If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so a man.
—Thoreau
I watched a documentary of a man who lived with bears in Alaska for ten-years.
He walked amongst them every summer, in the deep wilderness. People thought he was crazy and more of a danger to the bears—overly-habituating them to humans and lowering their defenses towards hunters, and increasing the threat for campers— and others thought of him a hero.
“I fight for the bears!” he spoke with passion. “I love them soooo much.”
In 2003, his last summer in Alaska, he was killed and eaten by a bear. Many said that he “deserved it.” “If you play with fire, you’re bound to get burnt!” someone reminded.
But I can’t agree with those that think this man was wrong. It can never be wrong to follow your calling. I say, you must play with fire! You must march towards the light, like the moth, even it means your eminent demise.
For to stay “alive” and not follow the beat of your nature, is to live in a tomb of a body—enslaved by the chains and chatter of “what’s right” and “what’s wrong” and “what society says is good” and “what society says is bad.” You’re already dead if you march to the prevailing societal winds.
But to follow your calling—no matter what!—is to achieve infinity, “everlasting life,” with our without your body. On Earth or anywhere else.
To live is to be willing to die in the pursuance of your nature.
Read some related articles:
- Nature Inciting a Mutational Paradigm Shift Lately I’ve been toying with the idea that the universe — everything from the sand, water, and hills to the bees, birds, and humans —...
- Nature is Our Friend, But for How Long? Passage written from my Garden on May 29, 2008. I look at the mulberry seedlings that I recently planted. I look at the beautiful purple...
- That Which You Resist, Persists Don’t we all know that person — maybe you — who has been working a 9 to 5 but, all they can think about during...
- Listen to what (your) Nature tells you to Do – Episode 1 Listening to what your Nature tells you to Do… It’s the most simple and also the hardest thing to do in the world. But the...
If we will talk about the man into the documentary you discussed, he was really a crazy one he should have the knowledge that saving the bears is another thing and saving his own life was another thing.
He should save his life first to save the bear’s !
Thanks for updating this David.
Great post. I thought that too when I saw this doc. Follow the scream of your own nature is completely “natural”.
Do you know Carlos Catañeda books? I would love to hear you speaking about his books!
Peace.
Wonderfull post, Dave.
Grizzly Man is a fantastic film – the director, Werner Herzog, is a great poet and thinker. You should definately check him out.
Wulamallessin & Salud!