One day a boy went to his grandfather and asked, “Grandfather, would you tell me about the two wolves? I have heard people talk about them, but I do not understand.”
The grandfather invited the boy to sit with him. “The story of the two wolves has been handed down by word of mouth from the Cherokee tribal elders for many generations. I will tell you stories about these two wolves so you can understand that they both exist inside of you.”
“Inside of me?” the boy said, surprised.
“Yes,” replied the grandfather. “They both reside in each human being. They are in constant battle with each other for control of the life of the being in which they reside. One is the Bad Wolf and the other is the Good Wolf.
The Bad Wolf is full of fear, sadness, pride, hate, envy, greed, and vengeance. And, out of those tendencies, this wolf is full of falsehood. The Good Wolf is full of faith, joy, love, peace, empathy, compassion, hope, and forgiveness. And, out of these qualities, this wolf is full of truth.
“Is the Bad Wolf inside of you, too, Grandfather?” asked the boy, for he had always known his grandfather to be thoughtful, generous, loving, and wise.
“Oh, yes! The Bad Wolf lives inside of me, too.” The grandfather smiled. “And, he never misses a chance to whisper in my ear all his ideas and suggestions for what I should do.”
“But, what about the Good Wolf?” the boy asked.
“Oh, he is there, too. Only, his voice is not always so loud. But, it is there if we take the time and care to listen. The Bad Wolf tends to be loud and very insistent. The Good Wolf is quieter, more patient and steady. He is constant and always there with encouragement to act from those qualities which he embodies.”
“Grandfather, if the Good Wolf and Bad Wolf are always fighting, whispering in my ears, which one will win this great battle you speak of?”
“The Cherokee say 'It depends on which one you feed'” his grandfather answered. It means you get to choose which one you listen to most."
I will tell you a story about the essence of the two wolves so that you may better understand the true nature of each. This is a story about Darkness and Light.”
"But what about the wolves?” the boy piped up.
His grandfather laughed. “Be patient little one,” he said. In this story, the Bad Wolf wears the cloak of darkness, and the Good Wolf wears the cloak of light.”
“Oh,” the boy replied, slightly embarrassed.
“Don’t worry,” the grandfather said gently. “You are right to express your surprise and curiosity. It is the way to understanding.”
The boy slowly nodded his head, taking in what his grandfather was saying.
“Are you now ready to hear the story of Darkness and Light?” his grandfather asked. His eyes were shining.
“Yes.”
***
Darkness and Light
“There was a time when Darkness went to the judge and made a complaint against Light. ‘Your Honor,’ said Darkness. ‘I would like you stop Light from bothering me everywhere I go.’
‘Tell me more about how Light is bothering you, Darkness’ the judge replied.
‘Well,’ Darkness continued. ‘Whenever I find a place I like, I start to get comfortable. And, then along comes Light and chases me away. It happens every time.’
The judge listened attentively. Then said ’I can understand your frustration. But, before I can make a judgment against Light, I must hear his side of the story.’
So, the judge called Light to come before him. He told Light what Darkness had told him and asked Light ‘what do you have to say about this complaint?’
Light replied, ‘Your Honor, I am very sorry to hear that I am causing a problem for Darkness, but I have never met him.’
‘Well he is right here, you can meet him now.’
But, when they turned to Darkness, he was no longer there.
This is because Light has an essence. It exists on its own. Darkness, however, has no essence of its own. It is a name for the absence of Light” the grandfather finished the story.
“Do you understand?” he asked his grandson.
“Sort of” the boy replied. “But, does this mean that the Bad Wolf does not really exist?”
The grandfather smiled and rocked back in his chair. “That’s exactly what it means! The Bad Wolf has no power of its own. The only power it has is that which we give it when we listen to its lies. When we stop concentrating on the voice of the Good Wolf, the Bad Wolf starts to whisper to us.”
“Mmm” the boy nodded.
“I think that is enough for tonight, young one.” His grandfather stood up and stretched, and the boy followed, beginning to yawn.
“Come back tomorrow, and I will tell you another story to help you better understand how we feed each of these wolves.”
***
