Which Voice Should we Listen to?

While I was doing my workout at the gym today, I became aware of this conversation going on in my head.  There was this voice making comments on different people around me. It was going like this: look at this old lady, she trying to keep up with the young ones, so determined but so slow; look at this guy with the many tattoos, he is showing off his muscles; look at this young girl, she is parading her boobs around; and this trainer he’s talking and talking, does he have any clients? 

When I became aware of this arrogant and complaining chatting in my head, I just said: stop, this is not me talking.   And with that the conversation stopped.  I realized that I don’t have to listen to all the negative stuff and for sure not identify myself with it.

This reminded me of the Cherokee Legend I had read about:

 

An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him angry at a friend who he felt had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you a story...

I too, at times, have felt a great resentment for those who have taken so much, with no seeming sorrow or remorse for what they do. I have struggled with these feelings many times." He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me engaged in a challenging conflict.”

"One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing.”

He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. He does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him, and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

Sometimes, it is a challenge to live with these two wolves inside me; for both of them try to dominate my spirit. The same challenge 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?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

 

We all have this battle going on inside of us.  As long as we are not aware of this conflict in our mind, by default we are defeated by the negative voice.  It takes discipline and practice to sort out the two opposing forces and make a clear decision, on which side of the fence we want to stand.  Or as the story goes, which wolf we want to feed.

 

It is also important to realize that there is an absolute standard for good and evil.  Unlike opposing forces good and evil are NOT complementary.  They can never co-exist because they go in opposite directions.  While God is the source of good, giving life, multiplying energy, and sustaining us in every way, evil’s source is an ungodly entity which came into existence because of immaturity and selfishness.  We call the source Satan or the Devil.  Satan was the original good angel Lucifer who turned against God, and beguiled Adam and Eve to mistrust God.  In many literature's and religions this is described as “The Fall of Man.” 

 

The thing is that if we don’t believe in the reality of a good God, we sure cannot accept the authenticity of an EVIL being.  There is only ONE purpose for the universe.  Unfortunately, the internal, spiritual life was destroyed at The Fall and only the external, material world was allowed to flourish.  People in pursuit of reason and science became successful.  Religions sprouted up all throughout the world to fill the void of spiritual nourishment but in many ways, they didn’t resolve the confusion and conflict.  We know that communications, negotiations, and/or social interactions are necessary in themselves, but they cannot resolve human problems since rules and regulations are not enough.  Only a deep experience and practice of the heart can make us grow and share it with others.   When we follow the principles of life first, eventually God’s love will flow into our lives and relationships.

Today, more than ever, we have to be modern alchemists by transforming evil, resentment, revenge, etc. into fogiveness and goodness.

 

In order to be good and do good deeds we have to constantly nurture our good side.  I had recently an experience where I was buying mulch in bulk.  The owner had already loaded the black mulch on the truck my son had driven.  When I went to pay for it, the man had made a mistake in adding the yard and a half.  I remembered from last year that it would cost around $30.  I mentioned it the owner, and he was very grateful that I didn’t take advantage of his error.

 

On the other side we have seen countless people play with their fortune by cheating, lying, betraying, and eventually murdering others. 

 

Let’s all feed the good wolf inside us and listen to the small voice which is coming from our original mind.