A Worthy Opponent

[delawaredan]

Shouldn't the goal of your opponent be the same as your own goal? Is an opponent necessary for knowledge? Often we face someone who challenges us...which allows for our growth. Why are we challenged? What is it that we see in our opponent that causes our "opposition"?
For those that oppose the teachings of don Juan Matus, I would hope that their path would eventually lead to freedom, and the awareness of their totality.
Just as Carlos needed La Catalina, we may indeed need a worthy opponent.

[Blackbeardd]

The goal of your opponent doens't have to be anything more than his or her will to test your strength.
S/he may want to do that just because s/he wanted it, or because s/he was ordered to do it.
Just to see what you are capable of and if you can stand your ground.
Let's say: you have been trained as a SEAL or SAS. Now I, your sergeant, want to know how much you have learned, how good you are. I will give someone the order to track you down and capture you. I spread a rumour that someone is out to get you, but i tell no one - except the one I ordered to do it - that it is just a test. I will make it look so real, that you really feel someone is after you.
Now it's up to you: if you fail the test - you get caught by this person I ordered to get you - then either you should be trained more, or I ask you to leave for you will never learn it proper and will never be successful as a SEAL or SAS.
This was more or less what Juan did with Castaneda.
But there also people out there who want to challenge you out of their own will, not because they are ordered to do so. Then it is like you suggested: they will have the same goal, and want to be better than you, beat you. Let's say you are both runners for an athletics championship. You both have the same goal: win the championship. Not only your technique and strength will be tested, but also your willpower. You will never know how well you perform if you would never be tested or challenged.

[Bob May]

Good post Blackbeard.
It relates to some things that I've thought about lately.
Life is a challenge to all of us. And if approached in a certain way we grow into strong human beings just by experience and wisdom gained in living it.
The sorcerer's way or the way of a man of knowledge or warrior for that matter is a set-up. It is a "fast track" to wisdom and maturity.
Many of the elements of this system are extreme exercises to get us where we are going faster.
Turning off the internal dialog. "Be still and know that I Am God." Turns off or short circuits our usually constant servitude to the Tonal. Sometimes it is termed "bypassing the critical" element of our minds.
Not-doing twists the filtering or allows us alternative filtering of what the tonal says is the way things really are.
These two put together are a super-charged way of bypassing the dictates of the Tonal or world view.
Stalking is a way to lose yourself. "Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves", Jesus said.
We tend to be harmless as serpents and wise as doves if left to our own devices. To strike back at any slight to our character.
Just some thoughts. Your comparison to Special forces is very appropriate, I think.Bob

[Guest]