Carlos Castaneda's works have long been a source of inspiration and controversy. His accounts of his experiences with the Yaqui Indian shaman Don Juan have fascinated readers around the world.

However, there has been much debate about the authenticity of Castaneda's writings. Some have accused him of fabricating his stories, while others believe that he was truly a student of Don Juan and that his teachings offer valuable insights into the nature of reality and the human condition.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Castaneda and his work. Many people are now looking back at his books and reexamining the teachings of Don Juan. Some are finding that there is still much to be learned from these ancient wisdom traditions.

Whether or not one believes in the authenticity of Castaneda's writings, there is no denying the impact that his work has had on the field of anthropology and on our understanding of indigenous cultures. His books have introduced many people to the world of shamanism and have opened up new avenues of exploration and discovery.

As we continue to study and learn from the teachings of Don Juan, we may gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. We may also discover new ways of living in harmony with nature and with one another.

So, let us read again, read a ways back, and revisit the teachings of Carlos Castaneda and Don Juan. Who knows what new insights and revelations we may uncover?

I found this to be an exciting book, though much of it was incomprehensible to me.

We learn a great deal about Carlos’ early life, his life before meeting Don Juan. The latter had instructed him to collect the memorable events in his life, and he did just that. This was done to prepare him to enter “the active side of infinity”.

Even after reading the entire book, I still have no clue as to what this means.

Don Juan is a Yaqui, a leader among a generation of shamans or sorcerers. He has to find a new man or woman who, like himself, “shows a double energetic structure”. Carlos has this double energetic structure.

Don Juan tells him, “When I see your energy, I see two balls of luminosity superimposed, one on top of the other, and that feature binds us together”.

Don Juan wants to start Carlos on what shamans call the warrior’s way, “backed by the strength of the area where he lived, which was the center of very strong emotions and reactions”.

“To be a sorcerer means to reach a level of awareness that makes inconceivable things available.”

The task of sorcerers is to face infinity.

What makes human beings into sorcerers is their capacity to perceive energy directly as it flows into the universe.

All human beings possess awareness that permits them to see energy directly, but sorcerers are “the only human beings who were deliberately conscious of seeing energy directly”.

Infinity is everything that surrounds us.

“Infinity, the spirit, the dark sea of awareness --- is something that exists out there and rules our lives.”

Carlos informs us, “I was truly capable of comprehending everything he was saying, and yet I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about”.

Don Juan was an extraordinary blend of both his teachers – on one hand, extremely quiet and introspective, on the other, extremely open and funny. A nagual is empty, “and that emptiness doesn’t reflect the world, but reflects infinity”.

Carlos goes to Sonora to see Don Juan. He is in turmoil. Don Juan tells him that is because he is aware that “his time is up”. He gives Don Juan a full account of his life in order to “abandon the fortress of the self”.

Carlos recounts two episodes involving a psychiatrist and a professor of archaeology which put him into an “unknown emotional state”. Don Juan tells him his world is coming to an end.

The old sorcerers worked from a state of inner silence, suspension of the internal dialogue. (I have previously been on an “enlightenment” course and got help from Jo Dunning to attain this state which she informs us is a prerequisite to obtaining “enlightenment”.) These sorcerers “shook themselves” in order to reach that coveted state of awareness by jumping into waterfalls or hanging upside-down from the top branch of a tree. (Luckily, in Jo Dunning’s course we were not required to do either of these extreme things!)

Inner silence was accrued, accumulated. The desired result is what the old sorcerers called stopping the world, “the moment when everything around us ceases to be what it’s always been”.

This is also called “total freedom”. “Sorcerers need a breaking point for the workings of inner silence to set in.”

This means that at a given moment the continuity of their lives has to break in order for inner silence to set in.

“Your breaking point is to discontinue your life and you know it.”

Don Juan tells Carlos he must leave his friends, for good, since he can’t continue on the warrior’s path carrying his personal history with him.

Carlos’ friends are his points of reference and thus have to go. Sorcerers have only one point of reference – infinity.

He should rent a drab hotel room and stay there until he dies – not his body but his person – “Your person has very little to do with your body. Your person is your mind and --- your mind is not yours.”

Don Juan insists that Carlos write a list of all the people he has met, from the present back to the very beginning of his life. He must start with the first person on the list and recollect everything he can about that person; he must end with Mummy and Daddy and remember everything about them.

Carlos discovers that he is extremely “heavy-handed, obsessive and domineering”. Don Juan tells him that the power of the recapitulation is that it “stirs up all the garbage of our lives and brings it to the surface”.

As we recapitulate our lives, we realize our inconsistencies, our repetitions, but something in us puts up a tremendous resistance to recapitulating.

Only after a gigantic upheaval, called the “usher”, is the road free for us. Walking is always something that precipitates memories. The backs of the legs are the warehouse of man’s personal history. So the two go for a long walk in the hills.

He then remembers a series of events from his childhood where he becomes extremely proficient at playing billiards, is exploited by his grandfather and placed in an untenable position that cannot be resolved, whether to accept or reject a crooked deal.

Don Juan tells him that this event summed up the whole of his life – “You are always faced with a situation that is the same as the one you never resolved.”

The book ends with Carlos jumping into an abyss.

In conclusion, I found the book to be both absorbing and fascinating, yet difficult to understand. I would highly recommend it to all those interested in the teachings of Don Juan. I believe it to be one of Carlos’ best books.

This book was an absolute journey.

Carlos Casteneda is truly brilliant when it comes to the art of explaining and documenting.

However, I would highly recommend reading the first two or three books initially. These include "The Teachings of Don Juan," "A Separate Reality," and "Journey To Ixtlan."

To fully grasp the essence of what Don Juan is explaining to Casteneda, one really has to be open-minded and willing to let go of preconceived notions.

One must simply take everything as it is presented and allow oneself to be immersed in the unique world that Casteneda描绘s.

By doing so, the reader can experience the full effect of the profound teachings and insights that are shared within these pages.

It is a truly captivating and enlightening experience that is not to be missed.

It is extremely challenging to distinguish truth from fiction when it comes to Castaneda. I mainly read this in anticipation of rereading The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge. The key point I noticed was that the account of how don Juan and Castaneda met appears completely inconsistent with what was presented in his first book, as well as in the biography penned by his wife.

It does contain a few interesting elements, but for the most part, it is a meandering, somewhat coherent retelling of the "Castaneda as the next generation of Mexican sorcerer" myth - the one he himself fabricated and continuously updated to populate new books - interspersed with irrelevant personal tales.

This makes it difficult for the reader to truly trust the authenticity of the stories and the experiences described. One is left wondering what is real and what is simply a product of Castaneda's imagination or his desire to create a captivating narrative.

Overall, while there may be some morsels of interest, the book is a rather frustrating read due to the lack of clarity and the seeming contradictions within the text.

Fiction Not Faction

Carlos Castaneda's works have long been a subject of debate. Some claim his books are based on real experiences, while others argue they are nothing more than fiction. The article "Fake Carlos Castaneda" delves into this controversy.

Castaneda's books, which describe his purported apprenticeship with a Yaqui Indian sorcerer named Don Juan, have captivated readers around the world. However, many have质疑 the authenticity of his accounts.

The article points out that there is little evidence to support Castaneda's claims. For example, there is no record of a Yaqui sorcerer named Don Juan, and Castaneda's descriptions of Yaqui culture and practices do not match what is known from historical and anthropological sources.

Despite the lack of evidence, Castaneda's books continue to be popular. Some readers may be drawn to the exotic and神秘的 nature of his stories, while others may see them as a form of self-help or spiritual guidance.

Ultimately, the question of whether Castaneda's works are fact or fiction remains unresolved. However, it is important for readers to approach his books with a critical eye and to consider the evidence before accepting his claims at face value.

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We often have goals and dreams that seem distant and intangible. However, it is only when we take action and make them a reality that they truly become part of our lives.

Just like Matus said at the end, "Do it!" We need to have the courage and determination to pursue what we want.

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I find myself firmly in the “valuable works of philosophy” camp. Growing up in LA, it was nearly impossible to overlook the cultish aftermath that surrounded Castaneda’s death. However, I still awarded this work 4 stars. The reason being that I believe he managed to convey his point(s) quite effectively approximately 60 pages before the conclusion of the book.

It truly seems as if the editor was somewhat confused or unsure about what they were reading. There were perhaps elements within the text that were not as clearly understood or interpreted as they could have been.

Despite this, Castaneda’s ideas and the way he presented them in those crucial pages had a certain impact and made me reflect on various philosophical concepts.

Perhaps with a more discerning eye from the editor, the full potential of Castaneda’s work could have been realized and presented in an even more coherent and engaging manner.

Nonetheless, it still holds value and offers food for thought for those interested in exploring the realm of philosophy.

This is an interesting perspective on spirituality and the path of self-discovery from a shamanic gaze.

Some quotes are very good, while others require more faith or identification with shamanic culture.

Definitely, it leaves you thinking and philosophizing about life and reality.

It offers a unique lens through which to explore the deeper aspects of our being and the world around us.

The shamanic view often challenges our conventional understandings and encourages us to look beyond the surface.

By delving into these ideas, we can gain new insights and perhaps even find a different way to approach our own spiritual journey.

Whether we fully embrace the shamanic perspective or simply use it as a springboard for our own thoughts, it无疑 has the potential to expand our consciousness and enrich our lives.

This is a very interesting book that offers a unique shamanistic perspective on consciousness and energy manipulation.

It delves deep into the profound teachings and practices that are often passed down through the guru-disciple relationship.

The author skillfully presents these complex concepts in a way that is accessible and engaging, making it a captivating read for both those familiar with shamanism and those new to the subject.

Readers will be taken on a journey of discovery as they explore the mysteries of consciousness and learn about the techniques used to manipulate energy.

The book not only provides valuable insights but also inspires readers to expand their own understanding and explore the possibilities of their own consciousness and energy.

Overall, it is a must-read for anyone interested in the fascinating world of shamanism and the exploration of human consciousness and energy manipulation.

This book was an absolute eye-opener and an extremely enjoyable read.

I found myself racing through its pages with great enthusiasm. Every time I put it down, there were numerous things that piqued my interest and compelled me to conduct further research.

The final couple of chapters were truly remarkable. They not only sparked my curiosity but also invigorated my own journey. They led me to discover new perspectives and ways of looking at various aspects of life.

In conclusion, this is a truly great book that has had a profound impact on me. It has broadened my horizons and inspired me to explore new ideas and possibilities. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and thought-provoking read.

One of the best books by Castaneda is where he makes clear and precise references to the "enemy" of humanity that the Toltecs called the "flyers." This is a datum that closely approximates the "archons" mentioned in gnostic texts, as those multidimensional beings that have been stealing vital energy from humans for millennia. For this reason, different myths and belief systems have emphasized the need to get out of this level of dependence that is so fashionable today with all these "light" beings of dubious divinity that have hacked the information and beliefs of those who seek answers on their spiritual path, a trap that is as relevant today as it was in the past.

Returning to the book, which at first glance might seem like an adventure story, it represents a manual of instructions on how to get out of this network of illusions that has always manipulated the individual! Understood from the highly practical shamanic paradigm, something that modern researchers like Salvador Sixfredo also recognized.

A work of psychedelic genius is truly a remarkable and captivating creation. It has the power to transport the viewer or listener into a completely different realm of consciousness. The vivid colors, distorted shapes, and mind-bending patterns that are characteristic of psychedelic art can have a profound impact on the senses and the imagination. Such a work challenges our perception of reality and encourages us to explore the deeper recesses of our minds. It can inspire new ways of thinking and seeing the world around us. Whether it is a painting, a piece of music, or a literary work, a psychedelic genius has the ability to create a unique and unforgettable experience that will stay with us long after we have encountered it.