The Teachings of don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledg

[Euphoric Sunrise]

Amazing book![]
It literally changed my life. In fact if it weren't for that book i may not be sitting here reading this message board []
A lot of people say it is all just made up, but it doesn't matter to me. If it is, it doesn't take anything away from it in my opinion.
Good review anarchyhollow! []

[BlackBox]

I don't really enjoy this compilation of Castaneda's works, due to exclusion of the Don Juan dialogue, but I still think it would be good to post it under this thread for those who don't get a chance to grab the actual hard-covered book.

http://www.prismagems.com/castaneda/

[Jarthur]

Hey Anarchyhollow,

I completely agree with you. I read the series many years ago for the sheer pleasure and adventure of it. Years later, out of curiosity I had another look at "A Yaqui way" and had to read the whole series again. This time I was floored by the virtuosity with metaphor and symbolism and the depth of his understanding.

This from a pop writer who reached a mass audience and was, of course, subsequently criticized for everything from his writing style to the fact that the locale could not possibly have been the Sonora desert as he said and for this and that and every other completely irrelevant thing.

If you haven't yet read the other books that follow, you're in for a good time. Have fun.

[anarchyhollow]

Nice replies everyone. How was this book so life changing for you? I agree it is a great read, but how such an affect? Do the following books correlate with this one, and continue on? Thanks

[Tayesin]

Hi,
Quite a few years ago that very first book in the series was glowing at me while I was in the Library, so I took it home and almost put it down immediately because I was judging Carlos's use of Hallucinogens to usher in the experiences.  Within two days I realized I'd done the same thing in my earlier years, so picked up the book and proceeded.

Over the next two weeks the series was read and digested with hunger, every new page presented me with something.  Most of the somethings were reminders, many were direct affirmations to things I had recently experienced and very much more was sitting in my 'not sure' basket. [?]   These eventually sank into my awareness as varieties of simple truths presented in a framework of the two conflicting cultural perspectives presented in the books.  

The culural perspectives presented in these books are important for setting the scenes, for reminding us of the shaman within ourselves that we have been in previous earth lives, etc.  This is the jewel that confronts us all.

The information contained in the series pushes our buttons, making us respond in interesting ways, isn't this exactly the process used by Don Juan to create conflict between Carlos'realities, making him question deeply, showing him his Fears, his real Self and the Sleeper most of us are ?  

This method has been used for as long as shaman have existed.  All the controversies mentioned have no effect on what is offered in the work of Carlos Castaneda,  all you need to do is read and be Aware of what you feel about it.  Couldn't be more simple if it tried, LOL.

Love Always. []

[Euphoric Sunrise]

quote:Originally posted by anarchyhollow

Nice replies everyone. How was this book so life changing for you? I agree it is a great read, but how such an affect? Do the following books correlate with this one, and continue on? Thanks

For me it was just that it opened my eyes and my mind in a big way.
Before i read this book i had never even given much thought to the metaphysical world around me, and when i had finished reading i was left in a state of complete awe from the majestic way Castaneda brought the book (and later on the other books) to life, and made me realise that there was more to life than what i thought i was living.
I actually thought it was kind of strange that somebody would give it to me as a gift for christmas when i never read anything before. That just added to the mysticism i think.

The following books that i have read (about 5 or 6 of them so far) are also all amazing, but i think the first 3 or 4 had the most impact on me. Especially the end of Journey to Ixtlan (at least i think it's that one).

[Nagual]

I loved his first 4 books (especially the 4th one).  If you start reading them, don't stop before reading the 4th one!!!  There is very important information in it.  While I would not go as far as to say that he "really is a great writer", the subject itself is what is interesting.  I did not like as much the 5 following books (no Don Juan/Genaro).  And I personaly believe that someone else wrote the latest "The Active Side of Infinity" (completely different style, vocabulary, concepts)...

Also, I would call it sorcery, rather than shamanism.

quote:Castaneda makes you wonder if don Juan is playing mind games, trickery, or teaching him something other than he really thought.

All three!  That's why you really need to read up to the 4th book; where a lot of things are explained.

And, how it changed my life?  It amazed me and gave me hope for some time...  And about it being fake or not; who cares, as long as it is interesting...

[Nick]

His first book came out in 1968, and I must have read it not too long after. Each of the next books were read with enthusiasm. There has been criticism leveled at Castaneda over the years (such as detailed in this article: http://itotd.com/index.alt?ArticleID=80 ) however the plain fact remains that his books are fascinating reads.


Nick

[Veccolo]

They're interesting, but too repetitive for my taste.

[anarchyhollow]

If you guys haven't heard of Carlos Castaneda, he has many great books (he really is a great writer) about various half fiction, half fact books about paranormal stuff. This books take you on his 5 years journey initiation to become a shaman. I was interested in shamanism before this book and knew quite a few facts about it, and how it usually goes on with many tribes. It was a great read, i didn't want to put it down. But don't expect accurate shamanism info, because it doesn't have much of it. It's more of an allegory, and you can take meaning from it. In the end, a few things struck me as odd, and left me with a few questions (a good thing). Castaneda makes you wonder if don Juan is playing mind games, trickery, or teaching him something other than he really thought. I recommend anyone read this book (unless you really don't like reading about drugs), and it is only $6.99. Peace