Contents
The Teachings of Don Carlos
Practical Applications of the Works of Carlos Castaneda
by Victor Sanchez
Victor Sanchez's book may not be for the Carlos Castaneda purist. However, anyone interested in learning some techniques that facilitate serious Self-growth will not be disappointed.
Before I go too much further, I must point out that I don't agree with everything Sanchez has to say or suggest, and likewise I'm not in total agreement with Carlos Castaneda or Don Juan.
An example in this book is Sanchez's beliefs about emotions being the product of thought: "feelings are a natural reaction to what we perceive, while emotions are the product, not of perception, but of thought, of reason... Feelings are not energy-consuming; emotions are to a high degree."
I believe feelings and emotions are both important and vital in our growth, and being more in touch with feelings and emotions is essential to attaining any real Self-growth or magical knowledge.
This is partly semantics on the part of Sanchez, as he lists joy and sorrow as natural feelings (whereas I believe they are emotions also) while lumping as unwanted emotions such things as "wrath, jealousy, ..., self-destructive depression." However, from my own experiences and varied teachings from Transpersonal Psychology and Psychosynthesis, depression is brought about through the suppression of emotion. Likewise anger (wrath) is not something to be suppressed, due to its Self-destructive properties, while appropriate ways of expressing it must be found.
This aside, I was impressed with this book, from the introduction. Sanchez coins the term anti-anthropology, which he likens to anti-psychiatry. His approach to the study of the Indians was "not to transform them, but to transform" himself.
Chapter One really sets the scene for continued work throughout the book. Sanchez sets about defining the various concepts he will deal with, including references to Castaneda's books where appropriate. Such topics include: The Eagle's Emanations, The Assemblage Point, The Forms of Attention, The Internal Dialogue, and Not-Doing.
The most important sections of this book, to me, are those dealing with Erasing Personal History and Stopping Internal Dialogue.
Related Pages:
- Toltecs of the New Millennium by Victor Sanchez (book review)
Related Links:
- The Art of Living Purposefully
Victor Sanchez's Homepage, El Arte de Vivir a Propósito, featuring both Spanish and English language sections. - Victor
Sanchez Interview, Part I
An interview with Victor Sanchez from September 17, 1998, conducted by Jordan Gruber for for GNOSIS Magazine. - The
Carlos Castaneda - Victor Sanchez Connection
A two part article written by written by Jon Guzman.
Review Date: 21st January 2004
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