I have to laugh when I see these three happy and enthusiastic dogs, waiting patiently for me to open the gate and let them go tearing around. I love the enthusiasm of the working dogs, it is contagious, and when I see the three of them like that, it reminds of the ancient proverb, “Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil.”

I think it describes these three loving and generous spirits. The proverb has been co-opted by popular culture and repeated so often most of us have forgotten its origins or true meaning.

It fits these generous and loving spirits well.

The proverb originated with a 17th century carving of the “three wise moneys” over a door of the Tosho-gu shrine in Nikko, Japan, and it has been interpreted in different ways.

Among Buddhists, it means to be of good mind, speech and action. This, I think, fits my dogs so aptly.

In the Western world, both the proverb and the image are often used to refer to a lack of moral responsibility on the part of people who look the other way on evil deeds.

And in our modern culture, it has often been evoked to signify the code of silence within organized crime.

I love dogs because they are capable of harm, but never evil. My dogs are of good mine, good will, and meaningful action. They are always happy to see me, always up for anything I want to do – walking, working, herding sheep, chasing balls, offering and receiving love.

They even seem to line up in order of size. I am blessed with my dogs, they are of good heart.