One thing is to be understood with the rational mind, which is limited in its scope and capabilities.

However, there is another realm that exists beyond the reach of the mind, beyond anything that we can perceive, imagine, or even describe.

To reach this state of awareness is truly enlightening, on a par with the profound insights of Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha.

It is a state that is very much in line with the teachings of Taoism, which emphasizes the importance of going beyond the ordinary and accessing a deeper, more intuitive understanding of the world and our place in it.

This requires us to quiet the mind, let go of our preconceptions and biases, and open ourselves up to the mystery and wonder that lies beyond our normal perception.

When we do this, we can begin to experience a sense of unity and interconnectedness with all things, and a profound sense of peace and contentment.

It is a journey that is well worth taking, for it can lead to a level of self-discovery and spiritual growth that is truly life-changing.

This took me longer than it should have to finish, and I suspect that was largely because my interest kept waning.

I do think that this Castaneda series is to be read carefully, or you’ll feel overwhelmed and inadequate in grasping don Juan’s concepts.

On the other hand, the characters feel one-dimensional. Especially don Juan, as he continues to insult Carlos every single page. In this book, we’re also introduced to don Genaro, and he perpetuates belittling Carlos while don Juan “roars with laughter.” It was unnecessarily hostile treatment. There’s a moment where Carlos pretends not to hear Don Juan when he calls him “dumb.” So he proceeds to tell him that he’s slow and taps his head.

I’ve read a few of these books in the series, but they’re just coming across as repetitive and irksome the more I read them. However, one benefit is that there was a particular passage in this book that changed my perception on lucid dreaming. It was a small glimmer of hope in an otherwise lackluster reading experience.

Perhaps I’ll give the series another chance at some point, but for now, I’m left with a sense of disappointment and a desire for more engaging characters and less repetitive dialogue.

Is what you observe real? How do you define reality? What is the difference between believing and having to believe?

This book will lead you to answer these questions and pose others. Through the experiences with Don Juan and Don Genaro, Castaneda will take you on a pleasant journey.

We often take what we see and experience at face value, assuming it is the truth. But is it really? The concept of reality is complex and subjective. Different people may have different perceptions of the same thing.

Believing is a choice we make, while having to believe may be influenced by external factors such as social pressure or lack of alternatives. In this book, Castaneda explores these ideas through his encounters with Don Juan and Don Genaro, two wise and mysterious men.

As you read, you will be invited to question your own beliefs and assumptions about reality. You will be challenged to think deeply and consider new perspectives.

This journey may not be easy, but it will be rewarding. By the end of the book, you may find that your understanding of reality has been expanded and your beliefs have been transformed.

In my opinion, the best book among the first four of this author is truly remarkable.

It stands out for several reasons. Firstly, the story is engaging from the very beginning, pulling the reader in and making it difficult to put down. The characters are well-developed, with their own unique personalities and motives that drive the plot forward.

The author's writing style is also a major plus. It is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture in the reader's mind and allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the world of the book.

Additionally, the themes explored in the book are thought-provoking and relevant, making it not just an entertaining read but also a meaningful one.

Overall, this book is a masterpiece and a must-read for anyone who loves great literature.

It was truly a wonderful experience to revisit all of the books in this series. Each book holds a unique charm and story that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged from start to finish. As I delved back into these pages, I was reminded of the vivid characters, the exciting plotlines, and the beautiful worlds that the author had created.

Rereading these books also allowed me to notice details that I may have missed the first time around. I was able to appreciate the author's writing style and craftsmanship on a deeper level. It was like uncovering hidden treasures within the pages.

In conclusion, revisiting this series of books was a joyous and fulfilling experience. It brought back memories and introduced me to new perspectives. I would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a captivating read.

A great work of philosophy, I'd say.

Not being accustomed to this particular genre of philosophy, it took me some time to get into the appropriate mindset for reading. However, once I became more cognizant of the directness of Castaneda's writing style while still maintaining a certain degree of crypticness in his content, I began to truly cherish the story.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking a slight alteration in their perspective!

Moreover, it was quite an enjoyable read right after having just completed "Meditations" by Descartes! It added just a touch of an additional dimension.

Ps. If I had the option, I would give it 3.5 stars. Four stars just seems a bit excessive for my personal taste, so I'll settle for 3.

This work offers a unique exploration of philosophical concepts, challenging the reader to think outside the box and consider new ways of looking at the world. Castaneda's writing style, with its blend of directness and mystery, keeps the reader engaged and intrigued throughout. Whether you're a philosophy enthusiast or simply looking for a thought-provoking read, this book is definitely worth checking out.

I've never been impressed with his books.

There are so many much better and far less boring books available on the subject of shamanism.

It's true that he did play a role in helping to create the genre, which is an accomplishment worthy of some recognition.

However, despite that, his works just don't have the appeal or the depth that I'm looking for.

I find myself constantly comparing his books to others in the field and coming away disappointed.

Maybe it's the writing style, or perhaps it's the lack of fresh perspectives and ideas.

Whatever the reason, I can't seem to get excited about his offerings.

There are simply too many other excellent books on shamanism that I would rather spend my time reading.

Excellent and engaging, I truly couldn't put it down. This is the fourth book out of a total of twelve. I read the first book and the twelfth book several years ago. Strangely enough, it doesn't seem to matter if you read these books out of order. They are both fascinating and instructive, offering an immersive experience into the shamanistic worldview. Each book seems to have its own unique charm and perspective, allowing the reader to explore different aspects of this interesting and mysterious world. Whether you start from the beginning or jump in the middle, you are sure to be captivated by the stories and ideas presented. It's like embarking on a journey of discovery, where every page turns reveals something new and exciting.

After the rather disappointing "Journey to Ixtlan", which seemed to be a book stuck in a limbo between anthropology and fiction, Casteneda truly showcases the best of his magical prowess in this particular work.

He takes the fictionalization of Don Juan and Genaro to new heights (now it's all presented as "tales"), revises and modifies all the previous teachings, and then arranges them anew. He also crafts a number of wonderful magical and mystical scenes to illustrate his new syntaxis.

We witness a great wordsmith at work, and just like with the best magicians, one begins to wonder if the magic they are performing could be real. The role of Don Genaro becomes much more distinct, and Casteneda employs some fascinating tricks with doubling up characters and concepts.

Apart from the somewhat silly yet captivating theory of the warrior's "double", Don Genaro also becomes the complete counterpart of Don Juan, Pablito becomes the full counterpart of Castaneda, and the nagual becomes the full counterpart of the tonal.

It's quite skillful how Casteneda manages to juggle these concepts and make everything binary. However, there are many inconsistencies in the teachings.

Nonetheless, Casteneda skillfully masks these by creating a sort of mist. The most blatant inconsistency is that Castaneda needed 13 years of training before being allowed to hear of the more advanced teachings presented in this book.

Don Juan emphasizes that all those 13 years of training were meant to prepare the totality of his body/mind, not just his mind. Otherwise, all this knowledge would be extremely dangerous.

Yet, the reader, who hasn't gone on any desert walks with Don Juan or witnessed any of the miracles by Don Genaro, can apparently safely digest all the teachings just by reading.

In the book, the character Castaneda supposedly risks dying repeatedly from his exposure to the teachings, but for the reader, there is clearly no such risk.

This is perhaps the greatest inconsistency. If taken literally, it means that the reader cannot learn anything from the book, which is in itself a brilliant disclaimer on the part of the author.

Castaneda is truly like the white falcon that can never be caught.

Anyway, I would almost be compelled to give it 5 stars because of the sense of philosophy, magic, and mysticism it evokes.

But the repetitive slapstick, cheap frights, gratuitous insistence that everything witnessed is extremely dangerous, and the guru's无缘无故rolling on the floor with laughter all detract a bit from the realness.

Nevertheless, there's great storytelling, a powerful sense of suggestion, and a spectacular reveal of the sorcerers' system, which explains all that happened in the three previous books.

I would say it's a magical and mystical allegory with a lot of Buddhist teachings at its core. In the end, Castaneda leaves it all undecided, as after the big jump off the cliff, he finds himself alone.

The author becomes acquainted with a red-haired traveler named Don during his journey. Through Don, the author gets to know the world of wizards and learns the ways and rituals of a sorcerer.

Don is a mysterious and knowledgeable figure. He has a wealth of experience in the magical world and is willing to share his wisdom with the author.

As they travel together, the author is exposed to many new and exciting things. He witnesses magical spells being cast, sees strange and wonderful creatures, and learns about the history and culture of the wizarding world.

The author is fascinated by this new world and is eager to learn more. With Don's guidance, he begins to practice magic himself and discovers that he has a natural talent for it.

Overall, the author's encounter with Don and his introduction to the world of wizards is a life-changing experience that will stay with him forever.

When I delved into about one-third of the book, I was confronted with a jumble of feelings. I wasn't certain whether I was liking it or not. And now, as I'm on the verge of finishing it, I still find myself at a loss as to how I truly feel about it! I don't even know how to accurately describe this book. But let me give it a try.

Tales of Power by Carlos Castaneda is a series of books. This particular one is the fourth in the series, although I would think you could read them individually. It's about the teachings of Don Juan to Carlos on how to become a man of knowledge. Even though it's regarded as a fiction book, it has elements of reality depending on your perspective. As you're reading, you're left wondering if the protagonist is experiencing a real situation or if it's all just a dream. If I had to draw a comparison, it would be something in between Murakami's world, Alice in Wonderland, and the mind of David Lynch, yet not quite like any of them. Yes, it's that freaking weird. I've never read anything quite like this before, and it has truly messed with my mind to the extent that I've been having strange dreams ever since.

At first, I was considering rating it with three stars. But now that I'm almost done, I've realized several things. Firstly, I've never read anything like this before. Secondly, you're constantly left wondering what's real and what's not. Thirdly, I can't seem to stop reading or thinking about it. And fourthly, I have a strong desire to know more about it.

So, just because of these reasons, I've decided to rate it with five stars. It's the craziest book I've ever read. I can't wait to finish it and then move on to read the rest of the series.

Definitely not a book for everyone, but if you have an interest in spirituality, metaphysics, dreams, sorcerers, mysticism, or bizarre things in general, you absolutely need to read it.

Tales of Power (The Teachings of Don Juan #4) by Carlos Castaneda is a significant work.

Castaneda's previous three books were like long preparations for this one. Each of those earlier books told the story of a brave and triumphant journey into the unknown. In Tales of Power, don Juan's task is to educate Castaneda, to make him into a man of knowledge and a man of power.

The first reading date was on the 11th day of June in 1992. The book has different editions and translations. For example, the first edition was published in Tehran by Ferdowsi in 1362, with 311 pages. It had several reprints. Another translation by Susanne Ardkani was published in Tehran by Negarstan-e Ketab in 1386, with 449 pages.

The book also contains an interesting description of a bird with five qualities. The first quality is reaching the highest point in flight. Then, it can fly alone. The third quality is that it can aim at its target beyond the stars. The fourth quality is its colorless color. And finally, its beauty is always enchanting.

This book offers a unique exploration of power and knowledge through the teachings of don Juan and Castaneda's experiences.