Tao Te Ching

The Power of Goodness, the Wisdom Beyond Words

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Carlos Castaneda

1925 – 1998 CE

An anthropology graduate student from Peru going to UCLA, Castaneda's first two books were dissertations for degrees and the first one ended with lots of academic jargon which he soon apologized about. His 12 books took on an increasingly symbolic tone and the reception changed from historical belief to conviction that they were complete fiction. This perception did little to decrease their popularity and they sold more than 28 million copies and were translated into 17 languages. Factual or not, they inspired a different way of looking at culture, value systems, and perception - one in harmony with our wisdom beyond words theme.

Lineages
American (USA) Shamanistic Trickster

Eras

Western

Post-Romantic Age (1850 – 2018 CE)

Sources

Journey to Ixtlan

Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge

Wheel of Time: The Shamans of Mexico Their Thoughts About Life Death & the Universe

Unlisted Sources

Quotes by Carlos Castaneda (12 quotes)

“the discovery of inertia and momentum is the greatest insight of western civilization.”

Chapters: 32. Uncontrived Awareness

Themes: Science Civilization

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“Before you embark on any path ask the question: Does this path have a heart?”

from Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge

Chapters: 21. Following Empty Heart

Themes: Meaningfulness

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“Life in itself is sufficient, self-explanatory and complete.”

from Journey to Ixtlan

Chapters: 19. All Methods Become Obstacles

Themes: Oneness

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“Death is the only wise advisor that we have. Whenever you feel, as you always do, that everything is going wrong…, turn to your death and ask if that is so.”

from Journey to Ixtlan

Chapters: 24. Unnecessary Baggage

Themes: Death and Dying

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“The average man acts only if there is a chance for profit. Warriors act not for profit but for the spirit.”

Chapters: 44. Fame and Fortune

Themes: Masculine Principle Warriors

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“I have no routines or personal history. One day I found out that they were no longer necessary for me and, like drinking, I dropped them.”

from Journey to Ixtlan

Chapters: 57. Wu Wei

Themes: Habitual Patterns

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“When a man finally realizes that he has taken a path without heart, that the path is ready to kill him; at that point, very few men can stop to deliberate, and leave that path.”

from Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge

Chapters: 72. Helpful Fear

Themes: Soul-Selling, Corruption Spiritual Materialism

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“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”

Chapters: 23. Nothing and Not

Themes: Perseverance Confidence

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“It is best to erase all personal history… How can I know who I am, when I am all this?”

from Journey to Ixtlan

Chapters: 15. Inscrutability

Themes: History

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“If you have no personal history, no explanations are needed; nobody is angry or disillusioned with your acts. And above all no one pins you down with their thoughts.”

from Journey to Ixtlan

Chapters: 10. The Power of Goodness

Themes: Creativity Anger Anonymity

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“The passageway into the world of shamans opens up after the warrior has learned to shut off his internal dialogue.”

from Wheel of Time: The Shamans of Mexico Their Thoughts About Life Death & the Universe

Chapters: 2. The Wordless Teachings

Themes: Non-Thought

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“The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.”