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The Teachings of Don Juan #3
Journey to Ixtlan. the Lessons of Don Juan
In Journey to Ixtlan, Carlos Castaneda introduces readers to this new approach for the first time and explores, as he comes to experience it himself, his own final voyage into the teachings of don Juan, sharing with us what it is like to truly “stop the world” and perceive reality on his own terms.Originally drawn to Yaqui Indian spiritual leader don Juan Matus for his knowledge of mind-altering plants, bestselling author Carlos Castaneda immersed himself in the sorcerer’s magical world entirely. Ten years after his first encounter with the shaman, Castaneda examines his field notes and comes to understand what don Juan knew all along—that these plants are merely a means to understanding the alternative realities that one cannot fully embrace on one’s own.
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First published January 1, 1972
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About the author
Carlos Castaneda
162 books2,582 followersCarlos Castaneda was an Latin-American author.
Starting with The Teachings of Don Juan in 1968, Castaneda wrote a series of books that describe his training in shamanism, particularly with a group whose lineage descended from the Toltecs.
The books, narrated in the first person, relate his experiences under the tutelage of a man that Castaneda claimed was a Yaqui "Man of Knowledge" named don Juan Matus. His 12 books have sold more than 28 million copies in 17 languages.
Critics have suggested that they are works of fiction; supporters claim the books are either true or at least valuable works of philosophy.
Starting with The Teachings of Don Juan in 1968, Castaneda wrote a series of books that describe his training in shamanism, particularly with a group whose lineage descended from the Toltecs.
The books, narrated in the first person, relate his experiences under the tutelage of a man that Castaneda claimed was a Yaqui "Man of Knowledge" named don Juan Matus. His 12 books have sold more than 28 million copies in 17 languages.
Critics have suggested that they are works of fiction; supporters claim the books are either true or at least valuable works of philosophy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 559 reviews
May 8, 2025
The question posed to the reader in this book is simple: How can we Stop Reality - without chemicals but with the aid of a teacher? After all, there are times when all of us want to press the Pause Button on our stressful lives!
Remember that classic Broadway hit, Stop the World - I Want to Get Off? Yeah, well while in the workplace I invented hard and fast methods of doing just that, and as the stress peaked, worked harder and harder on it.
Doesn’t work.
Guess what? When an irresistible force meets an immovable object, something's going to give. Like your health. (Me, I completely imploded into deep burnout!)
So now pensionable, I simply called it quits. Which goes to show Someone Upstairs was still looking out after me, and…
That led me to something big.
Stopping the World.
Impossible, you say?
NEVER use that world Impossible within hearing of God.
For HE then showed me a way to do it without the props of drugs or alcohol. And He wanted to gladly teach ME how to stop the world and find peace. So the beginningless, endless Teacher showed me how.
As I said, I was badly burned out.
I was free, though, with my better half off shopping most of the time. All I had to do was pick her up with our shopping cart after doing whatever I pleased, just trying to stay happy.
So, I started watching TV to relax. At first it was mindless channel surfing, but one afternoon I found it - my entertainment pass to peace. And stopping the gnawing within my heart, and the world itself.
The program I discovered that day was a Canadian aboriginal show.
It featured in-depth interviews with natives who had been unwillingly snatched from their safe homes into a form of slavery (and sometime brutal liquidation) in the hideous Canadian Residential Schools, over a half century period.
Well, I watched that, and suddenly, all my hens came home to roost.
I saw that religion - and indeed the morality of the workplace - is a sham without practical and edgy ethical discernment.
For without it, marginal Aspies like me are ruthlessly doped and sequestered.
And I remembered then, the story told by the great modern writer, George Bernard Shaw…
Who said the only well-lived life is an honest, bare-bones life (like an Aspie's) -
In which we must try our Uttermost, day in, and day out, to make the world around us a better place -
And, when the final evening comes, throw ourselves on the Dust Heap,
And sleep endlessly:
An Ultimate Sleep of Personal Fulfillment.
And just seeing the truth of that strategy stopped the world, for me:
For to silence our hopes and fears is to stop time.
Remember that classic Broadway hit, Stop the World - I Want to Get Off? Yeah, well while in the workplace I invented hard and fast methods of doing just that, and as the stress peaked, worked harder and harder on it.
Doesn’t work.
Guess what? When an irresistible force meets an immovable object, something's going to give. Like your health. (Me, I completely imploded into deep burnout!)
So now pensionable, I simply called it quits. Which goes to show Someone Upstairs was still looking out after me, and…
That led me to something big.
Stopping the World.
Impossible, you say?
NEVER use that world Impossible within hearing of God.
For HE then showed me a way to do it without the props of drugs or alcohol. And He wanted to gladly teach ME how to stop the world and find peace. So the beginningless, endless Teacher showed me how.
As I said, I was badly burned out.
I was free, though, with my better half off shopping most of the time. All I had to do was pick her up with our shopping cart after doing whatever I pleased, just trying to stay happy.
So, I started watching TV to relax. At first it was mindless channel surfing, but one afternoon I found it - my entertainment pass to peace. And stopping the gnawing within my heart, and the world itself.
The program I discovered that day was a Canadian aboriginal show.
It featured in-depth interviews with natives who had been unwillingly snatched from their safe homes into a form of slavery (and sometime brutal liquidation) in the hideous Canadian Residential Schools, over a half century period.
Well, I watched that, and suddenly, all my hens came home to roost.
I saw that religion - and indeed the morality of the workplace - is a sham without practical and edgy ethical discernment.
For without it, marginal Aspies like me are ruthlessly doped and sequestered.
And I remembered then, the story told by the great modern writer, George Bernard Shaw…
Who said the only well-lived life is an honest, bare-bones life (like an Aspie's) -
In which we must try our Uttermost, day in, and day out, to make the world around us a better place -
And, when the final evening comes, throw ourselves on the Dust Heap,
And sleep endlessly:
An Ultimate Sleep of Personal Fulfillment.
And just seeing the truth of that strategy stopped the world, for me:
For to silence our hopes and fears is to stop time.
December 7, 2013
Forty years on, what are we to think of Carlos Castaneda? The Don Juan series, of which Journey to Ixtlan is the central volume, were initially acclaimed as a breakthrough in anthropological field research. Castaneda, as the researcher, placed himself at the center of his book, writing it from the point of view of his own reactions rather than laying out an ethnography. Journey to Ixtlan became his UCLA doctoral dissertation, and was the most noted book of the series because in it Carlos turns away from psychedelic plants and follows Don Juan as his apprentice. He plays the role of the naive, sometimes dense and blundering student, which makes the book seem artless and laces it with subtle humor. By the end, the apprentice begins to get an idea of what don Juan means by power, and how one can become a warrior in the Yaqui sense. The book takes an almost hypnotic hold on the reader, just as don Juan does on Carlos. Carlos cannot break away from don Juan, no matter how irrational, even crazy, he seems, and neither can we. As the book progresses, we become changed in much the way Carlos does. It's almost impossible not to be infused with his sense of awe and wonder at what don Juan is teaching him, and the sorcerer he is changing into. Journey to Ixtlan feels so real, and we get so involved with Carlos' struggle to learn a separate reality, that we become in some sense believers in his alternative universe. We become part of it. The don Juan books were runaway best sellers in the 70's. They were new wave, new age anthropology, and an often dry academic discipline was given new life by this careful, almost childlike transcription of field notes.
The only problem with all this is that the books turned out to be fraudulent. Don Juan was either made up by Castaneda, or he was based on a real person whom Castaneda used as a springboard for fictional tales. Either way, this was not anthropology. It was the fictional journey of a sorcerer's apprentice. As Castaneda wrote more books, they became more fantastic, until even his most ardent supporters had to agree he'd left the world of anthropology for some sort of science fiction or fantasy. In his later years, Carlos Castaneda became the leader of his own cult, something of a Jim Jones figure, a man who apparently induced several women to kill themselves just after Carlos himself died.
So Castaneda and don Juan were discredited, and the man who had sold a total of something like 28 million books faded away. He is not much read any more, though all his books remain in print. Yet he is scorned by the very academics who once lionized him as revitalizing their profession.
It's hard to set all this aside while reading Journey to Ixtlan. Yet the book's faux naif style succeeds in making it just as real as it was before Castaneda's trickery was discovered. In a sense, Castaneda is a throwback to the 18'th century, when there was a convention of presenting fiction as though it were factual travel writing; think of Swift and Defoe. Castaneda's constant interaction with don Juan, along with his fretting about how this could not be real, has the effect of making it seem real even when one knows it is not. It is as real as the greatest fiction, and it doesn't lose its hold on the reader even when you know he made most of it up by piecing together all kinds of occult texts in the UCLA library. But it differs from most occult masterpieces in that Castaneda allows the reader to feel the process of initiation, and the doubts and anxieties it generates, in a moment by moment way. You feel you don't need to attach yourself to a guru, because Carlos does it for you. Whatever genre Journey to Ixtlan fits into, or if it fits into none at all, it's a life changing read. Now that all the controversy is over and the people who pursue that sort of thing have gone on to other interests, it's possible to sit back and read the don Juan books purely for the enjoyment of their ideas, their unexpected lyricism, their emotional wallop. Taken just as it is, Journey to Ixtlan is a read of many rewards.
The only problem with all this is that the books turned out to be fraudulent. Don Juan was either made up by Castaneda, or he was based on a real person whom Castaneda used as a springboard for fictional tales. Either way, this was not anthropology. It was the fictional journey of a sorcerer's apprentice. As Castaneda wrote more books, they became more fantastic, until even his most ardent supporters had to agree he'd left the world of anthropology for some sort of science fiction or fantasy. In his later years, Carlos Castaneda became the leader of his own cult, something of a Jim Jones figure, a man who apparently induced several women to kill themselves just after Carlos himself died.
So Castaneda and don Juan were discredited, and the man who had sold a total of something like 28 million books faded away. He is not much read any more, though all his books remain in print. Yet he is scorned by the very academics who once lionized him as revitalizing their profession.
It's hard to set all this aside while reading Journey to Ixtlan. Yet the book's faux naif style succeeds in making it just as real as it was before Castaneda's trickery was discovered. In a sense, Castaneda is a throwback to the 18'th century, when there was a convention of presenting fiction as though it were factual travel writing; think of Swift and Defoe. Castaneda's constant interaction with don Juan, along with his fretting about how this could not be real, has the effect of making it seem real even when one knows it is not. It is as real as the greatest fiction, and it doesn't lose its hold on the reader even when you know he made most of it up by piecing together all kinds of occult texts in the UCLA library. But it differs from most occult masterpieces in that Castaneda allows the reader to feel the process of initiation, and the doubts and anxieties it generates, in a moment by moment way. You feel you don't need to attach yourself to a guru, because Carlos does it for you. Whatever genre Journey to Ixtlan fits into, or if it fits into none at all, it's a life changing read. Now that all the controversy is over and the people who pursue that sort of thing have gone on to other interests, it's possible to sit back and read the don Juan books purely for the enjoyment of their ideas, their unexpected lyricism, their emotional wallop. Taken just as it is, Journey to Ixtlan is a read of many rewards.
July 2, 2008
This is the first in a series of books which Castaneda wrote after he realized that his prior emphasis on psychotropic drugs was a misleading and "erroneous" means of conveying the lessons he gained from his apprenticeship with don Juan.
I began reading with few expectations and progressed with delight at how engrossed I became. I felt and absorbed don Juan's teachings in a very heavy way. I also found myself laughing out loud at various times throughout this book. This for me is always a good sign!
There are many spiritual guide type of books that just don't do it for me. . . "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle is a recent example. It seems to me that all the ideas in that book have been articulated a million times before, although in more individualized, artistic and passionate language. Don Juan encapsulates the entire message of Tolle's book in two sentences: ". . . . because the only thing that is real is the being in you that is going to die. To arrive at that being is the not-doing of the self."
The problem with books such as Tolle's is that they require you to feel without inducing that feeling within you and that is exactly what "Journey to Ixtlan" succeeds in doing.
This book changed my life and I look forward to reading the rest that follow. :)
I began reading with few expectations and progressed with delight at how engrossed I became. I felt and absorbed don Juan's teachings in a very heavy way. I also found myself laughing out loud at various times throughout this book. This for me is always a good sign!
There are many spiritual guide type of books that just don't do it for me. . . "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle is a recent example. It seems to me that all the ideas in that book have been articulated a million times before, although in more individualized, artistic and passionate language. Don Juan encapsulates the entire message of Tolle's book in two sentences: ". . . . because the only thing that is real is the being in you that is going to die. To arrive at that being is the not-doing of the self."
The problem with books such as Tolle's is that they require you to feel without inducing that feeling within you and that is exactly what "Journey to Ixtlan" succeeds in doing.
This book changed my life and I look forward to reading the rest that follow. :)
November 10, 2020
This is the third volume of the trilogy including 'The Teachings of Don Juan' and 'A Separate Reality'. I read all three, one after the other, while working at the Chicago Women's Athletic Club during the summer between college and seminary.
Although it appears to be the case that Castaneda, the author, fabricated some of the material appearing in his accounts, including that of his doctoral dissertation which begins the series, it also appears to be the case that he knows a good deal about altered states of consciousness. While the books may misrepresent the Yaqui Nation and so be bad anthropology, they remain important and worth reading.
I've classed this volume as psychology [one could also, legitimately, class them as religion or as fiction] because so much of its content has to do with what we conventionally call "altered states" and relegate to psychologists. What is interesting about Castaneda, however, is that, for him, it is not so much a drug-disordered state of mind creating hallucinations as an entry into other worlds. In other words, the other worlds are real--indeed, they are truer in the sense of being more meaningful than the quotidian routines of our normal lives.
Phenomenologically, this is certainly the case to many, whether they experience non-ordinary realities through the use of drugs, spiritual exercise or because such things happen to them, either occasionally or regularly. Years of campfire tales about extraordinary experiences have led me to begin to intentionally ask people about such things and I've found it remarkable how ordinary non-ordinary states are. This raises questions about the typical approach of psychologists and philosophers to such matters--and as regards the kind of society which would put its members in such a Procrustean bed that they'd be disposed to discount their lived experience in order to fit in.
I myself have experienced "other worlds" on a number of occasions. Of course, like everyone, I inhabit them nightly and remember them under the rubric of dreaming. Beyond that, however, I've had a couple of auditions (hearing voices which weren't coming from anyone another in the room would have heard), a rather unpleasant hallucinatory episode and at least two induced breakthroughs to domains radically different than this one I'm typing in--all of which felt realer-than-real. Beyond that, the usual psychedelic experience--and I've had scores--at least suggests these other worlds, worlds like those described by Castaneda, although one is not entirely thrust into them and out of this one.
Although it appears to be the case that Castaneda, the author, fabricated some of the material appearing in his accounts, including that of his doctoral dissertation which begins the series, it also appears to be the case that he knows a good deal about altered states of consciousness. While the books may misrepresent the Yaqui Nation and so be bad anthropology, they remain important and worth reading.
I've classed this volume as psychology [one could also, legitimately, class them as religion or as fiction] because so much of its content has to do with what we conventionally call "altered states" and relegate to psychologists. What is interesting about Castaneda, however, is that, for him, it is not so much a drug-disordered state of mind creating hallucinations as an entry into other worlds. In other words, the other worlds are real--indeed, they are truer in the sense of being more meaningful than the quotidian routines of our normal lives.
Phenomenologically, this is certainly the case to many, whether they experience non-ordinary realities through the use of drugs, spiritual exercise or because such things happen to them, either occasionally or regularly. Years of campfire tales about extraordinary experiences have led me to begin to intentionally ask people about such things and I've found it remarkable how ordinary non-ordinary states are. This raises questions about the typical approach of psychologists and philosophers to such matters--and as regards the kind of society which would put its members in such a Procrustean bed that they'd be disposed to discount their lived experience in order to fit in.
I myself have experienced "other worlds" on a number of occasions. Of course, like everyone, I inhabit them nightly and remember them under the rubric of dreaming. Beyond that, however, I've had a couple of auditions (hearing voices which weren't coming from anyone another in the room would have heard), a rather unpleasant hallucinatory episode and at least two induced breakthroughs to domains radically different than this one I'm typing in--all of which felt realer-than-real. Beyond that, the usual psychedelic experience--and I've had scores--at least suggests these other worlds, worlds like those described by Castaneda, although one is not entirely thrust into them and out of this one.
April 19, 2012
"When one does not have a person history," he explained, "nothing that one says can be taken for a lie. Your trouble is that you have to explain everything to everybody, compulsively, and at the same time you want to keep the fresh newness of what you do. Well, since you can't be excited after explaining everything you have done, you lie in order to keep going."
"From now on," he said," you must simply show people whatever you care to show them, but without ever telling exactly how you've done it."
"You see," he went on, "we only have two alternatives: we either take everything for sure and real, or we don't. If we follow the first, we end up bored to death with ourselves and with the world. If we follow the second and erase personal history, we create a fog around us, a very exciting and mysterious state in which nobody knows where the rabbit will pop out, not even ourselves." p34-35
"Death is the only wise adviser that we have."
"The thing to do when you're impatient, is to turn to your left and ask advice of your death." p55
"He said the only thing that counted was action, acting instead of talking." p61
"When a man decides to do something he must go all the way, but he must take responsibility for what he does. No matter what he does, he must first know why he is doing it, and then must proceed with his actions without having doubts or remorse about them." p61
"From now on," he said," you must simply show people whatever you care to show them, but without ever telling exactly how you've done it."
"You see," he went on, "we only have two alternatives: we either take everything for sure and real, or we don't. If we follow the first, we end up bored to death with ourselves and with the world. If we follow the second and erase personal history, we create a fog around us, a very exciting and mysterious state in which nobody knows where the rabbit will pop out, not even ourselves." p34-35
"Death is the only wise adviser that we have."
"The thing to do when you're impatient, is to turn to your left and ask advice of your death." p55
"He said the only thing that counted was action, acting instead of talking." p61
"When a man decides to do something he must go all the way, but he must take responsibility for what he does. No matter what he does, he must first know why he is doing it, and then must proceed with his actions without having doubts or remorse about them." p61
April 25, 2021
I was quite incapable of understanding anything this book said, but absolutely loved it.
April 20, 2019
Ok, I'm a boomer and I went through my own period of reading and living with Carlos Castaneda, his teacher Don Juan, and their world of indigenous Mexican shamanism. This and its follow-up book Tales of Power changed my life when I read them in my mid-20s... they helped me forge a new identity as an adult, as a warrior with an awareness of personal power, and taught me lessons for a lifetime that are still with me.
If you are open to the teachings in these books, they can truly be powerful and life-changing and, living far away from home as I was in my mid-20s in Finland, I was captivated by Don Juan's teachings since, as a youth, I had traveled a lot with my family in Mexico and the American Southwest so I could easily visualize (from Finland) the landscapes and culture they were part of.
Anyway, this book goes into my all-time favorites list because of how its teachings so shaped who I became as an adult. Powerful stuff.
If you are open to the teachings in these books, they can truly be powerful and life-changing and, living far away from home as I was in my mid-20s in Finland, I was captivated by Don Juan's teachings since, as a youth, I had traveled a lot with my family in Mexico and the American Southwest so I could easily visualize (from Finland) the landscapes and culture they were part of.
Anyway, this book goes into my all-time favorites list because of how its teachings so shaped who I became as an adult. Powerful stuff.
July 23, 2012
I have read all of Castenedas books and this is the one you should start with. The first three books tell the same story, but Ixtlan gets it right and you miss little of importance from the first two books. From Tales of Power on, I give the books five stars. To those who say it's fiction, I say so what? The wisdom and knowledge of Don Juan is a priceless gift to all of us warriors on the path of knowledge and the books are page turners of the first order.
November 17, 2012
Well, almost 10 years has it been now, since I read this book.
There have been odd discussions about the truthfulness of of Castanedas books, about Don Juan and the experiences Castaneda describes.
In my opinion I don't care wether the stories are bogus or true.
Castaneda describes his journey as an average guy through different spiritual rituals and experiences, as he is taught by Don Juan about the shamanistic view of life.
I was 16, when I read the book and I loved the way Don Juan perceives the world as so very alive and kind of magical.
The book can be a good passageway to realize that the world is more than our rationalistic eyes are used to conceive.
Oh yes...clearly the book doesn't want to give any answers, but rather it stimulates our imagination on how we perceive the world.
Ever wondered if the Wind itself could be an animated thing roaming around the world,interacting and playing with those who percieve him?
There have been odd discussions about the truthfulness of of Castanedas books, about Don Juan and the experiences Castaneda describes.
In my opinion I don't care wether the stories are bogus or true.
Castaneda describes his journey as an average guy through different spiritual rituals and experiences, as he is taught by Don Juan about the shamanistic view of life.
I was 16, when I read the book and I loved the way Don Juan perceives the world as so very alive and kind of magical.
The book can be a good passageway to realize that the world is more than our rationalistic eyes are used to conceive.
Oh yes...clearly the book doesn't want to give any answers, but rather it stimulates our imagination on how we perceive the world.
Ever wondered if the Wind itself could be an animated thing roaming around the world,interacting and playing with those who percieve him?
July 18, 2014
Many readers of Carlos Castaneda stop reading after A Yaqui Way of Knowledge. Some read on to A Separate Reality. As I’ve stated before, Castaneda admits later on that his compulsive obsession on non ordinary reality as produced by hallucinogenic plants was the wrong area to fixate, and in Journey to Ixtlan, he recapitulates on many of the notes previously discarded.
It is in this wonderful story that Carlos introduces many concepts, or rather elucidates on many concepts, which Don Juan had introduced since their initial encounter; not-doing, stopping the world, living as a warrior, and dreaming.
What baffles me the most is that skeptics-and I was one-fixate on the impossibility of the story without so much as trying any of the prescribed techniques.
I remember being a small child. When I went to my grandparents’ house, I used to spend countless hours just lying on the couch staring at the popcorn ceiling. After a while, the ceiling appeared to invert and the little pieces of stucco, or whatever, seemed to be holes rather than protuberances. When I did that, all my regular thoughts slowly subsided until I had none whatsoever…that was my not-doing, and I think we forget those kinds of incidents. Furthermore, we obsess over the information that we only use some 10% of our brains and ask ourselves what can we accomplish if we focus the totality of ourselves on only one thought? Well…that is what stopping the world entails; shutting off our constant description of the world as reiterated by all those around us for just long enough to focus on nothing at all…or to focus ourselves on just one thing.
Yes, I think the teachings are real. No, I don’t think they apply to all of us in particular. We are all so very different and unique that nothing is truly the same for any us. If you have not read any of these books, you may want to consider doing so. If you have read them and think they are phony, you may want to consider quieting your mind tonight when you lay down in bed, and try to find your hands in your dreams. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you can accomplish.
Here’s another on of those little exchanges that pleases me to no end:
“What’s the use of having beautifully polished crystals if you never find the spirit giver of power?” he said. “On the other hand, if you don’t have the crystals but do find the spirit you may put anything in his way to be touched. You could put your dicks in the way if you can’t find anything else.”
The whole story is replete with power, emotion, revelations, and touched lightly with such grace and humor that it is just so pleasant to read over and over again. I also like Juan’s counterpart, Genaro. His antics and personality are so like myself that I cannot help but love the character. In later books, Juan describes that there are only so many kinds of men, and that Genaro is a man of action. This doesn’t mean much to those who have not read any of the books, and it doesn’t mean much to those who only give the stories a cursory read, but I promise you, if you find your path with heart, you will see plainly that it doesn’t matter how much of the story is real; the people’s names, the area in question (both of which Carlos admits were made up in an effort to follow Juan’s instructions), the point is that many of us are plain dormant. You can keep doing everything you do. Maybe you’re happy, maybe you’re not, but why not try something new and see if the universe can’t show you something unknown?
This is an amazing book and part of an amazing series. Believe it or don't, either way, it is a fantastic read.
It is in this wonderful story that Carlos introduces many concepts, or rather elucidates on many concepts, which Don Juan had introduced since their initial encounter; not-doing, stopping the world, living as a warrior, and dreaming.
What baffles me the most is that skeptics-and I was one-fixate on the impossibility of the story without so much as trying any of the prescribed techniques.
I remember being a small child. When I went to my grandparents’ house, I used to spend countless hours just lying on the couch staring at the popcorn ceiling. After a while, the ceiling appeared to invert and the little pieces of stucco, or whatever, seemed to be holes rather than protuberances. When I did that, all my regular thoughts slowly subsided until I had none whatsoever…that was my not-doing, and I think we forget those kinds of incidents. Furthermore, we obsess over the information that we only use some 10% of our brains and ask ourselves what can we accomplish if we focus the totality of ourselves on only one thought? Well…that is what stopping the world entails; shutting off our constant description of the world as reiterated by all those around us for just long enough to focus on nothing at all…or to focus ourselves on just one thing.
Yes, I think the teachings are real. No, I don’t think they apply to all of us in particular. We are all so very different and unique that nothing is truly the same for any us. If you have not read any of these books, you may want to consider doing so. If you have read them and think they are phony, you may want to consider quieting your mind tonight when you lay down in bed, and try to find your hands in your dreams. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you can accomplish.
Here’s another on of those little exchanges that pleases me to no end:
“What’s the use of having beautifully polished crystals if you never find the spirit giver of power?” he said. “On the other hand, if you don’t have the crystals but do find the spirit you may put anything in his way to be touched. You could put your dicks in the way if you can’t find anything else.”
The whole story is replete with power, emotion, revelations, and touched lightly with such grace and humor that it is just so pleasant to read over and over again. I also like Juan’s counterpart, Genaro. His antics and personality are so like myself that I cannot help but love the character. In later books, Juan describes that there are only so many kinds of men, and that Genaro is a man of action. This doesn’t mean much to those who have not read any of the books, and it doesn’t mean much to those who only give the stories a cursory read, but I promise you, if you find your path with heart, you will see plainly that it doesn’t matter how much of the story is real; the people’s names, the area in question (both of which Carlos admits were made up in an effort to follow Juan’s instructions), the point is that many of us are plain dormant. You can keep doing everything you do. Maybe you’re happy, maybe you’re not, but why not try something new and see if the universe can’t show you something unknown?
This is an amazing book and part of an amazing series. Believe it or don't, either way, it is a fantastic read.
October 18, 2014
عرفان سرخپوستی از انواع عرفان های طبیعت گرا یا ابتدایی است. بسیاری از مولفه های ادیان ابتدایی , در این عرفان یافت می شود. این عرفان دارای پیشینه ای قدیمی در حوزه قبایل سرخ پوستی ست.
کاستاندا خود را شاگرد مرشدی به نام دون خوان معرفی میکند و حاصل رابطه استاد و شاگردی تعالیمیست که در کتاب آمده.
میان این دو دوستی عمیقی برقرار می شود و دون خوان هم خود را شخصی معرفی میکند که دارای معرفت عظیمی ست و توانایی درک و مشاهده چیزهایی را دارد که دریافت معمولی ما قادر به درک و مشاهده آن نیست ...
از نظر دون خوان ما در یک حباب ادراک هستیم. این حبابی است که به هنگام تولد و پس از آن به دور ما کشیده میشود ما در تمام عمر درون این حبابیم و هر چه میبینیم بازتاب ماست.
انسان ها با دو حلقه اقتدار محصورند : یکی منطق و دگری توصیفاتی ست که برای ما از دنیا کرده اند و همین جا صحیح و غلط و زشت و زیبا و باید و نباید ها شکل می گیرد
در عرفان کاساندرا عقل به عنوان فضل و کمال معرفی نمیشود بلکه مانع رسیدن سالک به حقیقت ناب عرفانی ست و سالک باید جنون اختیاری یعنی شیوه ای برای بی اهمیت دانستن همه چیز داشته باشد و و و.....
که گفتنش از حوصله خارج است
فقط میشود کتاب را خواند و از برخی جملات لذت برد , انتظار بیشتری نمی شود داشت
کاستاندا خود را شاگرد مرشدی به نام دون خوان معرفی میکند و حاصل رابطه استاد و شاگردی تعالیمیست که در کتاب آمده.
میان این دو دوستی عمیقی برقرار می شود و دون خوان هم خود را شخصی معرفی میکند که دارای معرفت عظیمی ست و توانایی درک و مشاهده چیزهایی را دارد که دریافت معمولی ما قادر به درک و مشاهده آن نیست ...
از نظر دون خوان ما در یک حباب ادراک هستیم. این حبابی است که به هنگام تولد و پس از آن به دور ما کشیده میشود ما در تمام عمر درون این حبابیم و هر چه میبینیم بازتاب ماست.
انسان ها با دو حلقه اقتدار محصورند : یکی منطق و دگری توصیفاتی ست که برای ما از دنیا کرده اند و همین جا صحیح و غلط و زشت و زیبا و باید و نباید ها شکل می گیرد
در عرفان کاساندرا عقل به عنوان فضل و کمال معرفی نمیشود بلکه مانع رسیدن سالک به حقیقت ناب عرفانی ست و سالک باید جنون اختیاری یعنی شیوه ای برای بی اهمیت دانستن همه چیز داشته باشد و و و.....
که گفتنش از حوصله خارج است
فقط میشود کتاب را خواند و از برخی جملات لذت برد , انتظار بیشتری نمی شود داشت
March 24, 2023
It’s hard to fully describe the inanity of this book without segueing towards insult, but even the author at the end of the book tells the reader that the trickster God, Coyote, has been guiding Castaneda towards a guided revelation that his Journey back to Los Angeles can never happen since now he is as a Warrior who practices detachment from life by embracing knowledge of his own mortality and gullibility towards believing that his inner thoughts constitute reality since he feels they must be true allowing him to work out his own psychoanalytical dilemmas at the expense of the reader.
I don’t really care that this book is fictional, or that he thinks the gateway to understanding is paved with drugs, or that he believes a master must guide us, or that he clearly believes in magic. I do care that his philosophical musings are juvenile and aren’t worthy of consideration. (I realize that he has downplayed the drug taking in this book, but he still alludes to it throughout the book).
Willful ignorance and delusion hardly make for deep penetrating insights helping one to solve the paradox of existence, and consequently this book is best left unread. I’d even say it was the most philosophically immature of the books in the series so far, because the author is now starting to believe his own clap-trap.
I don’t really care that this book is fictional, or that he thinks the gateway to understanding is paved with drugs, or that he believes a master must guide us, or that he clearly believes in magic. I do care that his philosophical musings are juvenile and aren’t worthy of consideration. (I realize that he has downplayed the drug taking in this book, but he still alludes to it throughout the book).
Willful ignorance and delusion hardly make for deep penetrating insights helping one to solve the paradox of existence, and consequently this book is best left unread. I’d even say it was the most philosophically immature of the books in the series so far, because the author is now starting to believe his own clap-trap.
unfinished
September 12, 2012Hm. This is a tough one for me!
A friend of mine, someone I've always admired, recently recommended this book along with several others. I wrote them all down and immediately went to look for them at my local library.
Upon arriving, I discovered that, not only had I forgotten the list of books, I had no idea how to navigate the nonfiction section. For a minute or so, I wandered aimlessly with nothing but the name "Carlos" in my head. I started back towards the doorway but paused, reluctant to leave. I looked up at the shelf, and there it was! I told my friend and he said, "It's that kind of book. You'll see." And then he reminded me of the Dewey Decimal System.
Yes, it is that kind of book. And, I can see why my friend recommended it to me. But...
But.
No disrespect to my friend, or the will of the universe, but I can't do hunter/warrior mysticism. I just can't! I also refuse to call this "nonfiction".
Sorry, John!
A friend of mine, someone I've always admired, recently recommended this book along with several others. I wrote them all down and immediately went to look for them at my local library.
Upon arriving, I discovered that, not only had I forgotten the list of books, I had no idea how to navigate the nonfiction section. For a minute or so, I wandered aimlessly with nothing but the name "Carlos" in my head. I started back towards the doorway but paused, reluctant to leave. I looked up at the shelf, and there it was! I told my friend and he said, "It's that kind of book. You'll see." And then he reminded me of the Dewey Decimal System.
Yes, it is that kind of book. And, I can see why my friend recommended it to me. But...
But.
No disrespect to my friend, or the will of the universe, but I can't do hunter/warrior mysticism. I just can't! I also refuse to call this "nonfiction".
Sorry, John!
January 22, 2017
بنظرم رفتن به عالم بالا یا ابعاد فراتر بوسیله مواد مخدر یا توهم زا که در این کتاب شدیدا مستقیم بهش اشاره میشه هیچ چیز باارزشی نداره.
هی تاکید براینکه انسان چیز خاصی نیستم زیاد قشنگ نیست البته به جز اون قسمت که به کارلوس میگه:به گل بگو معذرت میخوام که تورو میکنم و مطمئن باش که من خودم تا چند وقت دیگه خوراک تو میشم پس با تو برابرم.
کلا هدف این کتاب خیلی مشخص نیست و نظم خاصی هم نداره .
در طول داستان قهرمان هیچ کدوم از حرف های ارشدش رو قبول نداره و همچنین انتهای داستان بازهم بعد از ده سال راهی رو که اون بهش معرفی میکنه نمیره. که البته من بهش حق میدم و اگر جای اون بودم هیچوقت کسی مثل دون خوان رو به ارشدی نمیپذیرفتم .
هی تاکید براینکه انسان چیز خاصی نیستم زیاد قشنگ نیست البته به جز اون قسمت که به کارلوس میگه:به گل بگو معذرت میخوام که تورو میکنم و مطمئن باش که من خودم تا چند وقت دیگه خوراک تو میشم پس با تو برابرم.
کلا هدف این کتاب خیلی مشخص نیست و نظم خاصی هم نداره .
در طول داستان قهرمان هیچ کدوم از حرف های ارشدش رو قبول نداره و همچنین انتهای داستان بازهم بعد از ده سال راهی رو که اون بهش معرفی میکنه نمیره. که البته من بهش حق میدم و اگر جای اون بودم هیچوقت کسی مثل دون خوان رو به ارشدی نمیپذیرفتم .
March 19, 2014
شما هر روز با هم بودید، تا آنجا که جز ملال احساسی برای هم نداشتید. اینطور نیست؟
September 15, 2022
Kelionė į dvasingumą su narkotikų pagalba? Pavojingas kelias.
April 17, 2019
در میان کتابهای کاستاندا این کتاب از همه ساده تر،قابل فهم تر و نزدیکتر هست به دنیای ما ؛بقیه کتابها بیشتر تشکیل شده از مفاهیم رمز آلود عرفان سرخ پوستی که اون رو باید زیر نظر معلمش انجام داد .
این سومین کتاب کاستاندا هست ولی همیشه توصیه میشه بعنوان اولین کتاب خوانده بشه.
کتاب شامل شده ااز توصیه های پیر مرد بیسواد سرخ پوستی به نام دون خوان که استاد عرفان سرخ پوستی هست به جوان دانشجویی که برای کسب اطلاعات راجبه گیاهان به دون خوان رجوع کرده است ولی دون خوان با تشخیص اینکه کاستاندای جوان مستعد طی طریق عارفین هست ،او رو ناخواسته درگیر این وادی میکنه و به اون هنر جنگجو بودن در فرهنگ سرخ پوستی یا درواقع عارف بودن در فرهنگ ا��رانی خودمون رو می اموزه.
بهترین قسمت کتاب که من رو تحت تاثیر قرار داد و نقلش برای شما خالی از لطف نیست تا ترغیب بشید به خواندن او آنجایی هست که دون خوان از کاستاندا میپرسه ،کارلوس آیا ما با هم برابریم؟
کاستاندا با خودش فکر میکنه میگه خب من دانشجوی دکترای فلان دانشگاه برتر امریکا هستم و دون خوان یه پیرمرد بیسواد و بیکار مطمینا من از او بهترم ،ولی چون دون خوان رو دوست داشت گفت آره ما با هم برابریم.
بعد دون خوان بهش نگاه میکنه و میگه نه کارلوس ما با هام برابر نیستیم ،من یک جنگجو هستم و در عین این که میدونم در این دنیا وقت محدودی دارم عمل میکنم و اعمال من تشکیل شده از اعمالی قاطع و در نهایت اقتدار انجامشون میدم ولی تو جاکشی هستی که تمام عمر در نبرد دیگران شرکت میکنی و هیچگاه اعمال تو از اندک اقتداری برخوردار نیست،تو در تمام عمر موجودات مبهمی به نام مردم رو که در ذهن ��ودت ساختی سیراب میکنی و در نهایت در جهل مرکب از دنیا خواهی رفت و زمانی که بمیری ،از این خواب عمیق که اسمشو زندگی گذاشتی بیدار میشی و متوجه حقایق میشی.
کتاب بینظیری هست توصیه میکنم حتما بخونیدش خصوصا به کسانی که در جست و جوی حقیقت هستند.
این سومین کتاب کاستاندا هست ولی همیشه توصیه میشه بعنوان اولین کتاب خوانده بشه.
کتاب شامل شده ااز توصیه های پیر مرد بیسواد سرخ پوستی به نام دون خوان که استاد عرفان سرخ پوستی هست به جوان دانشجویی که برای کسب اطلاعات راجبه گیاهان به دون خوان رجوع کرده است ولی دون خوان با تشخیص اینکه کاستاندای جوان مستعد طی طریق عارفین هست ،او رو ناخواسته درگیر این وادی میکنه و به اون هنر جنگجو بودن در فرهنگ سرخ پوستی یا درواقع عارف بودن در فرهنگ ا��رانی خودمون رو می اموزه.
بهترین قسمت کتاب که من رو تحت تاثیر قرار داد و نقلش برای شما خالی از لطف نیست تا ترغیب بشید به خواندن او آنجایی هست که دون خوان از کاستاندا میپرسه ،کارلوس آیا ما با هم برابریم؟
کاستاندا با خودش فکر میکنه میگه خب من دانشجوی دکترای فلان دانشگاه برتر امریکا هستم و دون خوان یه پیرمرد بیسواد و بیکار مطمینا من از او بهترم ،ولی چون دون خوان رو دوست داشت گفت آره ما با هم برابریم.
بعد دون خوان بهش نگاه میکنه و میگه نه کارلوس ما با هام برابر نیستیم ،من یک جنگجو هستم و در عین این که میدونم در این دنیا وقت محدودی دارم عمل میکنم و اعمال من تشکیل شده از اعمالی قاطع و در نهایت اقتدار انجامشون میدم ولی تو جاکشی هستی که تمام عمر در نبرد دیگران شرکت میکنی و هیچگاه اعمال تو از اندک اقتداری برخوردار نیست،تو در تمام عمر موجودات مبهمی به نام مردم رو که در ذهن ��ودت ساختی سیراب میکنی و در نهایت در جهل مرکب از دنیا خواهی رفت و زمانی که بمیری ،از این خواب عمیق که اسمشو زندگی گذاشتی بیدار میشی و متوجه حقایق میشی.
کتاب بینظیری هست توصیه میکنم حتما بخونیدش خصوصا به کسانی که در جست و جوی حقیقت هستند.
November 25, 2012
Journey to Ixtlan is presented as though it's a factual work, when it is a fictional one. Furthermore, Carlos Castaneda consistently claimed this set of books to be true. That dishonesty, and the consequent inaccuracies added to the body of anthropological work, and to the subject of metaphysics, has to be considered when reviewing Journey to Ixtlan (or Castaenda's other works in the series).
If you are looking for anthropology about Yaqui indians, Toltec shamans, Mexican brujos, etc., then reject these books and look elsewhere. If you are seeking metaphysical understanding, then reject these works as literal truth - but decide for yourself whether they serve you well as allegory and metaphor. They may.
The line-per-line prose writing style of this books is of poor quality. Nonetheless, there's a lot of charm to Journey, in terms of what he writes about. He weaves the concepts of some modern philosophers into an entertaining tale, filled with ideas to ponder and discuss. Taken as allegory, these books may well have value for many readers. They're not the most sophisticated works on various philosophical concepts, but they're an entertaining overview for novices.
I found this a much better book than the previous two in the series, The Teachings of Don Juan and A Separate Reality. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest you skip the first two books and begin the series with this one.
It can be a worthwhile read for some, if taken for what it is, and not for what it purports to be.
If you are looking for anthropology about Yaqui indians, Toltec shamans, Mexican brujos, etc., then reject these books and look elsewhere. If you are seeking metaphysical understanding, then reject these works as literal truth - but decide for yourself whether they serve you well as allegory and metaphor. They may.
The line-per-line prose writing style of this books is of poor quality. Nonetheless, there's a lot of charm to Journey, in terms of what he writes about. He weaves the concepts of some modern philosophers into an entertaining tale, filled with ideas to ponder and discuss. Taken as allegory, these books may well have value for many readers. They're not the most sophisticated works on various philosophical concepts, but they're an entertaining overview for novices.
I found this a much better book than the previous two in the series, The Teachings of Don Juan and A Separate Reality. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest you skip the first two books and begin the series with this one.
It can be a worthwhile read for some, if taken for what it is, and not for what it purports to be.
January 24, 2019
This book was utterly fascinating and eerily bewildering at the same time. There were moments I got a glimpse of profound insights and other moments where I couldn’t follow what was going on. At times the book seemed to flow in a similar way as a strange dream, without the linearity of time. The most profound insight I had while reading was about death and the importance of remembering that it is always accompanying me:
“…You, on the other hand, feel that you are immortal, and the decisions of an immortal man can be cancelled or regretted or doubted. In a world where death is the hunter, my friend, there is no time for regrets or doubts. There is only time for decisions.”
Ultimately though, this book is about “stopping the world” and what that means is a mystery; this quote hints at what happens when one succeeds at “stopping the world”:
“...What stopped inside you yesterday was what people have been telling you the world is like. You see, people tell us from the time we are born that the world is such and such and so and so, and naturally we have no choice but to see the world the way people have been telling us it is.”
“…You, on the other hand, feel that you are immortal, and the decisions of an immortal man can be cancelled or regretted or doubted. In a world where death is the hunter, my friend, there is no time for regrets or doubts. There is only time for decisions.”
Ultimately though, this book is about “stopping the world” and what that means is a mystery; this quote hints at what happens when one succeeds at “stopping the world”:
“...What stopped inside you yesterday was what people have been telling you the world is like. You see, people tell us from the time we are born that the world is such and such and so and so, and naturally we have no choice but to see the world the way people have been telling us it is.”
February 15, 2019
Never really connected with Castaneda - however, more than forty years later, I increasingly savor this quote: "One must assume responsibility for being in a weird world: we are in a weird world ... Touch the world sparingly."
***
For vivid images of Yaqui fate seek a copy of the novel about dreaming of centaurs.
Dreams of the Centaur
***
For vivid images of Yaqui fate seek a copy of the novel about dreaming of centaurs.
Dreams of the Centaur
March 6, 2017
Este libro constituye el tercer volumen de la serie "Las enseñanzas de Don Juan", sin embargo, puede leerse de manera independiente a los dos anteriores. Si un lector primerizo tuviera la intención de consultar un sólo libro de los cuatro que conforman la "saga", bien podría ser éste. La razón es que "Viaje a Ixtlán" no nos ofrece la continuidad de los hechos narrados en el tomo anterior, sino que retrocede en el tiempo, al punto mismo en que inicia la historia. A pesar de ello, el libro no redunda en lo ya visto, sino que narra nuevas lecciones que datan entre 1960 y 1962. Además, incluye una breve e interesante experiencia final de 1971, que supone un enlace perfecto para llegar al cuarto y último volumen.
A estas alturas resulta estéril abonar en la controversia de si los hechos son reales o no. A fin de cuentas eso es lo que menos me importa, por lo que procederé a hacer mi reseña de la manera acostumbrada, como si esta obra fuese por completo narrativa de ficción:
El argumento sigue siendo el mismo: el joven antropólogo Carlos Castaneda logra contactar con el chamán Don Juan Matus, quien lo acepta como beneficiario de sus enseñanzas. Las misteriosas lecciones resultantes son aplicadas de un modo tan poco convencional que provocan la curiosidad inmediata el lector... y eso es todo lo que ofrece la trama. No obstante, la historia jamás se torna aburrida. Por un lado, el viejo hechicero despliega una personalidad arrolladora (y a veces chocante) en la aplicación de sus recias técnicas didácticas. Mientras tanto, el aprendiz soporta las pruebas y las mofas, a fin de encontrar la iluminación, derrotar al ego y convivir con los poderes ocultos de la naturaleza. En ese sentido, el lector ya sabe a lo que se atiene.
Pero también hay algunas diferencias: En los tomos anteriores Castaneda habló sobre sus experiencias con las plantas enteógenas; ahora ese tema queda completamente excluido. Quién busque información sobre el peyote, los hongos y la hierba del diablo, no encontrará nada en absoluto. En cambio, en "Viaje a Ixtlán" encontraremos otros aspectos sobre la formación del "hombre de conocimiento" y la adquisición del verdadero "poder", (entiéndase por ello la sabiduría universal que proviene del misticismo y la magia).
Para bien o para mal, este es un libro de pensamiento mágico. empero, ese pensamiento no favorece a la superstición ni el dogma; su misticismo proviene de la imposibilidad de entender las leyes que rigen al mundo. Entonces, los personajes solamente aspiran a convivir con las fuerzas ocultas de la naturaleza y de ser posible aprovecharlas en su favor, pero no pretenden en ningún modo comprenderlas.
Aún así, me parece incorrecto que se relacione esta literatura con el movimiento New Age, (una ideología "light" que terminó siendo un motivo más de consumo). Las de Castaneda no son edificantes historias de naturismo e iluminación. Si usted decidiera clasificar sus libros dentro del estante de "superación personal", entonces serían los libros de autoayuda mas bizarros del mercado.
La lectura es rápida y sencilla. El autor no se enreda con grandes párrafos introductorios ni con descripciones extensas, sino que trata de ajustarse a los hechos de la manera más breve y precisa posible. Sin embargo, desarrolla una notable cualidad gráfica, logrando describir situaciones insólitas y movimientos inusitados de los personajes, sin sacrificar el lenguaje sencillo. Otra cosa que Castaneda hace muy bien es la observación de las actitudes, gestos y sentimientos. La interacción psicológica entre los personajes está profundamente delineada. Aunque este libro no hable de otra cosa que de lecciones y entrenamientos, el ánimo no es didáctico ni científico, sino literario. El humor es solemne y vivencial, incluso podemos encontrar momentos de gran tensión que no defraudarán al aficionado a la literatura de suspenso. El relato final es magnífico, pues ilustra una interesante metáfora que proporcionará luz al lector y aumentará el valor literario de la obra.
Carlos Castaneda nos ofrece una interesante alternativa a la búsqueda espiritual del ser humano de la segunda mitad del siglo XX. Su literatura forma parte del imaginario contracultural "beat" de los años sesenta y setenta, y además constituye una respuesta al movimiento existencialista europeo. "Viaje a Ixtlán" nos propone regresar a la sabiduría ancestral y permanecer ajenos a la contaminación de la civilización occidental, tal como hacían aquellos chamanes mesoamericanos. Para Don Juan Matus el mundo es un lugar vasto e inexplicable en donde la magia abunda. La incredulidad no es más que la pretensión egocéntrica de quién cree saberlo todo.
A estas alturas resulta estéril abonar en la controversia de si los hechos son reales o no. A fin de cuentas eso es lo que menos me importa, por lo que procederé a hacer mi reseña de la manera acostumbrada, como si esta obra fuese por completo narrativa de ficción:
El argumento sigue siendo el mismo: el joven antropólogo Carlos Castaneda logra contactar con el chamán Don Juan Matus, quien lo acepta como beneficiario de sus enseñanzas. Las misteriosas lecciones resultantes son aplicadas de un modo tan poco convencional que provocan la curiosidad inmediata el lector... y eso es todo lo que ofrece la trama. No obstante, la historia jamás se torna aburrida. Por un lado, el viejo hechicero despliega una personalidad arrolladora (y a veces chocante) en la aplicación de sus recias técnicas didácticas. Mientras tanto, el aprendiz soporta las pruebas y las mofas, a fin de encontrar la iluminación, derrotar al ego y convivir con los poderes ocultos de la naturaleza. En ese sentido, el lector ya sabe a lo que se atiene.
Pero también hay algunas diferencias: En los tomos anteriores Castaneda habló sobre sus experiencias con las plantas enteógenas; ahora ese tema queda completamente excluido. Quién busque información sobre el peyote, los hongos y la hierba del diablo, no encontrará nada en absoluto. En cambio, en "Viaje a Ixtlán" encontraremos otros aspectos sobre la formación del "hombre de conocimiento" y la adquisición del verdadero "poder", (entiéndase por ello la sabiduría universal que proviene del misticismo y la magia).
Para bien o para mal, este es un libro de pensamiento mágico. empero, ese pensamiento no favorece a la superstición ni el dogma; su misticismo proviene de la imposibilidad de entender las leyes que rigen al mundo. Entonces, los personajes solamente aspiran a convivir con las fuerzas ocultas de la naturaleza y de ser posible aprovecharlas en su favor, pero no pretenden en ningún modo comprenderlas.
Aún así, me parece incorrecto que se relacione esta literatura con el movimiento New Age, (una ideología "light" que terminó siendo un motivo más de consumo). Las de Castaneda no son edificantes historias de naturismo e iluminación. Si usted decidiera clasificar sus libros dentro del estante de "superación personal", entonces serían los libros de autoayuda mas bizarros del mercado.
La lectura es rápida y sencilla. El autor no se enreda con grandes párrafos introductorios ni con descripciones extensas, sino que trata de ajustarse a los hechos de la manera más breve y precisa posible. Sin embargo, desarrolla una notable cualidad gráfica, logrando describir situaciones insólitas y movimientos inusitados de los personajes, sin sacrificar el lenguaje sencillo. Otra cosa que Castaneda hace muy bien es la observación de las actitudes, gestos y sentimientos. La interacción psicológica entre los personajes está profundamente delineada. Aunque este libro no hable de otra cosa que de lecciones y entrenamientos, el ánimo no es didáctico ni científico, sino literario. El humor es solemne y vivencial, incluso podemos encontrar momentos de gran tensión que no defraudarán al aficionado a la literatura de suspenso. El relato final es magnífico, pues ilustra una interesante metáfora que proporcionará luz al lector y aumentará el valor literario de la obra.
Carlos Castaneda nos ofrece una interesante alternativa a la búsqueda espiritual del ser humano de la segunda mitad del siglo XX. Su literatura forma parte del imaginario contracultural "beat" de los años sesenta y setenta, y además constituye una respuesta al movimiento existencialista europeo. "Viaje a Ixtlán" nos propone regresar a la sabiduría ancestral y permanecer ajenos a la contaminación de la civilización occidental, tal como hacían aquellos chamanes mesoamericanos. Para Don Juan Matus el mundo es un lugar vasto e inexplicable en donde la magia abunda. La incredulidad no es más que la pretensión egocéntrica de quién cree saberlo todo.
February 7, 2025
«Лише воїн може вижити на шляху знання, тому що мистецтво воїна — балансувати між жахом бути людиною і дивом бути людиною»
Коли ти, раптом, наважишся сказати що тобі подобаються книги Кастанеди ти завжди ризикуєш нарватися або на кастанедо-скептиків які розтопчуть тебе з точки зору матеріалістів чи упоротих антропологів, або , не дай Бог, на кастанедо-обожнювачів які запаяні (закреслено: просвітлені) настільки, що рота не можуть заткнути. Я десь посередині. Мені Кастанеда трапився на кілька років пізніше ніж мої психоделічні досвіди і пояснив багато чого.
“Подорож в Ікстлан» ключова в усій серії робіт Кастанеди. За 10 років герой (містифікований чи ні) але роздуплився, нарешті, що обвалюватися наркотою не було головною метою. На відміну від перших книг «Вчення Дона Хуана» та «Окрема реальність», де основним інструментом «зупинки світу» було вживання психоактивних рослин, у третій частині Кастанеда переосмислює свій підхід, фокус зміщується на практики внутрішньої трансформації. Книга такий собі маніфест про свободу від обмежень соціальних конструктів if you want.
Є критики які називають історію Кастанеди вигадкою а Дона Хуана — архетипом, а не реальною особою. Наукова спільнота ставиться до робіт автора скептично, зокрема через відсутність незалежних підтверджень подій. Однак навіть якщо припустити, що це художній вимисел, це як на мене не применшує її вартість. Це крутий філософський маніфест про силу і самотність.
Коли ти, раптом, наважишся сказати що тобі подобаються книги Кастанеди ти завжди ризикуєш нарватися або на кастанедо-скептиків які розтопчуть тебе з точки зору матеріалістів чи упоротих антропологів, або , не дай Бог, на кастанедо-обожнювачів які запаяні (закреслено: просвітлені) настільки, що рота не можуть заткнути. Я десь посередині. Мені Кастанеда трапився на кілька років пізніше ніж мої психоделічні досвіди і пояснив багато чого.
“Подорож в Ікстлан» ключова в усій серії робіт Кастанеди. За 10 років герой (містифікований чи ні) але роздуплився, нарешті, що обвалюватися наркотою не було головною метою. На відміну від перших книг «Вчення Дона Хуана» та «Окрема реальність», де основним інструментом «зупинки світу» було вживання психоактивних рослин, у третій частині Кастанеда переосмислює свій підхід, фокус зміщується на практики внутрішньої трансформації. Книга такий собі маніфест про свободу від обмежень соціальних конструктів if you want.
Є критики які називають історію Кастанеди вигадкою а Дона Хуана — архетипом, а не реальною особою. Наукова спільнота ставиться до робіт автора скептично, зокрема через відсутність незалежних підтверджень подій. Однак навіть якщо припустити, що це художній вимисел, це як на мене не применшує її вартість. Це крутий філософський маніфест про силу і самотність.
June 23, 2010
This book moved me. Much rather, I should say, the very last chapter moved me and nearly had me expressing tears.
This is my first book of the Don Juan series of philosophy and shaman ways, but I am told it is the most accessible, which I would agree with so far: the book was very engaging, and did not seem bogged down with philosophy.
Although, I was, as I am sure many readers would be, torn as to how much of this story to believe actually happened. It is classified as a book of nonfiction, and it is written as a first person account as to what Carlos says he experienced. However…well, there's a lot of fantastic magic that takes place in front of this eye-witness.
In spite of all of that, I feel as though I picked up a lot from reading it, and I felt as though much of what I go through in my own life has only been confirmed by Don Juan's teachings to Carlos. I liked that.
But, the last chapter, the confession of knowing once you make this transformation, there's no turning back, and one is still human once conquering their "ally" and seeing the other worlds…and one cannot go back to the place they once called home in spite of taking the rest of their life to journey back. That was heartbreaking to me, and, it would seem, heartbreaking to Carlos as well.
This is my first book of the Don Juan series of philosophy and shaman ways, but I am told it is the most accessible, which I would agree with so far: the book was very engaging, and did not seem bogged down with philosophy.
Although, I was, as I am sure many readers would be, torn as to how much of this story to believe actually happened. It is classified as a book of nonfiction, and it is written as a first person account as to what Carlos says he experienced. However…well, there's a lot of fantastic magic that takes place in front of this eye-witness.
In spite of all of that, I feel as though I picked up a lot from reading it, and I felt as though much of what I go through in my own life has only been confirmed by Don Juan's teachings to Carlos. I liked that.
But, the last chapter, the confession of knowing once you make this transformation, there's no turning back, and one is still human once conquering their "ally" and seeing the other worlds…and one cannot go back to the place they once called home in spite of taking the rest of their life to journey back. That was heartbreaking to me, and, it would seem, heartbreaking to Carlos as well.
March 5, 2022
My favourite of Carlos' books. I came to his works at the tail end of a very long and extensive reading campaign, the purpose of which was to attain *practical* utilisable enhancement of self. I would read with a red pen, underlining what was of value, and could be applied, copying out those underlinings into large notebooks.
When I came to Carlos, my trusty pen worked overtime. Not so much in The Teachings, but went off the charts in A Separate Reality and peaked in Journey to Ixtlan, which to me had the foundational conceptional focus points that form a solid basis for Independence-of-Being.
If the book, indeed all his books, are read from the perspective of evaluating the wisdom value, which is independent of whether the origins are fictional or actual, then much is gained. This book has so tremendous value in that regard. But, it's up to us, the reader, to make it our own, otherwise the value is meaningless. A fabulous book in terms of starting one's journey. Highly recommended.
When I came to Carlos, my trusty pen worked overtime. Not so much in The Teachings, but went off the charts in A Separate Reality and peaked in Journey to Ixtlan, which to me had the foundational conceptional focus points that form a solid basis for Independence-of-Being.
If the book, indeed all his books, are read from the perspective of evaluating the wisdom value, which is independent of whether the origins are fictional or actual, then much is gained. This book has so tremendous value in that regard. But, it's up to us, the reader, to make it our own, otherwise the value is meaningless. A fabulous book in terms of starting one's journey. Highly recommended.
January 5, 2011
If I were Carlos Castaneda I would be don Juan’s successor. I would be the Nagual. I would be with my party of warriors. I would spend my time not-doing. I would practice the magical passes as he taught them to me. I would recapitulate and then I would recapitulate again. I would spend my days and nights in the second attention. I would dream and stalk. I would be making car engines stop dead at my will. I would be weeping with joy every second. I would be awe-struck. I would be a man with no personal history. I would be inaccessible and impeccable. I would be silent.
July 31, 2025
Siento que este era el libro que me tocaba leer a mi.
Llega un momento que en la vida del guerrero no le queda otra que aceptar la magia del mundo, y a veces uno, como supuesto hombre de conocimiento trata de intelectualizar todo, es arduo el camino, largo y molesto, pero... hay realmente otra opción?
Es muy hermoso a su manera, no es más de lo que se haya pensado en otros libros como de Eckhart y Don Miguel Ruiz, pero a su manera mexicana indígena me hace sentir más propio, más de mi tierra (y eso que soy bastante más del sur)
Don Juan y Genaro realmente son grandes maestros.
Llega un momento que en la vida del guerrero no le queda otra que aceptar la magia del mundo, y a veces uno, como supuesto hombre de conocimiento trata de intelectualizar todo, es arduo el camino, largo y molesto, pero... hay realmente otra opción?
Es muy hermoso a su manera, no es más de lo que se haya pensado en otros libros como de Eckhart y Don Miguel Ruiz, pero a su manera mexicana indígena me hace sentir más propio, más de mi tierra (y eso que soy bastante más del sur)
Don Juan y Genaro realmente son grandes maestros.
April 7, 2024
bilingual coyote
June 1, 2014
I find all of Castaneda’s books unique, fascinating and engrossing, and this one is no exception,
We are told about how Carlos met Juan Matus in a bus station in Arizona, and that this was the start of a ten-year apprenticeship.
Carlos first learns about the importance of erasing one’s personal history since this makes us free from the encumbering thoughts of other people. One can erase personal history by not revealing what one really does, and by leaving everyone who knows one well. A fog will thus be built up around oneself.
It is also important to lose self-importance. In another book it is explained that in order to “dream” we need energy, and self-importance uses much energy, so therefore it is best to rid ourselves of it in order to preserve as much energy as possible.
Carlos also learns that death is our eternal companion and our most important adviser, and is always to our left, at an arm’s length away. Awareness of our impending death helps us to “drop the cursed pettiness that belongs to men that live their lives as if death will never tap them.”
We must take responsibility for all that we do, we must know why we are doing things, no matter what, and then must proceed with our actions without having doubts or remorse about them.
Don Juan seems to be able to read Carlos’s mind and knows about things that happened in his childhood and youth without having been told of them.
Carlos tells Don Juan that they are equals, while in actual fact he feels that as a sophisticated university student he is superior to him, who is an Indian. He is dumbfounded when the latter informs him that they are not equals - “I am a hunter and a warrior, and you are a pimp.”
The world is a mysterious place, especially in the twilight. The wind can follow one, make one tired or even kill one. It is looking for Carlos. Carlos learns about being inaccessible. He has previously made himself too available, especially in his relationship with a particular “blond girl”. One must make sure not to squeeze one’s world out of shape, but instead tap lightly, stay for as long as one needs to, and then swiftly move away leaving hardly a mark.
A hunter should know the routines of his prey and, most importantly, have no routines oneself. Carlos himself eats lunch every single day at twelve o’clock, as Don Juan keeps pointing out.
These are but a few of the topics that Don Juan teaches Carlos about. He also learns about becoming accessible to power, experiences a battle of power and learns about a warrior’s last stand. He learns the gait of power and the tricky art of not-doing.
Finally, he learns about the ring of power and meets a dangerous, “worthy” opponent, a sorceress going by the name of La Catalina.
Towards the end Carlos meets Don Genaro, another powerful sorcerer, and he and Don Juan make Carlos’s car disappear into thin air.
Carlos is sent out into the mountains by himself and “stops the world”. He has a conversation with a coyote who speaks both English and Spanish (!). Carlos sees “the lines of the world”.
We understand that Carlos’ time with Don Juan has come to an end, since it is time for the latter to leave this world. Carlos’ sadness is overwhelming, and so is that of the reader.
This is an amazing book. The information/knowledge presented is fascinating and absorbing. Castaneda presents the information in great, satisfying detail. The book is well-expressed, though the content is difficult to grasp. (Carlos himself makes no secret of the fact that he finds it nigh impossible to understand Don Juan’s “concepts and methods” since “the units of his description were alien and incompatible with those of my own”.)
I am really going to miss reading this author’s works when I’ve got through them all, but luckily I still have many left to read. The “separate reality” portrayed in these books is quite different from our daily reality, so it is an amazing journey for the reader to delve into these books and access this other reality, or world.
I strongly recommend that you read this mind-expanding book!
We are told about how Carlos met Juan Matus in a bus station in Arizona, and that this was the start of a ten-year apprenticeship.
Carlos first learns about the importance of erasing one’s personal history since this makes us free from the encumbering thoughts of other people. One can erase personal history by not revealing what one really does, and by leaving everyone who knows one well. A fog will thus be built up around oneself.
It is also important to lose self-importance. In another book it is explained that in order to “dream” we need energy, and self-importance uses much energy, so therefore it is best to rid ourselves of it in order to preserve as much energy as possible.
Carlos also learns that death is our eternal companion and our most important adviser, and is always to our left, at an arm’s length away. Awareness of our impending death helps us to “drop the cursed pettiness that belongs to men that live their lives as if death will never tap them.”
We must take responsibility for all that we do, we must know why we are doing things, no matter what, and then must proceed with our actions without having doubts or remorse about them.
Don Juan seems to be able to read Carlos’s mind and knows about things that happened in his childhood and youth without having been told of them.
Carlos tells Don Juan that they are equals, while in actual fact he feels that as a sophisticated university student he is superior to him, who is an Indian. He is dumbfounded when the latter informs him that they are not equals - “I am a hunter and a warrior, and you are a pimp.”
The world is a mysterious place, especially in the twilight. The wind can follow one, make one tired or even kill one. It is looking for Carlos. Carlos learns about being inaccessible. He has previously made himself too available, especially in his relationship with a particular “blond girl”. One must make sure not to squeeze one’s world out of shape, but instead tap lightly, stay for as long as one needs to, and then swiftly move away leaving hardly a mark.
A hunter should know the routines of his prey and, most importantly, have no routines oneself. Carlos himself eats lunch every single day at twelve o’clock, as Don Juan keeps pointing out.
These are but a few of the topics that Don Juan teaches Carlos about. He also learns about becoming accessible to power, experiences a battle of power and learns about a warrior’s last stand. He learns the gait of power and the tricky art of not-doing.
Finally, he learns about the ring of power and meets a dangerous, “worthy” opponent, a sorceress going by the name of La Catalina.
Towards the end Carlos meets Don Genaro, another powerful sorcerer, and he and Don Juan make Carlos’s car disappear into thin air.
Carlos is sent out into the mountains by himself and “stops the world”. He has a conversation with a coyote who speaks both English and Spanish (!). Carlos sees “the lines of the world”.
We understand that Carlos’ time with Don Juan has come to an end, since it is time for the latter to leave this world. Carlos’ sadness is overwhelming, and so is that of the reader.
This is an amazing book. The information/knowledge presented is fascinating and absorbing. Castaneda presents the information in great, satisfying detail. The book is well-expressed, though the content is difficult to grasp. (Carlos himself makes no secret of the fact that he finds it nigh impossible to understand Don Juan’s “concepts and methods” since “the units of his description were alien and incompatible with those of my own”.)
I am really going to miss reading this author’s works when I’ve got through them all, but luckily I still have many left to read. The “separate reality” portrayed in these books is quite different from our daily reality, so it is an amazing journey for the reader to delve into these books and access this other reality, or world.
I strongly recommend that you read this mind-expanding book!
November 21, 2017
This third installment really filled in the gaps of the first two books with Don Juan. I really appreciated the fact that he disregarded his original emphasis on the significance of phsychotropic drugs in the teachings of Don Juan and really focused more on the changing of one's consciousness without using drugs.
April 24, 2021
I found this to be much better written than book 1. Much more depth of character and more nuanced lessons. Some serious wisdom from Don Juan provided throughout. Good reminder from Don Juan that we live in a weird world and it’s better to embrace the weirdness than fight or deny it.
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