Fight Between Two Wolves — Kwan Um School of Zen

Recently I heard a story about two wolves. In this story, a grandfather was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight between two wolves. One wolf expresses fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, hatefulness, and lies. The other wolf expresses joy, peace, love, hope, humbleness, kindness, friendship, generosity, faith, and truth. These wolves are always fighting with each other. My grandchildren, this same fight is going on inside of you. And not just you, but inside every other person too.”

The children thought about it for a minute. Then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win the fight?” The grandfather replied, “The one you feed will win.”

So which wolf do we choose to feed? Do you see that we have a choice? If we cling to our anger, how can we let go of it and feed instead the wolf of kindness and understanding?

The only way we can choose wisely is to come to the place before anger and kindness. In our Zen school, we call that place “before thinking.” And then we return to moment-mind. Remember that you have a choice about which wolf you feed. When you are fully alive in each moment, then the two wolves of opposites completely disappear. When we do anything 100 percent, then opposites disappear. Then our correct situation, correct relationship, and correct function become clear. And then we can really help this world.

From Inka Speech by Myong Hae Sunim, JDPS

Check out a clip from the Kwan Um Zen Online Study Group, See the Words of the Chants in Light of Your Practicing Life