04-15-2011, 12:00 AM
I glean the very best of all philosophies that may cross my path. The only way to know is to test the philosophies through direct application. Whatever works I use. Whatever does not work FOR ME I don't use or I relegate to mythology. I don't blindly assume that it will not work for anyone else. I do not call Castaneda or anyone else a fraud. If there is useful information I use it.
Again I state that Carlos Castaneda was obviously directly honest in how he portrayed himself in his books. I believe it was his brutal honestly in portraying himself that convinced everyone that don Juan was an actual person. Obviously, Castaneda was not imaginative and wise enough to come up with the don Juan philosophy all by himself. If he did he was a greater writer than Mark Twain. After all, the works of Mark Twain did not help to jumpstart an entire spiritual movement.
So, I do not quote don Juan as though it is gospel truth and, from my studies, Carlos Castaneda ruthlessly ridiculed anyone who did.
Many are absolutely certain Castaneda was a fraud; just as many are absolutely certain James Arthur Ray is a fraud. Such ignorant people do care about the validity of the philosophies. They make blanket judgments and completely ignore the evidence.
For example: Suppose YOU go to a sweat lodge ceremony and you feel the sweat lodge is too hot. Does it matter to you whether or not others feel the sweat lodge is too hot? No, right? If YOU feel the sweat lodge is too hot you get out and you stay out whether you sign a liability waiver or not. If you choose to ignore your body telling you that it is too hot and you can't breathe and remain in the sweat lodge you have no one else but yourself to blame for whatever may happen as a result; liability waiver or not!
Now, that's reasonable and logical...except to the mentally retarded and those who refuse to take responsibility for their actions.
Again I state that Carlos Castaneda was obviously directly honest in how he portrayed himself in his books. I believe it was his brutal honestly in portraying himself that convinced everyone that don Juan was an actual person. Obviously, Castaneda was not imaginative and wise enough to come up with the don Juan philosophy all by himself. If he did he was a greater writer than Mark Twain. After all, the works of Mark Twain did not help to jumpstart an entire spiritual movement.
So, I do not quote don Juan as though it is gospel truth and, from my studies, Carlos Castaneda ruthlessly ridiculed anyone who did.
Many are absolutely certain Castaneda was a fraud; just as many are absolutely certain James Arthur Ray is a fraud. Such ignorant people do care about the validity of the philosophies. They make blanket judgments and completely ignore the evidence.
For example: Suppose YOU go to a sweat lodge ceremony and you feel the sweat lodge is too hot. Does it matter to you whether or not others feel the sweat lodge is too hot? No, right? If YOU feel the sweat lodge is too hot you get out and you stay out whether you sign a liability waiver or not. If you choose to ignore your body telling you that it is too hot and you can't breathe and remain in the sweat lodge you have no one else but yourself to blame for whatever may happen as a result; liability waiver or not!
Now, that's reasonable and logical...except to the mentally retarded and those who refuse to take responsibility for their actions.