I once came across this story about two wolves which inspired me spiritually. Even though you can easily find this story in a lot of websites, I still want to share it with you here. I hope you too may have some inspiration.
I will keep the story intact without any additional views or comments from my side. Why? Because I hope you can connect it to your life experiences and come out with your own wisdom.
The story goes like this:
The Story of Two Wolves – 1
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 hear the story that ends like this:
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
The Story of Two Wolves – 2
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 (Native American Legends – Two Wolves)
I hope you are inspired. I will like to show you a symbol of life and harmony in Taoism.
With this, I hope you grasp the symbol’s deeper meaning.
May you have peace and harmony in life. All the best to you.
It is good to take notice of your thoughts but also good to learn to still the mind and have no thoughts too. Not easy, it takes time and practice but can be done.
Linda
Yup, Linda.
Cannot agree with you more.
Not easy but with practice and over time, it definitely can be done.
All the best and take care.
KL Chang
I really like the second story and it’s meaning. Now I understand the Yin and Yang better.
Thank you.
Hi, Linda.
This shows that you have deep spiritual roots.
I have to read it a few times before I understand it.
Theoretically, it is easy to understand that within the good there is still some ‘bad’ lurking somewhere.
Within the so-called ‘bad’, there is still love and compassion somewhere in the heart.
So, I now practice taking notice of my every thought that arises. Not easy. Still practicing or what they call ‘cultivating’. For every cause, there is an effect … The Law of Cause and Effect.
There is a saying, “Bodhisattvas Fear Causes, Sentient Beings Fear Effects”. This means that Bodhisattvas are very careful about planting a cause because they know clearly the effect will materialize in time. Just like you plant a seed, it will surely grow and bear ‘fruits’ (effects) when the time and condition is ripe.
As for human, they are only afraid of the effects and are not afraid of creating “causes”. So, they do whatever they wanted to do without thinking of the consequences. When it is time to leave the world, ‘suddenly’ they realised and regretted their sins and they have to suffer the consequences in Hell or Underworld … which by then, is too late.
Thanks for dropping by and share your understanding, Linda.
May God bless you and family.