I read Castaneda many years ago as part of the classic adolescent experiences of that era when I was a teenager. I would have considered the practice closed if it weren't for the reading group that I coordinate on behalf of the library of my country. In short, one evening one of the participants, who had the burden of choosing the next book to read, said that she didn't have a title in mind but a topic, namely certain forms of alternative spirituality, like those that Coelho or Redfield talk about. Since neither of the two would exist without Castaneda, I proposed the reading, especially for the book in question, which presents the anthropologist's first approach to shamanism and alternative spirituality.

The book has two major weaknesses, one related to the writing and the other related to the content.

The writing suffers from the fact that the book was born as a report of a scientific experience and is practically the material for Castaneda's anthropology thesis. This makes the reading difficult due to the categorizations and the note-taking style.

The other limitation is related to the content. Castaneda was an apprentice of the shaman don Juan, who embarked on a journey with him, mediated by the use of hallucinogenic plants, to transform him into a man of knowledge. But Castaneda gave up the apprenticeship, stopped by what don Juan had described to him as the first enemy of the man of knowledge, namely fear. Therefore, his experience is incomplete and lacking, and in large part not understood. And Castaneda describes this incomplete experience, and this pretends to be the basis of an understanding of shamanic spirituality. However, the feeling when reading don Juan's teachings is that this knowledge is reserved, that is, that the initiate should not talk about it. Therefore, Castaneda shows himself, precisely because he talks about it, as an incomplete adept, not entitled to describe this experience, and this affects the entire construction that has been made on all of this.

Back in the 70's, Carlos Castaneda, a young anthropologist from the University of California, was highly regarded among hippies, new-agers, and academics who wanted to break free from their stuffy image. However, things have changed. For many readers, Castaneda's reputation took a hit when it was discovered that most of his accounts were not based on facts.

I don't want to get too involved in the debate. But from a logical perspective, we can analyze the book in two ways: as non-fiction or as fiction. If it's non-fiction, it has several major flaws. The description of Don Juan as a "Yaqui sorcerer" doesn't match the actual Yaqui culture. Castaneda also fails to address the political and social dimensions of the knowledge he presents. And the "Structural Analysis" at the end of the book is full of academic posturing.

If it's fiction, while it has some enjoyable aspects, such as the bizarre hallucinatory experiences, the characters are flat and the emotional dimensions are underdeveloped. Moreover, the fact that Castaneda never admitted it was fiction and led a cult that may have caused harm is a serious problem.

In conclusion, as a work of anthropology, "The Teachings of Don Juan" is not very good. As a novel, it has some redeeming qualities but is also potentially harmful. I would recommend reading other books on the subject instead. And finally, the question of truth and power raised by Castaneda is an interesting one that we can debate further.

This book had a profound impact on me, making me firmly decide not to attempt psychedelics.

Moreover, it clearly emphasized the significance of showing respect for different types of weed, plants, and mushrooms.

The real treasure within this book, however, lies in the wisdom of Don Juan.

He said, “Anything is one of a million paths. Therefore you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path; if you feel you should not follow it, you must not stay with it under any conditions. To have such clarity you must lead a disciplined life. Only then will you know that any path is only a path and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do. But your decision to keep on the path or to leave it must be free of fear or ambition. I warn you. Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary.”

He also stated, “Does this path have a heart? All paths are the same: they lead nowhere. They are paths going through the bush, or into the bush. In my own life I could say I have traversed long long paths, but I am not anywhere. Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn't, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn't. One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it, you are one with it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you.”

Furthermore, he emphasized, “Power rests on the kind of knowledge one holds. What is the sense of knowing things that are useless.”

These words of wisdom have truly opened my eyes and made me think deeply about the choices and paths in life.

This book was recommended to me a few years ago by a professor of mine.

I was deep into graduate school by then, attempting to earn my MFA while not losing my mind. My work as well as my mental state was suffering.

My professor told me I needed to learn how to see, and this book would show me how.

And indeed it did. It helped tremendously. I did not approach the book as an anthropologist. Nor did I approach it as a study of any kind. I had no prior knowledge of Castaneda or any of the controversy his books caused. For all I knew, it was just a story. The library copy I checked out didn't even have a jacket.

I loved this book and have gone on to read others by Castaneda. None, however, have been quite as memorable as this one. My only advice is that you proceed with an open mind. And be willing to think about the questions and ideas in an abstract way. This book has the potential to open your eyes to a whole new way of seeing the world and understanding ourselves. It challenges our preconceived notions and makes us think outside the box. So, give it a chance and see where it takes you.

In 1968, there was speculation for acquisition, anticipation for acquisition. For me, this study of Don Juan by Castaneda is, along with the desired trips, but not in this age.

It seems that in that particular year, the idea of acquisition was rife, both in terms of speculation and anticipation. People were constantly thinking about what they could acquire, whether it was material possessions or knowledge. And for me, Castaneda's study of Don Juan held a certain allure. It was like a door to a different world, full of mysteries and unknowns. Along with the desired trips that I dreamed of taking, this study seemed to offer a way to escape the mundane of this age.

However, as much as I was drawn to it, I knew that it was not something that could be easily achieved in this day and age. The world has changed so much since 1968, and the opportunities and circumstances that were available then may no longer exist. But still, the idea of that study and those trips remain in my mind, a reminder of a time when things were perhaps a little more magical and full of possibility.

The best advice that anyone has ever given me is all encompassed within the pages of this remarkable book. This book serves as my unwavering spiritual guidance, leading me through the labyrinth of life.

It states, "A warrior acknowledges his pain but he doesn't indulge in it. The mood of the warrior who enters into the unknown is not one of sadness; on the contrary, he's joyful because he feels humbled by his great fortune, confident that his spirit is impeccable, and above all, fully aware of his efficiency. A warrior's joyfulness comes from having accepted his fate, and from having truthfully assessed what lies ahead of him."

Moreover, it emphasizes the basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior. A warrior takes everything as a challenge, seeing it as an opportunity for growth and self-improvement. In contrast, an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or as a curse, often being at the mercy of circumstances.

The self-confidence of the warrior is also distinct from that of the average man. The average man seeks certainty in the eyes of the onlooker and labels that as self-confidence. However, the warrior seeks impeccability in his own eyes and calls that humbleness. While the average man is hooked to his fellow men, the warrior is hooked only to infinity, having a broader perspective and a deeper connection with the universe.

This book truly contains profound wisdom that has the power to transform one's life and way of thinking.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a short but impactful course (8 hours) at UCSD Extension titled Principles of Clarity. In fact, it could just as easily have been called Mindfulness, depending on how you envision the nature of the course. I must give you a forewarning though - this is going to be the longest Goodreads review I have ever written.

One of the readings recommended by Karen Dobkins, the professor instructing the course at UCSD, was The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge. Her aim was to help us understand that there are more ways of perceiving the world than the "Western" way in which most of us were brought up and nurtured. Don Juan Matus is a Yaqui Indian shaman from the state of Sonora in Mexico. The author, Carlos Castaneda, meets Don Juan and embarks on a 5-year "voyage" with him, during which he gradually learns more and more about the Yaqui Way. One of the most challenging aspects of this experience was the use of hallucinatory plants, seeds, and mushrooms that are commonly employed by a Yaqui shaman to acquire the knowledge and understanding associated with a man in the Yaqui culture. To put it mildly, many of those experiences were extremely scary, life-threatening, and in the words of an old phrase, "mind-bending".

The text, which I believe is an appropriate term, is divided into two main components - a diary of Castaneda's experiences with Don Juan (titled "The Teachings") followed by Castaneda's summary of the teachings (called "A Structural Analysis"). I will not for a moment pretend that I have a comprehensive understanding of this text beyond a superficial reading. I truly think that I would need to read it (and study it!) for several years before I could claim to be anywhere close to comprehending it. Perhaps a very dedicated book club might want to take it on.

Notwithstanding the qualifying comment I just made, I do believe that the following were aspects that were useful to me in my appreciation of reading Teachings.

1. "He (Don Juan) said that fears are natural; that all of us experience them and there is nothing we can do about it. But on the other hand, no matter how frightening learning is, it is more terrible to think of a man without an ally, or without knowledge."

2. "Anything is one of a million paths. Therefore, you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path; if you feel you should not follow it, you must not stay with it under any conditions. To have such clarity you must lead a disciplined life. Only then will you know that any path is only a path, and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do. But your decision to keep on a path or to leave it must be free of fear or ambition. I warn you. Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself, and yourself alone, one question. Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn't, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere but one has a heart, the other doesn't. One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you."

3. [Castaneda] "How will I know whether a path has a heart or nor?"

[Don Juan] "Anybody would know that. The trouble is nobody asks the question; when a man finally realizes that he has taken a path without a heart, the path is ready to kill him. At that point very few men can stop to deliberate, and leave the path."

[Castaneda] "I mean, is there a proper method, so I would not lie to myself and believe the answer is yes when it really is no."

[Don Juan] "Why would you lie?"

[Castaneda] "Perhaps because at the moment the path is pleasant and enjoyable."

[Don Juan] "That is nonsense. A path without a heart is never enjoyable. You have to work hard even to take it. On the other hand, a path with heart is easy; it does not make you work at liking it."

The last summary is Castaneda's summary of Don Juan's teachings regarding knowledge.

1. To become a man of knowledge is a matter of learning.

2. A man of knowledge has unbending intent.

3. A man of knowledge has clarity of mind.

4. To become a man of knowledge is a matter of strenuous labor.

5. A man of knowledge is a warrior (to have respect, to have fear, to be wide-awake, awareness of intent, awareness of the expected flux). A warrior has to be self-confident.

6. To become a man of knowledge is an unceasing process.

So there you have it. The Teachings of Don Juan may be mind-opening or perhaps it will just create endless confusion. It's up to you to decide.

This may be the first book that truly exposed me to psychedelic literature. I have just completed it for the third time, and it was just as fresh as the times I read it during college.

Carlos Castaneda, an American author, penned a series of books chronicling his experiences with traditional Mesoamerican Shamanism. The books following The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge are also outstanding, and I intend to re-read the series and review it. This book, written in the first person by Castaneda, details his apprenticeship with a Yaqui shaman named don Juan Matus. They met in 1960 when Castaneda was seeking firsthand knowledge about the hallucinogen peyote. Don Juan agreed to assist Castaneda but refused to discuss peyote for a long time. Eventually, they shared experiences with mescalito (peyote), datura inoxia (jimson weed), and humito (a smoke-mixture composed of various herbs and psilocybe mexicana).

Castaneda describes his encounters with these plants and the unknown realm they led him to, which he terms nonordinary reality. This term implies that the realm is a reality, yet distinct from the ordinary reality humans experience in their daily lives. In Castaneda's interpretation, ordinary reality is merely a description of life that has been ingrained in everyone's awareness since infancy. Having had a few experiences with this realm myself, I wholeheartedly concur with Castaneda that these are real places and events one undergoes. They differ from everyday reality but are just as real as anything experienced on an ordinary day. It is something one must endure alone and cannot be explained using our ordinary language and syntax.

It is challenging to determine what makes The Teachings of Don Juan so magical; it is a journey to foreign lands. In essence, it is an adventure story written by an anthropologist. As the series progresses, it appears to me that parts of Castaneda's intellect are reshaped by his apprenticeship with don Juan, enabling him to more easily explain his experiences in nonordinary reality in words. Many people believe Carlos Castaneda was a fraud and that his writings are entirely fictional. The first time I read through the series, I was unaware of this dissenting opinion and regarded his words as fact. After reading some of the criticism of Castaneda's books, it is easier for me to approach these books with a more open mind. It seems as if his core message is true, but some of the details are embellished. At any rate, this is a remarkable book. If you haven't read it yet, you should. And stay tuned for a few more Castaneda reviews... I am eagerly anticipating re-reading the series and sharing my thoughts.

I initially found the first half of the book quite engaging. However, as I progressed, it started to feel like a repetition of the same ideas and情节. As a result, I decided to stop reading around three-fourths of the way through. Perhaps I'm just impatient, or maybe the story truly lacked direction. I can understand why Don Juan was irritated with the narrator; at times, the narrator also got on my nerves.

Nonetheless, there were some good aspects. I particularly liked the scene where they were in the desert, ingesting peyote. The narrator wandered off and had a conversation with the embodiment of peyote, or "Mescalito," who instructed him to eat more. Since he didn't have a knife, he simply chewed off the tops of some plants. Heh.

Recently, I had a rather strange dream. In the dream, Mescalito told me to take my sheet and wrap it around myself like a toga, which I did. Then, I was supposed to go to a meeting of people similar to myself. However, I stopped because I had no idea where the meeting was. Mescalito then told me to look on the sheet for writing that would give me directions to the meeting. I unwrapped myself and searched for the writing, but it never appeared. Additionally, I couldn't figure out how to unlock the door of my apartment, so I ended up going back to bed. (Note: This wasn't the result of mescaline; I was just sleepwalking.)

If only I could encounter a wise shaman to guide me on my journey. To make me understand that non-sense-reality is as genuine as real-reality. And to assert without basis the power that permeates the world, a power known only to the wise shaman through the wisdom of the elders. Since there is no exclusive Western or Eastern way to truth, only the fact-free assertions of a mystic-native-American approach to truth, especially when intertwined with drug-induced psychedelic peyote experiences and the sewing of frogs' eyes. Oh, if only. Then I might fathom the imaginary world that this book leads us towards, the world of non-sense-reality.

It's rather peculiar, but the remarkable book The Thousand Plateaus by Gilles Deleuze directed me to this one. The author's enthusiasm for it was palpable. At the peril of saying something favorable about this book on Don Juan, I recognize the connections. Both books seek a structure for the world and thus meaning beyond what we impose. However, Deleuze never took himself too seriously when discussing reality, while this book always does when speaking of non-sense-reality, thereby negating its own truths by behaving as if they truly made sense, especially when this reader knows that drugs aren't the solution to uncovering deeper world structures.

Strangely, what I'm about to say might astonish you. I suspect I'll read the second volume in this series. I'm curious to see where the author takes us after the resounding success of this book. I don't care for Sam Harris' books as he believes drugs are a key to unlocking our inner truths. Jordan Peterson has also spouted such drivel when not blabbing about lobsters. I believe we already have an abundance of distractions preventing us from finding our optimal life meaning. A book like this, which assumes non-sense-reality combined with drugs under the guidance of an all-knowing mystic with only baseless assertions, will at best only reveal juvenile truths that aren't worth my time.

Overall, this book is juvenile and lacks substance. It was precisely what was needed in 1968 to mirror who we were then. Instead, read a philosophy book like Deleuze's. This book ('Don Juan') doesn't even reach the level of discourse found in an average episode of Kung Fu from the 1970s. The fictional character Caine seems more realistic than Don Juan.

Whoa. This one was truly an extraordinary adventure.

In the 1960s, a UCLA grad student in botany journeyed down to southern Arizona with the intention of learning about plants. However, he ended up studying under the guidance of a local Yaqui shaman and delving into the mysterious nether-regions of human perception. This exploration was facilitated through a variety of 'power plants' and even peyote, which has its own special deity.

This is the first in a whole series of books that gained a large following, largely inspired by the author, Carlos Castaneda. While I haven't read the others, I like to envision this first book as the untainted and pure essence of the exotic and unknown/forgotten/lost culture of shamanism. It provides some valuable insights into the wealth of knowledge they possess.

By the conclusion of the book, most of my conventional beliefs about human perception and the order of the world had been completely shattered. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to expand their understanding and explore the realms of the extraordinary.

Carlos Castaneda is no longer as widely popular as he once was when his Don Juan books first hit the shelves starting in 1968. Sadly, the author lived long enough to have his integrity called into question. People claimed that there was no real Don Juan Matus. They also pointed out that there wasn't a single word from the Yaqui language in any of the books. I would further add that no self-respecting shaman would permit a college boy to embark on a series of guided drug trips with him, especially when the college boy specified which drugs he wanted to take.

Now that half a century has elapsed, I'd like to share a well-known anecdote about a man being psychoanalyzed by a famous doctor. He describes in vivid detail a number of strangely unbelievable events. After each one, the doctor nods and remarks, "That's very interesting." Frustrated, the patient reveals that he made up all the tales he told. The doctor nods again and says, "That's even MORE interesting."

I have a similar feeling about "The teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui way of knowledge" by Carlos Castaneda. Castaneda describes his experiences with peyote (mescalito), datura (devil weed), and psilocybin (humito) in stunning detail. When I was younger, I believed every word Castaneda wrote. Now, however, I view the work as a magnificent piece of fiction. The only issue lies in the academic outlines that make up the last third of the book, where Castaneda似乎试图通过像他的教授们假装的那样有条不紊来欺骗他们。

Later on, I will re-read some of the subsequent works in the series to see how they have fared over time.