11-07-2015, 12:01 AM
I am brand new to this forum, but not, however to Carlos Casteneda's work, Don Juan's wisdom, ot stalking the best it is possible for me to be. I have been actively seeking my truth for over 50 years. I remember when I first read Don Juan's teaching about the four moods of stalking and I was shocked by the notion as well, as it is so different than what most of us have been taught to believe, but like all truth, the truth of the state of Ruthlessnesst must be experienced to be understood.
For what it is worth to you, this is my take on the subject of Ruthlessness:
First of all, Don Juan called Ruthlessness the Place of No Pity and he states, "that without the force of pity behind it compassion is a sham."
Let's discuss Pity. You cannot love or respect anything you feel pity for. I's not possible. You must consider a thing pathetic to feel pity for it. That is a judgement and judgements have no power, and are only meaningful to the one who holds it. Powerless to me means unable to change anything either for the better or for worse. A waste of energy for the one who judges and meaningless for the object of your judgement of Pity.
Now, as far as compassion, when you break it down, compassion means to share passion or strong feeling with another. Let me ask you this, if you came into an emergency room because you are hurt from either illness or injury, how would you feel if all the nurses, doctors, and technicians sat, or stood around your bed and cried with you, told you how sorry they felt for you, but never took action to improve your condition and to alleviate your misery? When someone is in pain, whether emotional or physical, they don't need you to despair with them, they need you to remind them that this will pass, they are healthy and to take action to make it so. Think of when the Naugals Julian and Elias reacted in response to the traumas of Don Juan and Julian. Ruthlessness is how they were able to be clear headed enough and energetic enough to do what needed to be done in each case.
Although we generally think of compassion in the terms stated above. as it is defined it could mean the joining of anyone's strong emotion; anger, righteousness, hatred, or prejudice. That is the joining of passions (compassion) back of mob rule or fanatacism, "joining a just cause", so to speak. One who is susceptible to being swept away by strong emotion, is giving up the power to choose how they think and will feel if anything at all.
Now, all that being said remember this. The Place of No Pity is one space upon which your assemblage point can land, not a permanent state. That is why there are four "moods" energies of stalking, and we do well to move between those 4 to be impeccable warriors. ("The Way of the Samuri") (Native American," Brotherhood of the Shields" medicine) The Chinese classic (I Ching)
The truth is found in many traditions, and my advice to anyone studying the Way as taught by Don Juan, is to make use of dictionaries. His wording is precise and I found dictioanries and thesauraus invaluable to the understanding of his lessons. I don't believe you can accept part of his teachings and disregard other parts. You either believe he knew what he was talking about or not. I think it much more likely that some of the truths he teaches must be growm into. Bless my soul, I'm still trying. That's how I found this message board tonight.
La 'Becca
For what it is worth to you, this is my take on the subject of Ruthlessness:
First of all, Don Juan called Ruthlessness the Place of No Pity and he states, "that without the force of pity behind it compassion is a sham."
Let's discuss Pity. You cannot love or respect anything you feel pity for. I's not possible. You must consider a thing pathetic to feel pity for it. That is a judgement and judgements have no power, and are only meaningful to the one who holds it. Powerless to me means unable to change anything either for the better or for worse. A waste of energy for the one who judges and meaningless for the object of your judgement of Pity.
Now, as far as compassion, when you break it down, compassion means to share passion or strong feeling with another. Let me ask you this, if you came into an emergency room because you are hurt from either illness or injury, how would you feel if all the nurses, doctors, and technicians sat, or stood around your bed and cried with you, told you how sorry they felt for you, but never took action to improve your condition and to alleviate your misery? When someone is in pain, whether emotional or physical, they don't need you to despair with them, they need you to remind them that this will pass, they are healthy and to take action to make it so. Think of when the Naugals Julian and Elias reacted in response to the traumas of Don Juan and Julian. Ruthlessness is how they were able to be clear headed enough and energetic enough to do what needed to be done in each case.
Although we generally think of compassion in the terms stated above. as it is defined it could mean the joining of anyone's strong emotion; anger, righteousness, hatred, or prejudice. That is the joining of passions (compassion) back of mob rule or fanatacism, "joining a just cause", so to speak. One who is susceptible to being swept away by strong emotion, is giving up the power to choose how they think and will feel if anything at all.
Now, all that being said remember this. The Place of No Pity is one space upon which your assemblage point can land, not a permanent state. That is why there are four "moods" energies of stalking, and we do well to move between those 4 to be impeccable warriors. ("The Way of the Samuri") (Native American," Brotherhood of the Shields" medicine) The Chinese classic (I Ching)
The truth is found in many traditions, and my advice to anyone studying the Way as taught by Don Juan, is to make use of dictionaries. His wording is precise and I found dictioanries and thesauraus invaluable to the understanding of his lessons. I don't believe you can accept part of his teachings and disregard other parts. You either believe he knew what he was talking about or not. I think it much more likely that some of the truths he teaches must be growm into. Bless my soul, I'm still trying. That's how I found this message board tonight.
La 'Becca