ReWild University

Discovering Your Natural Self

Ryan Young — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 14:54:49 +0000

Discovering Your Natural Self

You are perfect. I discovered this when I was a teen, and I spent a summer living in the wilderness. I thought only to learn the ways of the forests — what plants to eat, the lifeways of the animals, and how to live comfortably without the accouterments of civilization. But in the deep swamps and woodlands, I found much more.

I discovered that each of us has a natural self — vibrantly alive, fully awake, and curious and enchanted with each moment. Though I realize that I won’t be able to inspire everyone to venture out into the wilderness, I do seek to share my discoveries through my Metamorphosis Program, through the website I share with my wife, and through this site.

Call this Awakening, call it Zen, call it Non-Dualism — I’ll use these words on this site, but only because they’re familiar to us. This site is really about discovering your natural self. My aim is to use these writings to point you directly to your pure, perfect nature.

Here then is Wild Zen, unbridled by robes or chants. Remember that your greatest teacher is not on the internet. Your greatest teacher is not books, or retreats, or videos. Your greatest teacher is YOU, for you are the purity of nature — this discovery is as close to you as a single breath.

Who is this Site For?

If you are new to these ideas, you’ll find pointers to help you start on your journey. For spiritual or non-dual teachers, you’ll discover many examples and descriptions which can add clarity to your offerings. And for those who are self-studying, you’ll discover many tools for communicating your understandings and becoming more aware of the pitfalls along the way.

If you’re simply trying to find Genuine Happiness in your life, and suspect that there is something more than just ‘making the best of things’, here you’ll find the most amazing way to bring peace, adventure, and compassion into your life.This is the key to truly vibrant living.

This site is divided into articles that approach ‘waking up’ to your natural self from different mindsets. Check below for a brief description of the sections, or visit Three Mountains for a deeper explanation.

Life Basics are articles that help us to examine the life we’re living. These articles will make sense even if the Deeper Understanding articles don’t. They’ll often point out the wonderfully ridiculous nature of our everyday lives.

Deeper Understanding articles deliver a direct approach to undoing your preconceptions about the world. By examining your usual ideas about life, they open you up to a Direct Perception of reality.

Zen Helpers are disseminators of dubious information, meant to deliver new viewpoints on common conceptions. Don’t take these too seriously!

Quick Thoughts are little observations about the world.

KidZen is a section especially for children or young adults. It’s also fun for those of us with more years under our belts.

Good starting places are the Three Mountains page, or How the World Really Works.

This site will be added to frequently. Make sure you subscribe, check back often, and most of all, enjoy!

UYL Season 2, Episode 25, Loving What You Have

Kenton — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 04:30:00 +0000

In a world built upon consumption, what happens if we question the paradigm and instead cultivate happiness with what we have? This is a big topic that goes WAY beyond "things", and incorporates our basic state of mind and motivation. Come along as we explore the power of loving what you have!

Here are this episodes’ Action Points:

Foster Your Mindfulness Practice– We talk about this all the time, but it’s that vital. A mindfulness practice will change your life! =)

Make a “What I Want” List– Make a list of what you want in life. Not the usual list (a million bucks, a hot new mate), but the things you think those million bucks will get you. What is it you REALLY want in life, at the base?

Examine a Current Action– Take a current action you’re engaged in (maybe you’re looking for a new job) and ask how that action is tied to a goal. Then ask what you really want to get from reaching that goal. Awareness of this kind can sometimes reveal new creative ways to get what you are really after, or help you realize you may already have what you want (it might just have been hiding in disguise).

Send us an email or visit rewildu.com and let us know what you thought of this episode! These podcasts are 100% supported by people like you! Keep them coming by becoming a patron through Paypal or Patreon at rewildu.com. Love to you all!

UYL Season 2, Episode 24, The Benefits of a Positive Diet

Kenton — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 04:30:00 +0000

We all want to eat healthy, don't we? But what diet is best? Raw vegan? Paleo? Whole 30? Mediterranean? Join us as we leave behind specific diets and instead talk about how loving our food, eating consciously, and losing food fears can transform our health and life enjoyment!

Here are this episodes’ Action Points:

Do Some Positive Food Research– When you’re cooking, take a moment to research some of the health benefits of one of the ingredients. Then, share with your family how good that food is for them. It will add some positive placebo effect to your eating and help undo food fears.

Have Fun With Your Next Meal– Instead of cooking being a chore, make it fun! Try new ingredients (foraged food anyone?), cuisines, recipes, or cooking techniques.

Add a Focus Affinity Before You Eat– Take a moment before you eat to get into a mindful state. Share some gratitude, pray, or do something else to bring you present moment.

Make a Meal To Share– Cook for friends or loved ones! Cooking for others ties all of this together, invoking the power of positive social connections and conscious cooking.

UYL Season 2, Episode 23, Change Your Happiness Baseline

Kenton — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 04:30:00 +0000

We all have a "baseline" of happiness in our lives, and research shows that the ups and downs of life (which we spend so much time trying to acquire and avoid, respectively) don't really impact that baseline very much. So the secret to happiness isn't arranging our externals appropriately so much as cultivating an inner joy. But how do we do that? Come along as we explore how to shift that baseline!

Here are this episodes’ Action Points:

Smile– Smiling is almost magical in its ability to change our own attitude (and it’s contagious!). Take a short-duration task and try smiling the whole time. How do you feel? How do those around you respond?

Invite Someone– Foster more human connection in your life by inviting a friend or three to tea, a campfire, a hike, etc. Human connection is a proven life enhancer!

The Gratitude Bowl– Fill a bowl with pieces of paper on which you’ve written all sorts of things in your life. People, objects, abilities — things both tangible and intangible. Then, once a day (or as often as you like!) pull one out and imagine that you no longer have that thing. What does it feel like to have lost it? And then reverse things and feel gratitude for having it.

UYL Season 2, Episode 22, Take a Vacation (Every Day!)

Kenton — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 04:30:00 +0000

Hi Friends! Need a good vacation? What if we could take a vacation right now? As in, NOW? This moment? Well, we can if we learn to cultivate a "vacation mindset". You've heard us talk about this before in the guise of an "adventurer's mindset", but in this episode we give some mindful advice about how to soak into each moment as if you were on the beach.

Here are this episodes’ Action Points:

Explore!– We often walk the same paths in life, literally and figuratively. What happens if we veer a little off that path? Often, adventure is waiting for us down the “road less travelled”.

Try the “Artist’s Eye” Exercise– Artists often see the world in colors, textures, shapes, and shades of light. What happens if we harness that eye? We start to appreciate the world around us more and see its true beauty.

Talk With Strangers– It can be intimidating, but every human being is a treasure-trove of experiences, ideas, and perspectives. When we start to strike up conversations, we can learn a lot.