Perspectives of the Natural Order

Insights from a Man’s Time in the Wilderness

We always have everything we ever need. Sometimes one must be without anything or need to perceive the experience of losing everything in order to arrive at the realization of this simple truth.

You are consciousness. You can be molded and sculpted into anything. All of which you may perceive as adding to you (from outside of you) is simply your mind’s way of interpreting and trying to make sense of existence — by subjectively defining it. What your mind perceives is dependent upon its own subjectivity — a result of conditioning received through life. This dictates that which one visually perceives. A closed-mind may perceive the world as rigid, compartmentalized, and cold. While an open-mind may subjectively perceive the world as fluid, vibrant, and free-flowing — whereby different experiences (even hardships) signify variant progressions of learning. From this perspective, one is always at the right place at the right time. One does not fear or evade experiences. The levels of fluidity relative to mind can influence and aesthetically shape the objective world in which we live.

Addictions of the Mind

Alone in the wilderness. A man’s day was spent sauntering the mountains with brief intervals of rest scattered throughout the day. He eventually arrives at a space where he may rest and call home for the night. As a man lay in the dark by his lonesome, he becomes aware that he is alone — in possession of nothing but the essentials for his survival. Not those materials which bring him comfort, but simply items used for the basic needs of living. The items are few: fabric tent cover, bedroll, nourishment, and garments. Each day at sunset, the man perceives a voice asking him, “Are you missing anything?”, to which the man feels an insatiable urge compelling him to say yes, and yet the answer is always “No, a man has everything he needs”.

What is this desire compelling a man to seek and desire more? To possess an appetite for material experience. For attachment? What is the void that a man feels the need to fill endlessly with materials and experiences? A man realizes that these desires are not his own, but rather illusions that the mind has become overly-acquainted with — conditioned by experience through modern society — leading to a bundling and wrapping up of his awareness within layers and layers of illusion. A dance of karma and causality. For the feeling of something missing is the feeling that is tied to one’s deepest spiritual essence — the void. But the true essence is not what causes the feeling of something missing but rather the desire for evasion of one’s truest nature. Pursuant to the perception of one’s true nature or spiritual essence as lacking and needing something additional. However, if one never knew anything other than the void, then there would be no clue that something is missing. All that would remain is presence and acceptance.

A man in his truest essence is the void, and in his search to escape his nature he pursues that which is furthest from his nature. The void seeks to fill itself and does so with creation — mental aspects, thoughts, concepts, ideals, ideas, and the perception of materialization of such components— states of consciousness which invoke the presence of the physicality that surrounds us. Realization and acceptance of one’s nature as the void allows one to shed the desire to fill it. We become content with what we truly are and no longer seek to change or alter anything. Instead, we see and accept things for what they are. One becomes content with their spiritual essence. Rather than filling the void with desires for material acquisition one chooses to fill the void with love, acceptance, gratitude, and understanding. The insatiable thirst for acquiring things to fill a void that by nature cannot be filled is hence replaced with appreciation for the single moment that lies before us. The void cannot be filled, but the world can be filled with the void.

Tasks Become Rituals

In modern society, we are deprived of many things. Not because these things are non-existent but rather due to perceptions we develop to identify specific acts as mundane tasks rather than as sacred rituals. This happens particularly in areas where we are compartmentalized into large cities and segregated from nature. This is primarily a result of collective conditioning that predisposes us towards consumerism, entrapping our human psyche within an exuberant excess of pleasure. Extravagant pleasures then take precedence over the simple gifts & rituals of nature. We are led to subscribe to an ordinance of acquiring goods or magnifying their presence. Most of these goods and services can be done away with as they are an excess that is not of necessity for our well-being and survival. The simplistic approach to life when one is in nature involves escaping the modern day-to-day routine of “the pursuit of happiness” — as we often call it. Rather than pursue happiness one instead is set on being content and bearing suffering in silence. The focus is drawn to the simple things that are needed to maintain good health. Bathing becomes an invigorating ritual — cleaning ourselves within the waters of the lakes, waterfalls, and rivers rather than just a quick shower before work. Collecting drinking water or drinking directly from the streams and creeks becomes an intimate exchange of vitality. Sleeping becomes anticipated as dreams become lustrous and spectacular when laying in close proximity to the surface of the earth. For the earth is negatively ionized and extracts negativity from our bodies in order for us to truly be able to dream vividly. Dreams become another life. Lives that we continuously look forward to experiencing rather than attempting to evade sleep by extending our days into the night.

Relieving our bowels and kidneys becomes a process of discovering a space and performing a symbiotic exchange with the earth — where we water and fertilize the plants and trees — rather than simply disposing of our organic waste in a manner that provides zero nutritional value to the earth. Even in our habits of relieving ourselves, human beings are conditioned to behave as parasites, for we are continuously creating waste rather than serving in the symbiotic manner intended for our bodies by nature. Rich soil allows for rich life to emerge from the soil. Roads constructed throughout the earth disrupt the flow of life-force energy and interrupt the flow of its rivers and streams that flow the same as blood flows through our veins. Disrupting the earth’s natural rain cycles and converting all of the luscious jungles and rain-forests into desolate wastelands riddled with drought and famine.

We may perceive that roads bring us more comfort, and yet, we have so many more roads and paths to take and yet very little direction. For our connection with nature has been severed in the process of constructing these roads. We no longer saunter and journey through the mountains, but instead conveniently arrive from one destination to the next — disregarding the journey. Through the pursuit of his own comfort, man perpetuates a cycle of agony, suffering, and misery upon nature and is shocked when nature begins to wilt and wither. Just look to the endless slaughterhouses devoid of compassion. These deal with sentient creatures. Never mind the trees who cannot even speak (vocally). We are birthed from the earth, let us ensure the well-being of it and all its inhabitants.

The Struggle with Vanity, Eliminated…

Preservation of self-image is a struggle in modern society. Even though we don’t always see it, we are surrounded with things that give us quick vanity fixes. Continuous reminders of how we should see ourselves in the world. This is further exacerbated with the rise and creation of social media.

We surround our homes with mirrors — in every corner of the house and every bathroom. We see them in all the business establishments we enter. Even in our cars we are constantly peering through our rear-view mirrors — reminded of a reflection that does not reflect who we are but rather the material component of our being. Through this subtle but slow and continuous arrangement of moments where we are peering into our reflection but peering away from our soul, there is a slow and yet progressive accumulation of vanity that is looming. The culmination of this buildup eventually expresses itself through a sensation of over-fixation on ourselves and outer appearances — eventually leading us to be consumed by a feeling of loneliness and isolation. When we think of the world, we think of people’s perception of the image of ourselves. What do they think of ME? How do they see ME? What is their impression of ME? Will they accept ME? That’s a lot of “me’s”. All paving the way to the path of egoism. This antagonizing state of perceptive awareness eventually can lead one to feel drained and alone, and is part of the reason why tools such as social media are so prevalent today. For they provide the sensation of rectifying the problem yet they conceal the very fact that they are contributing to its creation.

In the wild, you are not forced to stare at mirrors everywhere. In fact, one rarely sees their own reflection. When truly isolated from technology, the only glimpse of yourself you may see is perhaps when you are washing your face in the lake, or cupping your hands to get a drink of water from the river. And yet, even this image is a distorted image of your physicality for it is a reflection within the wavy waters. It is not so rigid, clear, and defined — room is left for the mind to bend and wander; to formulate its own perception of the appearance of yourself. Rather than being forced to be acceptant of the absolute reflection that is in the mirror — solely reliant upon physicality in order to define itself. Formulating our expectations of how society perceives us based on how we see ourselves — in a mirror. And yet, a man is not his reflection. Vanity is replaced with humility & understanding.

Fear Not, the Kin of the Wild

Man has become conditioned to fear nature, to fear its creatures and their habitats. The fear of nature has been subdued with a fallacious comfort in technology. And yet man was placed in a position of power BY NATURE, so where does the sensation of this unfounded fear stem from? Is it a facet of the subconscious mind, or perhaps simply a result of selfishness and greed? Regardless of its source, the sensation is impermanent and impermanence may be shed. Man has already been provided with all the defense mechanisms needed for animals to recognize man’s role in the natural order. Why do humans naturally develop stenches or release gases? These things are not random. They are there to make humans appear less appetizing and to eliminate the possibility for humans to be identified as something else rather than prey. All that is left is for man to see this within himself. The physical body is made with some grotesquerie in its likeliness by design. When man is in nature, nature and man synchronize. Man is thereby realigned with the materialization of his spiritual essence. The body begins to develop unique and specific pheromones that make other beings aware of man’s status and potential. All that is left is for man to accept his role, and release the idea of cowering behind the fears of his own mental constructs.

Movies that glorify gore and drama relative to encounters between humans and other animals can take hold of the subconscious mind and place us into a state of fear in relation to these creatures. Many have been conditioned to fear sharks and yet sharks behave like any other fish. Many conditioned to fear bears and yet many bears simply behave as would large raccoons. Animals are shy from us, and typically avoid us as a result of this timid nature. Imagine yourself being born into a world where your only concern is food and survival — you may possess little or no interest to be perceived by others. For others implies the possibility for competition or to be preyed upon.

Animals see us in high moral status and yet few of us live up to the manner in which they envision us. Nature is peaceful. Even the Savannas of Africa where the climate is harsh and survival is perceived as a struggle — there exists order, harmony, and balance. The ecosystems thrive. Recklessness and unrest exists in the cities, not in nature. For man has the ability to be reckless and socially disconnected — the willpower to deviate outside of the natural order. Nature does not, for nature is the natural order in and of itself.

Evolving From Parasites into Protagonists

Driving the cultural shift from becoming consumers to providers will be gradual. First, let us recognize that the current way of life has made us into parasites entrapped within a chaotic loop of entropy. As referenced in the book, “The Fall: The Insanity of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of A New Era” by Steve Taylor, issues such as struggles with mental health and socioeconomically-skewed, hierarchical societies began once we adopted a horticultural way of living — deviating away from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Likely the expression of some desire to receive without having to offer anything in return (labor in this case). Never mind the countless paved roads we have that suffocate the earth, constricting its breathing and disrupting the flow of its own vitality and harmony. We do not need to start tearing down buildings or deconstructing roads just yet. The actions we may take can be much more subtle and simple than that. We may start by reducing our usage and need for these things. Nature favors subtle progression — change expressed by slow, yet consistent, steps in the right direction. One of the first lessons we learn in life is how to crawl; teaching us humility. The second lesson is how to take baby steps; learning the value of slow and steady progression.

“Those who rush through life simply arrive at death more quickly”

Some steps to be taken:

1. Adopting practices and dietary regimens that reduce and minimize entropy and relieve suffering of all beings (not only human beings).
2. Conserving energy usage. Switching to renewable sources of energy (e.g. solar and wind).
3. Reduce our demand for consumerist establishments such as retail stores and shopping centers.
4. Directly sourcing our drinking water from the earth. Collect drinking water from head-water streams/rivers.
5. Bathe in natural bodies of water when possible.
6. Reduce our needs, attachments, & desires for road usage and infrastructure. Biking and hiking used for commuting rather than automobiles. Buses, trains, and ships in place of aircraft. This will help everyone reduce their carbon footprint and also shifts away from the habit of excessive usage of non-renewable energy sources.
7. Start a garden and grow what food you can. A greenhouse can be used. Compost garden for enriching garden soil and creating beneficial usage for organic waste. Mushroom spores are great for the soil as they regulate the distribution of nutrients through Mycelium networks (this is how it has always been done). Plant some trees in some lots/acres of land if you are in ownership of some or able to make such purchases. Spearhead some reforestation projects and set up some communities for sustainable living.
8. Start a composting toilet (if you have the space for it). Perhaps in your backyard. If not, finding ways to reduce waste is good. Alternate means of cleaning for example — replacing toilet paper with a water bidet.
9. Zero Waste (4 R’s Practice) — Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Help reduce the demand for inorganic products and processed foods by refusing to purchase them, thereby reducing the overall demand for such products and materials. Companies transitioning to using non-synthetic and biodegradable materials for any manufacturing, and condensing manufacturing to only those items that are necessary — all can eventually be done away with for everything we need is provided by nature. Consider the manner in which the indigenous people lived.
10. Evolving our consciousness from compartmentalized into free-flowing. Rather than relying on a system to provide for us, transition into a field of abundance — take action to manifest a reality where we trust and accept that life/nature will provide to us.

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