“A path is only a path, and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you... Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself alone, one question... Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn't it is of no use.”
The Teachings of Don Juan is a truly wonderful read.
Part anthropology, part allegory, as Castaneda recounts in meticulous detail the lessons he received from the Yaqui Indian sorcerer Don Juan, over the course of many years in the 1960s in Southwest America.
This volume deals mostly with his experiences with Mescalito - the spirit of the peyote cactus, as Don Juan’s tutelage takes him on a spiritual journey through a world of unparalleled beauty and terror, exposing to him concepts far beyond the comprehension of Western civilisation.
While the subject matter itself is fascinating, and Castaneda approach to recording his experience is richly informative, the heart of this book is the Yaqui approach to becoming a man of knowledge - the resolve and determination with which one needs to commit himself to he path he has chosen, the commitment and indomitable spirit required to live a truthful life. The text throughout is punctuated with specks of profound wisdom, that resonate long after the final page turn.
You can purchase a copy of The teachings of Don Juan by following this link
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