't look on the black wolf as bad and the white wolf as good, but both having equal value if their characteristics are harnessed properly, then I think it makes sense to feed both. For example, when I feel really angry about something, but then out of guilt, suppress that anger and tell myself I'm bad or wrong to be feeling anger, it just festers away inside and gets worse. But if I honestly take my anger out into the light and look and it, usually I find there is a valid reason for the anger I am feeling. When I do something to address the reason I am feeling angry then naturally the anger goes away. In that sense, the 'bad' emotions can be seen as really useful messengers to us about dangers we might be ignoring, or as fierce guardians trying to protect us from harm. I nev... [View Full Comment]
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On Feb 5, 2013 Raven wrote :
Honering our shadow side can be the best kind of reflection we can do to be free and spread our wings to soar.
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On Feb 5, 2013 Rekha Garg wrote :
Beyond the Conflict of Inner Forces
--by Cherokee Story (Feb.6, 2013)
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life:
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.”It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?”
You might heard the story ends like this: The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
In the Cherokee world, however, the story ends this way:
The old... [View Full Comment]
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On Feb 5, 2013 David wrote :
Avantika- I like your comment. I imagined the two wolves saying, "Do you not see that we are one? We cannot leave you or be left behind... when you honor us both you will see One Gray Wolf."
2 replies: Invisible, Peace | Post Your Reply
On Feb 5, 2013 Claire wrote :
Thank you for sharing this exended version of a story which has stayed with me for many years - it feels like it rings true...for how can we live love and compassion in the world without tenacity, courage and fearlessness? But I am curious, as peace is included as a quality of the white wolf, and maybe peace does not belong to either wolf, but can only be experienced when both wolves are fed... food for thought, in itself!
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On Feb 5, 2013 Avantika wrote :
This story is simply amazing. The wisdom here is what speaks of compassion. The ability to give love and care to every thing that the universe sends to you. When you ignore any one feeling or emotion, it tends to come back strong and forceful, and then it will cause imbalance in you. In my own experience I suppressed a lot of negative emotion and finally it turned into a black hole.
Recently I realized that I need to acknowledge every single thing that comes to me, how i react is something that I can decide. After all every emotion visits you to lead you to some action, they are like the tools that is used to shape you, and help you realize the wisdom.
Now when I see anger in me, I try to see why is here, and what is it telling me to do, and then it leads me to wisdom. Infact every negative thing is just craving for attention and love. Just open your heart and mind to the message. And you will see the Black and White wolf will become one.
Recently I realized that I need to acknowledge every single thing that comes to me, how i react is something that I can decide. After all every emotion visits you to lead you to some action, they are like the tools that is used to shape you, and help you realize the wisdom.
Now when I see anger in me, I try to see why is here, and what is it telling me to do, and then it leads me to wisdom. Infact every negative thing is just craving for attention and love. Just open your heart and mind to the message. And you will see the Black and White wolf will become one.
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On Feb 5, 2013 Thierry wrote :
As we were once weeding a garden a friend asked me: just how sure can we be that that such and such 'bad' weeds are not somewhat useful to the cultivated plants? Weeds do participate to the synergy of the whole. Having to eliminate these evil looking weeds by any means, including through the use of chemicals, is still a credo with many farmers and gardeners. And similarly many of us are conditioned to suppress or repress their psychological equivalent. In the words of Joseph Campbell: 'Our religious conditioning invites us to take a stand between Good and Evil while the Indian's law invites him to put himself in accord with nature.... All the devil is, is a repressed Daemon' , by this meaning the Greek term for the dynamic unconscious, the dynamic of nature.
I can only say that the words of the old Cherokee now ring true to me as do those teachings which invite us to acknowledge those ... [View Full Comment]
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On Feb 5, 2013 Ganoba wrote :
This is advait in very simple terms. The ancients were really wise.
Choose not between night and day. Together they complete the cycle of life.
Choose not between night and day. Together they complete the cycle of life.
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On Feb 5, 2013 Leela Ramdhani wrote :
I like the idea of balance and being able to hold multiple perspectives : it supports the idea that life is about both and and not a clear choice between on or the other - it also embraces all of us and not forcing us to aspire to this Mary Poppins view of who we should be - all light and happiness. --- not sure about the black and white depictions too stereotyped but very useful variation.
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On Feb 4, 2013 Sethi wrote :
Thank you for sharing . As a child I used to listen to stories and also read stories of good triumphs over evil , be it in the Ramayana , Mahabharta and that got deeply ingrained in my DNA . In my own life I have experienced the same , When I have encouraged the negative part of me , that part got the upper hand and in the process my negativity became visible in terms of anger , jealousy , ego , etc . I had an emotional roller coaster ride and in the process my marriage broke up . However that was in the past which I have put behind . Thereafter the transformation gradually happened as I listened to the voice within and I uncovered the veil within which covered the spiritual part of me . I encouraged the positive within me and love , trust peace , understanding , humility , gratitude have been the dominant emotions of my life . This has also helped me to heal my relationships with whoever I have hurt in my life and healed the relationships star... [View Full Comment]
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On Feb 3, 2013 david doane wrote :
I love this piece -- I think it is about something very important about us and for us. What we call good and evil, both inside us and outside us, is all us. It's just that some of me and some of others I don't like, so I separate from it and call it wrong or evil, repress it and disown it, and in the process it festers and grows in a distorted way (at least in my perception), and I see it as not me. I disidentify with parts or aspects of me and us and I come to see a split within me between my good self and my dark side, and as a people we come to see a split between us (good) and them (bad). But it's all me, it's all us, and it is important to feed all of me and all of us, what I call good and what I call evil. It is easy to feed or nurture what I call good -- I like for that to show. To feed the parts of me and us that I call evil means to acknowledge, listen to, explore, learn from, accept and embrace those parts,... [View Full Comment]
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On Feb 2, 2013 BCK MISHRA wrote :
A wonderful story. To have peace inside one should not allow struggle inside in between two wolves. But the good has to be fed more so that the evil is not able to raise his head. Good and evil can not be fed equally and can not be made equally strong lest the evil attacks and wins at slightest opportunity.
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On Feb 1, 2013 Rahul wrote :
Loved the extension of this story back to its original roots. Made me think of whether we can apply the same analogy to the external world i.e. we have unsavory characters who embody the black wolf more than the white in many parts of our workplaces and official institutions. Is this a wise choice, mindful of the wisdom of this passage? Is the black wolf within, and the black wolves without, content not reign supreme and dominate the white wolf? Personally, I am unsure, but I once heard of people complaining to a well-known saint about mischief done by unsavory characters in her organization. Her response was that she had to keep them close, or they'd create much more mischief in the outside world.
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On Feb 1, 2013 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
thank you for sharing the Entire story. I have often heard only the first version which denies one or the other. We all have yin/yang, dark/light, the bright/shadow side. It is truth that we need to be in balance to truly help ourselves and others. I was just speaking about this with a friend; when we are "grounded" we can serve so much better. If we are too joyful, it may feel as if it does not come fully from our heart, it may be off putting. When we combine our joy with vulnerability, we are more human and approachable. One can say this with Any of our white wolf or black wolf qualities; it is all about seeing the strength of both. Thank you so much for sharing. I can say that in my life, when I am in balance and at peace with both sides is when I am in the flow; when things seem to come together for me; whether in my Storytelling Work or when I was working in cancer research or at the AIDS hotline. It was all similar experiences; in balance reflected in Every aspect... [View Full Comment]
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On Feb 1, 2013 Conrad P. Pritscher wrote :
Excellent story. Thank you. Deep in my unconscious I feed the good wolf often starve the black Wolf. When I stop to think about the story, I agree that peace is everything as it seems to me it also is in Zen living. When I meditate I can more often allow both wolves to exist. After many years of living and a number of years of meditating, I find that my first unconscious reaction and/or action is to be impatient when something occurs as I don't want to to occur. Shortly after my period of impatience, when mindful, I notice I am patient and I am more peaceful . The time between my patience and impatience often irritates others and me but I am learning to forgive myself again, and again, and again.
Gail Brenner's idea of the wisdom "Of forgetting what you know" is helpful to notice. She said:"We are so afraid to let go, to just be, to allow the unfolding of this marvelous lif... [View Full Comment]
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On Feb 1, 2013 Sandra wrote :
I've heard this story before, perhaps with variations. It's difficult to follow the migration from angry, arrogant, inferior wolf to one who also has tenacity, courage, etc. I wonder if we in society don't get confused about all that? Some traditions would suggest those negative qualities are just the dark, or abused so-to-speak sides of fearlessness and courage. My studies have convinced me all that evil is no part of spiritual being, evil is a pretender. Some suggest just watching those angry thoughts, letting them drift away, as opposed to "feeding" them. Others suggest denouncing them and adhering to, acknowledging that only the good, joyful, caring, etc. qualities are real, or powerful, or even present. Paying attention to the evil, error would for me only give it power it has not on its own. It's perhaps the age old debate about picking up the child every time it cries. My suggestion is we all r... [View Full Comment]