Thursday, January 26, 2012

I love this story

The "two wolves" or "The wolves within"


A Cherokee Legend

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "Afight 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, andfaith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person,too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then askedhis grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one youfeed."

Here is the same story, but it is called "GrandfatherTells" which is also known as "The Wolves Within"

An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to himwith anger at a friend who had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you astory.

I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that havetaken so much, with no sorrow for what they do.

But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It islike taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled withthese feelings many times." He continued, "It is as if there are twowolves inside me. One is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with allaround him, and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He willonly fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlestthing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, forno reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It ishelpless anger,for his anger will change nothing.

Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves insideme, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes andasked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"

The Grandfather smiled and quietly said, "The one Ifeed."

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