This is a truly pathetic attempt to revive a failed pseudo-philosophy.

It seems that someone is trying to ride the wave of the "virtual reality" craze that was popular in the late 80's and early 90's.

However, simply attaching a trendy concept to a flawed ideology does not make it any more valid or relevant.

The original pseudo-philosophy likely failed for good reasons, and this desperate attempt to give it a new lease on life through the guise of virtual reality is doomed to failure.

It is a sad sight to see such a blatant exploitation of a passing fad in an effort to prop up something that should have been left in the dustbin of history.

Perhaps those behind this attempt should focus on more legitimate and worthwhile pursuits instead of trying to resuscitate a dead horse.

The Second Don Juan book is a bit of a letdown compared to the first. It also seems to have elements of Hindu and Buddhist philosophy repackaged as native American wisdom, like old wine in new [age] skins.

However, instead of taking these books as the non-fiction they are marketed as, I prefer to view them as fantasies.

That being said, I do enjoy the new character Castaneda introduces here, don Genaro. He's a true trickster and always manages to make me laugh. But the "wisdom" revealed in this volume is not as captivating as that in the first. Here, Castaneda seems to suggest that the etheric body has physical manifestations, which may or may not be the case. As most true spiritual masters have pointed out, grasping for power only leads to being stuck. So, using the etheric body to gain power over the spiritual realm is a trap.

I'm not quite sure how to rate these books. As fantasies, they're okay, perhaps on par with a lesser Ursula K. Le Guin. Moreover, the "wisdom" they contain is often quite good and more grounded than the "think and grow rich" drivel that the New Age movement has devolved into, like "The Secret."

The problem is that most archaeologists who have closely examined Castaneda's work now believe he fabricated "Don Juan." There are many giveaways, but the most obvious is his naming of plants and animals. Instead of using Amerindian names, he opts for common American and Spanish names.

And Castaneda died defending his own falsehoods. I can understand his delusions to some extent. He was clearly a seeker who created a powerful "imaginary friend" to aid in his maturation. But he fell victim to pride, one of the seven deadly sins. He used don Juan to obtain his PhD at UCLA, and admitting the truth would have meant confessing to being a fraud. So, he dug in his heels, and his pride made him believe his own fiction.

While I can understand Castaneda to a certain degree, I cannot fathom the publisher's actions. By now, they must know that Castaneda's field work was fraudulent, yet they continue to market these books as non-fiction. Therefore, I can only give this book two stars.

For a more detailed explanation of my thoughts on Castaneda, please read my review of "The teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge."

In my opinion, "A Separate Reality" is superior to "The Teachings Of Don Juan".

However, it is important to note that it is based on the concepts and situations presented in the latter book. Therefore, I would not recommend starting with this one.

This book contains less material related to psychotropic experiences. The reason for this is that Carlos begins to understand here that his journey is not actually about psychotropic or medicinal plants and fungi. Instead, it is about something much deeper and more significant.

The material in this book is excellent as it deals with our perceptions of reality, challenges the traditional Western way of doing things, and offers powerful (in some cases rather mysterious) insights into techniques for enhancing one's own life. It is essential reading for those interested in exploring these topics.

These books are essentially a series of journals of Carlos Castaneda's account of his studying under Don Juan - a Yacqui Indian Shaman.

For anyone who has ever been into Psychedelics or Native American Spiritualism, Carlos Castaneda is undeniably one of the most captivating writers from the 70's to capture the imagination of the Dreamquest. His works offer engrossing reading at its finest.

Some have speculated that this was nothing more than a fictitious account used as a thesis for his Harvard Graduate doctorate. However, regardless of the authenticity of the story, he deserves some type of literary accolades for this outstanding achievement in writing this series.

I have re-read these books many times, and each time I am drawn into the神秘 and enchanting world that Castaneda has created. His descriptions of the spiritual practices and teachings of Don Juan are both fascinating and thought-provoking, and they have had a profound impact on my own understanding of the human experience.

Whether you are interested in exploring the world of Psychedelics, Native American Spiritualism, or simply looking for a good read, I highly recommend the works of Carlos Castaneda.

I had previously read a biography of Castaneda titled "The life and teachings of Carlos Castaneda" and was rather disappointed in him as it became clear that he was not a very likable character. As a result, I had no intention of reading any more of his books. However, I later came across this particular one and decided to give it a try.

I didn't find it to be as good as some of the other books. Don Juan, the Yaqui Indian who was training Carlos to be a sorcerer or something similar, kept getting him to do such strange, complicated, and according to Don Juan, extremely dangerous things that it was hard to make any sense of them.

Carlos didn't seem to gain anything from it at all. Previously, Carlos was interested in obtaining information about plants, especially peyote, which is a hallucinogenic cactus. He was a student of anthropology with a focus on medicinal plants but was also very curious about Don Juan. His eyes shone "with a light of their own".

They became friends, but Carlos was interested in "academic knowledge that transcends experience" while Don Juan talked about direct knowledge of the world. Don Juan told Carlos that he must "feel everything, otherwise the world loses its sense". He also said that Carlos shut off the world around him and clung to his arguments, which is why he only had problems.

Don Juan called peyote "Mescalito" and said that Mescalito taught "the right way of life". He regarded jimson weed and mushrooms as powers of a different sort. He called them "allies" and said that a sorcerer "drew his strength from manipulating an ally". The power contained in the mushroom was Don Juan's personal ally, and he called it "smoke" or "little smoke".

Carlos began to lose the certainty that "the reality of everyday life is something we can take for granted". Don Juan's premise was that a light, flexible disposition was needed to understand the impact and strangeness of the knowledge he was teaching Carlos. "To be a man of knowledge one needs to be light and fluid."

Don Juan tried to teach Carlos to "see". "Looking" was the ordinary way of perceiving the world, while "seeing" involved a complex process by which a man of knowledge perceives the "essence" of the things in the world. Smoking the mixture was essential for "seeing".

Part One of the book is called "The Preliminaries of Seeing" and Part Two is "The Task of Seeing". Don Juan told Carlos that "the little smoke" would help him to "see" men as fibres of light. Don Juan had a sense of drama and humour, but many of the things he said seemed cryptic. Carlos kept asking him to explain what he meant, and Don Juan talked about "controlled folly".

Nothing one does is important. "Controlled folly" is very similar to "seeing"; it is something that you cannot think about. In order to become a man of knowledge, one must be a warrior. "One must strive without giving up --- until one "sees", only to realize then that nothing matters."

Carlos records everything that occurs in great detail, including the exact dates on which they occur. He describes everything accurately, almost pedantically. I found the book to be quite readable, although I didn't feel that I really understood everything, perhaps nothing. Don Juan's world was a different one from ours, and his knowledge was a different sort of knowledge.

But if the world of sorcery, "seeing", and becoming a man of knowledge interests you, then read the book. I'm not sure, but I think it was Castaneda's second book. Happy reading!

Still reading...

So far, in just the first few pages, I am truly in awe and deeply inspired by these men. They manage to create a remarkable situation of peace. They come together and consume peyote, which seems to open up a realm of profound discussions. They engage in conversations about the "right way" to live. Their dialogue is not about controlling others but rather about how to enhance their own lives and the lives of all beings. It's a beautiful and thought-provoking exploration. They are delving into the essence of what it means to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Ooh, I wish I could have the experience of tripping with don juan. :)

This book is already captivating my imagination and making me reflect on my own life and the choices I make. It's like a window into a different world, a world of spiritual exploration and self-discovery. I can't wait to see what else lies ahead in these pages.

As I continue to read, I feel myself being drawn deeper into the story and the teachings of these remarkable men. Their words are like a gentle breeze, blowing through my mind and heart, awakening something within me.

I hope that by the end of this book, I will have gained a new perspective on life and a greater understanding of myself and the world around me.

I am going to bestow the same review upon all the Carlos Castaneda books that I have perused within that series.

The reason is simply that they are all truly outstanding. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have encountered Castaneda at a very early stage of my magickal journey.

My spells and rituals have always been reliant on the power of intent, and I have discovered no superior education regarding how to focus one's intent than within this series of books.

Back in 1994, they were classified as nonfiction. However, lately, it is being said that they are fiction.

All that I know is that a great deal of what is contained within these books actually works. And having been a Wiccan Faery Witch for now 13 years, I am well aware that much of what is real to us is regarded as fiction by those who are not treading a magickal path.

These are life-altering books that you will never forget, and their teachings continue to exert an influence on my life even today. It simply couldn't be any better than that!

I read this passage and put it down numerous times.

There was a great deal of back and forth regarding how to “see” and “be a warrior.”

The text seems to suggest that Carlos is not adhering to the rules of either seeing or being a warrior.

Perhaps the author is trying to convey that Carlos has his own unique way of approaching these concepts.

It could also imply that the traditional rules of seeing and being a warrior are not set in stone and can be challenged or reinterpreted.

This back and forth between different perspectives adds depth and complexity to the discussion.

It makes the reader question their own understanding of what it means to “see” and “be a warrior.”

Overall, the text leaves the reader with much to think about and explore further.

What an incredibly interesting journey this person embarked upon!

I truly appreciate his goal, and being a recreational drug user myself, I can fully understand his description of a Separate Reality.

The character in the book vividly describes his experiences with different mind-altering plants as distinct planes of reality. How apt and accurate this description is!

It makes the concept of mind expansion through the use of mind-altering drugs much easier to grasp and, dare I say, enjoy.

This book is truly a good read for any stoner or drug user out there. So, go ahead and enjoy the ride!

This guy truly had a captivating effect on many of us with his stories.

So many years ago, I devoured most of his initial four or five novels. However, as time went by, I simply lost interest.

What an amazing cover! Don Juan once said, "You must feel everything, otherwise the world loses its sense."

Jimi Hendrix also expressed a similar sentiment when he said, "I want to see and hear everything."

Don Juan, that mysterious man, also stated, "Feeling important makes one heavy, clumsy, and vain. To be a man of knowledge one needs to be light and fluid."

Okay, Don Juan... which one is it? Light... or fluid?

It's interesting to consider these words and how they might apply to our own lives. Do we strive to feel everything and experience the world fully, or do we focus on being light and fluid in our pursuit of knowledge and understanding?

Perhaps there is a balance to be found between the two. Maybe we can feel deeply while also maintaining a sense of lightness and adaptability.

As we reflect on these ideas, we are reminded of the power of words and the impact they can have on our perspectives.

Whether it's through the tales of this author or the wisdom of Don Juan and Jimi Hendrix, we have the opportunity to gain new insights and expand our horizons.

So, let's continue to explore and question, and see where these thoughts take us.

Don Juan had once shared with me that a man of knowledge had his own predilections. Intrigued, I asked him to elaborate on his statement.

He said, "My predilection is to see."

I inquired, "What do you mean by that?"

He replied, "I like to see because only by seeing can a man of knowledge truly know."

I then asked, "What kind of things do you see?"

His answer was simple: "Everything."

But I countered, "But I also see everything and I'm not a man of knowledge."

He said firmly, "No. You don't see."

I insisted, "I think I do."

But he was adamant, "I tell you, you don't."

I wanted to know why, so I asked, "What makes you say that, don Juan?"

He pointed out, "You only look at the surface of things."

I further questioned, "Do you mean that every man of knowledge actually sees through everything he looks at?"

He clarified, "No. That's not what I mean. I said that a man of knowledge has his own predilections; mine is just to see and to know; others do other things."

I was curious about what those other things could be, so I asked, "What other things, for example?"

He gave an example, "Take Sacateca, he's a man of knowledge and his predilection is dancing. So he dances and knows."

I then asked, "Is the predilection of a man of knowledge something he does in order to know?"

He confirmed, "Yes, that is correct."

I still didn't quite understand how dancing could help Sacateca to know, so I asked, "But how could dancing help Sacateca to know?"

He said, "One can say that Sacateca dances with all he has."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I then wanted to know what it was like to see, so I asked, "What's it like to see, don Juan?"

He replied, "You have to learn to see in order to know that. I can't tell you."

I wondered if it was a secret I shouldn't know, so I asked, "Is it a secret I shouldn't know?"

He said, "No. It's just that I can't describe it."

I wanted to know why he couldn't describe it, so I asked, "Why?"

He said, "It wouldn't make sense to you."

But I was persistent, so I said, "Try me, don Juan. Maybe it'll make sense to me."

He still refused, "No. You must do it yourself. Once you learn, you can see every single thing in the world in a different way."

I then said, "Then, don Juan, you don't see the world in the usual way any more."

He said, "I see both ways. When I want to look at the world I see it the way you do. Then when I want to see it I look at it the way I know and I perceive it in a different way."

I asked, "Do things look consistently the same every time you see them?"

He said, "Things don't change. You change your way of looking, that's all."

I meant something more specific, so I said, "I mean, don Juan, that if you see, for instance, the same tree, does it remain the same every time you see it?"

He said, "No. It changes and yet it's the same."

I was a bit confused and thought that if the same tree changed every time he saw it, his seeing might be a mere illusion, so I said, "But if the same tree changes every time you see it, your seeing may be a mere illusion."

He laughed and did not answer for some time, but seemed to be thinking. Finally he said, "Whenever you look at things you don't see them. You just look at them, I suppose, to make sure that something is there. Since you're not concerned with seeing, things look very much the same every time you look at them. When you learn to see, on the other hand, a thing is never the same every time you see it, and yet it is the same. I told you, for instance, that a man is like an egg. Every time I see the same man I see an egg, yet it is not the same egg."

I was still not convinced and asked, "But you won't be able to recognize anything, since nothing is the same; so what's the advantage of learning to see?"

He said, "You can tell things apart. You can see them for what they really are."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The conversation with don Juan left me with many thoughts and questions about the nature of seeing and knowledge. It made me realize that there was so much more to perception than I had ever imagined. I knew that I had a long way to go before I could truly understand what it meant to see like a man of knowledge. But I was determined to try and learn, to open my eyes and see the world in a new way. Maybe then I would be able to understand the secrets that don Juan seemed to hold so dear.

The end.

Now Schultes often said that there is a significant difference between an ethnobotanist and an anthropologist. The shaman leans forward and offers the brew containing ayahuasca or the snuff tubes with the hallucinogenic snuff, or the magic mushrooms.

The anthropologist typically responds by saying, “Oh, no, I can’t do that. I would lose my objectivity. How would I take notes?”

Whereas when the shaman passes it to the ethnobotanist, she or he looks at the shaman and excitedly says, “Yee ha!”

~Dr Mark Plotkin

The discrepancy between "thinking" and "seeing" is truly brilliant and paradigm shifting. It highlights the different approaches and mindsets of these two fields. The anthropologist is concerned with maintaining objectivity and the ability to document and analyze, while the ethnobotanist is more open to experiencing and exploring the substances directly. This difference can lead to unique perspectives and understandings of the cultures and plants being studied. It also shows how different ways of approaching a subject can result in new and valuable insights.