What Happens When the Wolves Come Back?

Are you a wolf, sheep or sheepdog? This reflection looks into courage, denial, and why truth still matters in a world of confusion.

Jun 10, 2025

Issue #32:

Good day and welcome back to The Zen Journal. Today’s reading is a reflection on the roles we play in society and the importance of clear, honest thinking.

Let’s be honest. Most of us aren’t built for chaos. When things fall apart, we’d rather someone else deal with it. That doesn’t make us bad people. It just makes us...normal.

In a crisis, some people are sheep, some are wolves, and some are sheepdogs.

Let’s start with the sheep. No offense meant but most of us are sheep, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Sheep are peaceful, productive citizens. They graze, they grow and they get sheared when the time comes.

They pretty much more or less go along with the system. They don’t intend to hurt one another. They just want to live in peace.

Wolves, on the other hand, prey on sheep. They have long fangs, sharp claws, and they scare the living daylights out of the flock. They’re predators, and they usually work in groups.

Most sheep aren’t equipped mentally or physically to handle predators. They have no idea how to deal with that kind of threat.

That’s why we have the sheepdogs. These guys have also have fangs and claws, but their purpose isn’t to harm the flock, it’s to protect it. They live among the sheep, but they stand between them and the wolves.

Sometimes, sheepdogs make the sheep nervous. Maybe it’s the barking or their no-nonsense energy. But deep down, most of the flock is grateful they’re around. When the wolves come, the sheepdog stands between the flock and danger.

Every now and then, confusion spreads through the flock. The flock of sheep start to believe the wolves are just misunderstood, or decide that the sheepdogs are the real problem. “Maybe we don’t need protection,” they think. “Maybe we can handle things ourselves.”

That’s a comforting thought, until reality crashes in. Sadly, many of the sheep who pushed for this change aren’t around anymore to share their experiences. The wolves got to them. Or they’re off hiding in fear.

This story isn’t just about sheep and sheepdogs. It’s about how we engage with reality.

We live in a world of consequences. That’s true whether we like it or not. We can deny reality, mask it, or even lie to ourselves. But none of that changes the facts.

Imagine you have a high fever, but you don’t want your nurse to know. So you cool the thermometer down before handing it over, hoping to look healthier than you really are. You might fool the nurse, but you’re not fooling the disease. The fever is still there, and it’s still dangerous.

The same applies to society. Just because we declare that behavior X is no longer a problem, or that behavior Y is suddenly the real danger, it doesn’t change the impact those behaviors have. We can rename things, reframe things, even lie to ourselves. But that doesn’t remove the cost.

Right View, one of the pillars of the Buddhist path, requires that we look clearly and honestly at ourselves and the world around us. When our perspective is distorted, it becomes nearly impossible to make good decisions.

If we gaslight others, or lie to ourselves, our grip on reality becomes even weaker.

So, the sheepdog becomes a metaphor for those who live with Right View. Not because they’re violent, but because they’re vigilant, truthful, and courageous enough to see reality clearly and respond accordingly.

The way we respond to life’s situations matters. And when we make decisions (especially those with moral, social, or long-term consequences) it helps to have a way of evaluating what we’re actually signing up for.

One such tool is the Hat, the Haircut, and the Tattoo:

Is this a hat? If you don’t like it, you can take it off. No harm done.
Is it a haircut? You’ll be stuck with it for a while, but it’ll grow out. Maybe you’ll need to wear that hat a little longer until it does.
Or is it a tattoo? This one’s permanent. Or at least very difficult to undo. You’ll carry it with you for the long haul.

Not all decisions are the same. Some are reversible. Others change you and the people around you in lasting ways. Wisdom is knowing which is which before you act.

In a world full of loud opinions, shifting values, and moral confusion, clarity is an act of compassion. Both, for ourselves and for others.

Seeing things clearly doesn’t mean being rigid or judgmental. It means acknowledging what’s true, recognizing what’s at stake, and choosing with wisdom.

We may live as sheep. We may grow into sheepdogs. But we all live under the same sky, and we all live with the consequences of what we choose to see, or refuse to.

I look forward to continuing this journey with you. Please feel free to share your thoughts, reflections, or questions as I dive deeper into these teachings.