02-09-2009, 12:00 AM
grandspeculator wrote:
> Are you saying that Armando got imaginative in his book?
Spot on. I think much of his "insights" were imagined, not based on first-hand knowledge. But let's give him credit - being a believable Don Juan
mimic is something one truly has to work hard at - perhaps he's available to entertain your next party or wedding reception
> As for other books on toltec shamanism... I honestly don't know a full blown author.
I mentioned one in my very last post in this thread to you. Check out the writings of Theun Mares. In my humble opinion, he's a very sober warrior indeed,
and helps render clarity to many things Castaneda left unclear.
> One has to take of them whatever is useful to create a working discipline and then reach his own conclusions.
Yes, take the pearl and leave the oyster. But let us also remember the old Chinese adage "It is better to reject 10,000 truths than accept one lie."
> For me nagual seership is a secundary path. Extremely useful as a bridge and basis between superconsciousness and normalcy, but incomplete. That's only
because I aspire to yogic enlightenment.
You're not talking to someone whose new to the Yogas. Tell me truly - do you think there really is a specific brand of enlightenment which is exclusively
"Yogic"? I think not - enlightenment is a universal phenominon which is a state of consciousness that is a latent faculty in all human beings - a
state which to some fortunate individuals is not mysterious, but natural and yes - common. It is our mind parasite which helps us portray such as abstract,
technical, complicated, mysterious - unattainable.
> For me reaching the totality of oneself is becoming human (magical, conected with the surrounding universe, etc).
If you stop here - I wholeheartedly agree.
> Enlightenment is becoming superhuman (beyond human).
You're really contradicting yourslef here. I think it will be found that it's quite naturally human to function spiritually. Enlightenment is merely a
relative degree of it.
> Normals are aberrated subhumans.
Yes! We spend most of our time functioning on the level of intelligent animals, rather than realizing our spiritual human heritage.
> As for the books, every time I read Castaneda's books I deliverately ignore what Castaneda
says. I take Don Juan's word. He was, in old age, sober and imppecable.
Me too, pretty much. Castaneda remains, however, an exceptional warrior despite his shortcomings. One only needs to recount his bold accomplishments.
> In the case of Armando's book I can't do that, because he is taking Carlos's word on nagualism, witch is not all bullshit, but has plenty of it for reasons explained above.
Yes, there is definitely a mistaken emphasis on the cult of personality going on here, rather than the truths of perennial teachings.
Peace,
Toltechie
> Are you saying that Armando got imaginative in his book?
Spot on. I think much of his "insights" were imagined, not based on first-hand knowledge. But let's give him credit - being a believable Don Juan
mimic is something one truly has to work hard at - perhaps he's available to entertain your next party or wedding reception
> As for other books on toltec shamanism... I honestly don't know a full blown author.
I mentioned one in my very last post in this thread to you. Check out the writings of Theun Mares. In my humble opinion, he's a very sober warrior indeed,
and helps render clarity to many things Castaneda left unclear.
> One has to take of them whatever is useful to create a working discipline and then reach his own conclusions.
Yes, take the pearl and leave the oyster. But let us also remember the old Chinese adage "It is better to reject 10,000 truths than accept one lie."
> For me nagual seership is a secundary path. Extremely useful as a bridge and basis between superconsciousness and normalcy, but incomplete. That's only
because I aspire to yogic enlightenment.
You're not talking to someone whose new to the Yogas. Tell me truly - do you think there really is a specific brand of enlightenment which is exclusively
"Yogic"? I think not - enlightenment is a universal phenominon which is a state of consciousness that is a latent faculty in all human beings - a
state which to some fortunate individuals is not mysterious, but natural and yes - common. It is our mind parasite which helps us portray such as abstract,
technical, complicated, mysterious - unattainable.
> For me reaching the totality of oneself is becoming human (magical, conected with the surrounding universe, etc).
If you stop here - I wholeheartedly agree.
> Enlightenment is becoming superhuman (beyond human).
You're really contradicting yourslef here. I think it will be found that it's quite naturally human to function spiritually. Enlightenment is merely a
relative degree of it.
> Normals are aberrated subhumans.
Yes! We spend most of our time functioning on the level of intelligent animals, rather than realizing our spiritual human heritage.
> As for the books, every time I read Castaneda's books I deliverately ignore what Castaneda
says. I take Don Juan's word. He was, in old age, sober and imppecable.
Me too, pretty much. Castaneda remains, however, an exceptional warrior despite his shortcomings. One only needs to recount his bold accomplishments.
> In the case of Armando's book I can't do that, because he is taking Carlos's word on nagualism, witch is not all bullshit, but has plenty of it for reasons explained above.
Yes, there is definitely a mistaken emphasis on the cult of personality going on here, rather than the truths of perennial teachings.
Peace,
Toltechie