Sheepdogs
AW 06-10 Sheepdogs
Breathe in, compassion and protection for the sheep
Breathe out, assertion towards the wolves
In between breaths, the sheepdog
Last time we talked about the sheep and the wolves, the victims and the predators. This is the usual two position dilemma many people find themselves in. This is a no-win situation. Both sheep and wolves, victims and predators are fear-based and trapped into a relationship pattern that will never resolve itself.
The third alternative position and role is the sheepdog. The sheepdog is the protector and the rescuer of the sheep. The sheepdog is the enemy of the wolves. Both the sheep and the wolves fear the sheepdog. Feared by both, the sheepdog belongs to neither. The sheepdog is also trapped within the relationship pattern of the sheep and wolves. The sheepdog position and role has its drawbacks as well.
Besides the relationship patterns between victims and predators, the rescuer provides an added ingredient that may actually perpetuate what it is trying to resolve. This is common where the attempt to resolve a problem or situation actually mimics and perpetuates it.
Let’s establish a triangle relationship between the victim, predator, and the rescuer. The scenario usually plays out as the predator attacks the victim and the rescuer protects the victim by attacking the predator. In human relationships, especially those imbedded in a relationship, the positions have actually just shifted. When the rescuer attacks the predator (for attacking the victim) they are now becoming the predator. The predator (now being attacked by the rescuer) becomes the victim. The victim now becomes the rescuer to the predator (or they don’t like the interference and implication that they cannot protect themselves) and attacks their rescuer. Animals are much wiser than we humans. I have never heard of sheep attacking a sheepdog for protecting it from the wolves.
Sheepdogs are a special breed. They are raised only to be of service. The only one who knows their daily discipline is the Shepard who is also a sheepdog in his or her own right.
Is being a sheepdog a destiny or a choice? Only humans have the consciousness to contemplate this existential question. A sheepdog doesn’t question its nature because it is engrained enough into their identity and existence that this is not just what they do but it is truly who they are. Most warriors are like that. A martial artist is like that while someone who studies martial arts is not. It’s a Zen koan thing: to find the answer stop asking the question.
Can a sheep become a sheepdog? Can a wolf become a sheepdog? In the animal kingdom, the answer is simply no. They are what they are. But since we cannot find any DNA that genetically predetermines, predestines, or mandates that humans live in fear, we can assume that the sheep or the wolf can become a sheepdog if they so choose and accept the daily discipline to evolve. The discipline or evolution is not just to change what we do in behavior, what we think in our thoughts, or what we feel in our bodies, but who we are in our identity. Sometimes perhaps the best sheepdogs are those who were at one time sheep or wolves. By having been a sheep, one can find motivation of courage and compassion in truly knowing and understanding what it is like to live in fear and as a perpetual victim. By having been a wolf, one knows their weaknesses and fears and how to fight them (they may become the predators or predators). Yes, we as humans can change. One avenue of change is to make a decision, to set a direction, and to accept the daily discipline of Aikido as a way of life.
In Aikido we are taught to practice loving protection of our enemy. Aikido is often thought of as defensive and non-violent. And I would agree that the practice of Aikido is just that, but the direct application of its principles may not always be so clear or so simple. One may consider that the best defense of one (or many) may be a strong offense towards the offending predator. One may consider that the loving non-violent protection of one (or many) may be the violent application towards the offending predator. Perhaps we need to remember that reality is not always a philosophical discussion of the highest ethics. Many times in the realities of a less than perfect world, the only choice is who will be hurt or die. When one is in that situation or context it is too late to contemplate the question. A moment’s thought is a choice to die. A sheep will die. A wolf will kill. A sheepdog will fight. That is loving protection. That is both compassion and courage.
There are other choices beside the triad of sheep, wolf, or sheepdog. Perhaps we will talk about them another day. But for today, let’s be sheepdogs.
Breathe in, compassion and protection for the sheep
Breathe out, assertion towards the wolves
In between breaths, the sheepdog
Thanks for listening, for the opportunity to be of service, and for sharing the journey. Now get back to training. KWATZ!
