A Separate Reality: Further Conversations With Don Juan (Book #2) by Carlos Castaneda is a fictional work published by Simon and Shuster in 1971. In 1968, Castaneda made a return to the desert of Northern Mexico. There, he sought further instruction on the Yaqui “Way of Knowledge” from the enigmatic Don Juan. This book serves as his detailed account of that profound spiritual journey. The narrative takes the reader on an exploration of the unknown, filled with神秘的 experiences and teachings. Castaneda's writing style is engaging, drawing the reader into his world. However, some may find certain aspects of the story a bit far-fetched. Overall, I would rate this book a 7 out of 10. I completed reading it in 1980.

In my early college years, I had the pleasure of reading the entire series of Castenda books.

These books were truly inspirational to me. At that time, the concept of alternate ways of thinking and separate realities was completely novel to me.

It opened up a whole new world of possibilities and made me question the limitations of my own perception.

I have always had the intention of returning to these books.

What I really like about them is the unique mixture of a deeper hidden message and the light tale of the medicine man that runs through the pages.

The story not only entertained me but also made me think about life, values, and the power of the human mind.

I believe that these books have the potential to inspire and enlighten readers of all ages.

They offer a fresh perspective on the world and encourage us to explore our own inner selves.

I highly recommend the Castenda books to anyone who is looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read.

Well... this is the Carlos Castaneda that mainly revolves around drugs.

Carlos is truly one of those exasperating individuals who simply doesn't listen to anything he is told. After a decade of apprenticeship, one would assume that his character would have developed and changed. However, that has not been the case. I know this because I happened to read the last book in the series first, "The Art of Dreaming" (by accident as it was lying around the house), and Carlos still seems just as clueless as ever.

Oh well... despite this, I'm still going to continue reading the books. This is because, regardless of Carlos, the concepts presented within them are extremely fascinating and captivating.

I would highly recommend these books to anyone who desires a four-dimensional perspective on the world. It offers a unique and thought-provoking way of looking at things that can expand one's mind and understanding.

So, if you're looking for something different and intellectually stimulating, give the Carlos Castaneda books a try. You might just be surprised at what you discover.

2009.0409 - 2009.0409

In connection to Lost (TV show; 2004), I gave it 5 stars at 50%. This is the reason why I read the book. It had a strong connection to the TV show that I loved.

For literary merit, I awarded 3 stars as 25%. The writing was good, but not outstanding. There were some areas where it could have been improved.

For interesting ideas and general 'creepiness', I gave it 5 stars out of 25%. The story had some really unique and captivating ideas that kept me on the edge of my seat. The 'creepiness' factor added an extra layer of excitement.

When we calculate the overall score, we have 5 stars [50%:] + 3 stars [25%:] + 5 stars [25%:] = 4.25 stars [100%:]. However, we round down to 4 stars.

One of the most beautiful books of our time,

If there was ever a Don Juan,

Carlos must have been extremely lucky to have met him in person.

As we all require a teacher like him,

Thankfully, we have the opportunity to read his teachings through these wonderful books.

These books offer us a profound and enlightening experience,

Allowing us to gain valuable insights and wisdom.

They open up a world of possibilities and inspire us to explore our inner selves.

The teachings within these books have the power to transform our lives and help us become better individuals.

We can learn from the experiences and perspectives of Don Juan and Carlos,

And apply their teachings to our own lives.

In this way, we can grow and evolve, and discover the true meaning and purpose of our existence.

Something to think about. I read this when I was a very young person, and in general, the same ideas and thoughts still spin off. It has a profound impact on me. It helps me to break free from the limitations of my own little square. We often tend to confine ourselves within a narrow perspective, but this piece of writing encourages us to look beyond. It makes us realize that there is a much larger world out there, beyond the boundaries that our community and society would like to keep us in.

It challenges us to question the status quo and think independently. For any free thinker, this is a good read. It激发s our curiosity and broadens our horizons. It makes us more open-minded and receptive to new ideas and perspectives. It helps us to grow and develop as individuals, and to make a positive impact on the world around us.

At best, this book seems to be a long-winded, discursive collection of ramblings. It delves into hallucinations, delusions, and trippy drug excursions, all under the supposed tutelage of an all-knowing yet irritating wise shaman. Or perhaps, as I like to believe, it's the work of the Trickster God, Coyote, making a fool out of a gullible sap.

Either way, there is simply nothing worthwhile within this juvenilely presented volume. It pretends to be philosophically profound, as if it has a depth of a mile. However, in the end, it is so simplistic that it is completely void of any real worth.

The ideas presented lack substance and fail to offer any meaningful insights or contributions. It's as if the author was simply trying to sound intelligent without really having anything of value to say.

In conclusion, this book is a disappointment and should be skipped by anyone looking for a truly thought-provoking and worthwhile read.

This book would probably seem strange to most and only interesting to a few.

For me, I can only say that this book chose me. It came to me at a time in my life when I was approaching a major spiritual awakening, although I didn't know it at that moment.

This book played a crucial role in pushing me over the edge. It was as if it was the final nudge that I needed to take a significant step forward in my spiritual journey.

I firmly believe that if I would have read it any time sooner than when I did, it would have been lost on me.

The words and the messages within the book might not have had the same impact or meaning.

It was precisely because I was in that particular state of mind and at that specific point in my life that the book resonated with me so deeply.

It opened my eyes to new perspectives and ideas, and it has since become an important part of my spiritual growth and development.

Wow! What an amazing amount of knowledge! I'm truly astounded by the depth and breadth of information presented. It's like opening a door to a whole new world of understanding. I can't get enough of it. In fact, I'm already onto another one of his books. I'm eager to see what else he has in store for me. Each page seems to hold a new gem of wisdom, waiting to be discovered. I find myself completely immersed in the text, losing track of time. The author's writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making it a pleasure to read. I highly recommend his books to anyone who has a thirst for knowledge and a desire to expand their horizons.

I highly recommend Carlos Castaneda's body of work as it has had a profound impact on my perspective of the world.

"A Separate Reality," the second installment in the series, delves into his studies with Don Juan, the Yaqui shaman he first introduced in "Teachings of Don Juan, a Yaqui Way of Knowledge."

Similar to "Teachings," "A Separate Reality" explores the various realities we encounter in our lives. For instance, our dreams, which during the act of dreaming, become our true universe. In contrast, our waking reality relegates our dreams to mere fantasies.

A central concept in this book is the distinction between looking, which is what we predominantly do, and seeing, where we perceive the essence of something.

"A Separate Reality" is truly a mind-expanding book that challenges our conventional understanding of reality and encourages us to look beyond the surface and see the deeper truths that lie within.

It invites us to explore the different dimensions of our existence and question the boundaries we have set for ourselves.

Castaneda's vivid descriptions and profound insights make this book a captivating read that leaves a lasting impression on the reader's mind.

Whether you are interested in shamanism, philosophy, or simply expanding your awareness, "A Separate Reality" is a must-read.

This is the greatest celebration of gullibility and the complete lack of any ability to discern or investigate that I have ever come across in my reading.

It is truly astonishing how easily people seem to believe everything they are told without even bothering to question or look into it further.

The writing itself is also of poor quality, making it even more difficult to take seriously.

One would hope that in this day and age, with the vast amount of information available at our fingertips, people would be more inclined to think critically and do their own research before accepting something as true.

However, it seems that this is not always the case, and we are still prone to falling for the most outlandish claims and ideas.

Perhaps it is time for us to reevaluate our approach to information and start using our brains a little more.

Good fantasy has the power to make you long for it to be real.

In this second installment, there is an abundance that makes you wish some of the imaginings could come true.

There is a significant emphasis on the act of “seeing,” which closely resembles Buddhist concepts of interconnectedness, equanimity, and acceptance of our mortality.

If everything is equal, then everything is equally unimportant or equally important, and this is precisely the end result of Don Juan’s “seeing” and his overall perspective on life, despite all the added mysticism and seeing people as “luminous eggs.”

His role as a “warrior” is his way of coping with the emotional consequences of total equality and awareness of our own mortality.

Another connection to Buddhist teachings is being conscious of our inner chatter and how we construct our world with our concepts.

It is fascinating how these ideas are integrated into the entire narrative of the book, as if they were something newly uncovered in a magical wrapper.

This is good fantasy that surpasses the first book.