blog 7

“All paths are the same: they lead nowhere…In my life I could say that I have traversed long, long paths, but I am not anywhere.” (pg 107) I can truly feel this. I can say that I have lived this physically, spiritually and mentally. This is one of the greatest things I’ve heard. If I can keep this in perspective, I am right where I am supposed to be, therefore I am free.
Do we all feel some kind of internal notion that inspires us to reach out and find some other place? I can say that I have & still do. Do we all have a longing to reach an altered state? Where does this come from and why do some follow through while others may not? Castaneda is an ordinary man who has desires to find another consciousness. He goes to great lengths to reach other places.
I think that b/c this book is an account of someone else’s experience & it is easy to just read it & take it all in. I have a lot of respect for all the rituals and experiences accounted for in this story. The one thing I can say about this book & the last few chapters is that it brings on a strong desire in me to eat peyote or other hallucinogens. The stories about the visions and experiences that Castaneda shares with don Juan are very detailed and almost difficult to imagine that one can recall so many specific details.
I enjoy the lessons and conversations between the two of them. “But you will not agree on other things birds do, because you have not seen birds doing them. If your friends knew about men flying with the devil’s weed, then they would agree.” (pg 130) Here it is again…we tend to only believe in what have seen or can see. We, as an individual, group or society make a decision to agree upon something and then it is real.
I think that one of the most profound experiences Castaneda had was when he had smoked the pipe with don Juan. On pg. 137 he said that he could not feel or distinguish any part of his body. He was clearly aware of whatever was taking place in front of his body and that he had no more thoughts, other than one…it was anger. Don Juan sang a song to him that lightened his spirit and moments later, he lost his anger & was filled with affection and happiness. I find this intriguing for two reasons. 1- Castaneda had lost all of himself other than his thoughts and feelings. Maybe we are as human beings only thoughts and feelings. Our physical body is not important to who we are, only what is going on inside of our heads is actually what makes us who we are. 2- an outside energy was able to instantly impact and change his thoughts and feelings.
What’s amusing about Castaneda is that he continues to ask questions that cannot be answered. He does not see that his questions are being answered for him in his experiences or maybe they don’t require an answer. His character is perfect for this story b/c he is personifies one consciousness.