“I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen, dead from a bough, without ever having felt sorry for itself.” ~ D.H. Lawrence

Much can be said about the sphere of human nature. Moreover, one can contrast and compare what we view in the wild to how human beings behave. In viewing this with pure vision we find a stark contrast. Wild things are acutely aware of their environment. We are acutely aware of ourselves instinctively. The wild things live by instinct, but only human beings are capable of living in self-pity… as far as we know. 

Not only are we capable of feeling this self-sorrow, we also easily become absorbed in ourselves. We worry about what is next.. for us only, not our neighbor. We dwell on our past experiences, wishing for change.. because we think it would make our own lives better in some backwards logic. We look at our reflections and study our flaws. We’re as bold and forthright as Narcissus himself. Our thoughts are consumed with self, and very rarely concerned with our immediate place in the world, how our thoughts, decisions and actions affect everything and everyone around us.

Here, in the age of the “selfie” we’re brought to a place where our outward images are worth tenfold more than our hearts. It is by this standard that we are judged by others. We are labeled as beautiful or ugly by simple images alone. This action broadens the sphere of carnality; a sphere which contains both desire and contempt, attraction and repulsion. We take pictures of ourselves alone, mainly in front of a bathroom mirror for what? To show our “Selves” off to others, seeking a reaction, hoping for approval and praise? This is the world we have created, and shamefully it is the world we’ve allowed to thrive. 

I do not care for a selfish world, as most people would probably agree. And.. I do believe this sphere of self is escapable. It is by embracing the art of dying; realizing that this, right now, is the moment that you exist, and death matters not, the future matters not and the past has already been. Life is real, the self is false. The wild things do not fear for the future nor fret for the past. Nor are these creatures troubled by their shortcomings or worry about what the other creatures think. This is not natural behavior for them, but it seems so natural for us… but, is it natural or is it an illusion; a fog of reality that we’ve come to believe is true?

These constructs require us to be artful in our approach to living in harmony with one another. This art is letting go of fear, and realizing that all that exists is moving to a convergence of singularity. It is fretting not about what is beyond our control, and realizing that only our thoughts, actions and decisions are in our control… nothing else. It is understanding that that which exists beyond the boundary of human understanding is the absolute, it is the truth.. it is God, it is the divine, it is the grand song of the universe.

The self that we think we know, is nothing more than a construct; a mechanically tuned avatar that we have made for only one purpose. It is for our own peculiar viewing pleasure and nothing more. We can be consumed by it, or we can become aware of the true self.. the heart, the soul, the natural points of divine awareness that we are; all emanating from the same divine source, and simultaneously finding our paths back home.

In this sphere, the sage does not ask the universe bend to his will, he does not regret, he does not wish for things or have fear of unknowns. He simply embraces his gifts, however small they may be.. and never does he ask for pity. To him, self-pity is a senseless waste of time and energy. He understands that pity and worry are both like sitting in a rocking chair; you use energy and occupy your time, but you’re still going nowhere.

I do realize it may take a complete and drastic shift in human consciousness for all men and women to see beyond the illusion of self.. Or, perhaps just the simple realization that love and altruism are highly preferred over the egocentric and anthropocentric culture we’ve come to let thrive. I, and many others hope that this will come to pass.. but it is up to us to allow our thoughts to set forth our intention.

As the wildfire is born with a simple spark, all great change begins with a simple thought.

Namaste