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The Teachings of Don Juan #4
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Don Juan concludes the instruction of Castaneda with his most powerful and mysterious lesson in the sorcerer's art -- a dazzling series of visions that are at once an initiation and a deeply moving farewell.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1974
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4159 people want to read
About the author
Carlos Castaneda
163 books2,617 followersCarlos Castaneda was an Latin-American author.
Starting with The Teachings of Don Juan in 1968, Castaneda wrote a series of books that describe his training in shamanism, particularly with a group whose lineage descended from the Toltecs.
The books, narrated in the first person, relate his experiences under the tutelage of a man that Castaneda claimed was a Yaqui "Man of Knowledge" named don Juan Matus. His 12 books have sold more than 28 million copies in 17 languages.
Critics have suggested that they are works of fiction; supporters claim the books are either true or at least valuable works of philosophy.
Starting with The Teachings of Don Juan in 1968, Castaneda wrote a series of books that describe his training in shamanism, particularly with a group whose lineage descended from the Toltecs.
The books, narrated in the first person, relate his experiences under the tutelage of a man that Castaneda claimed was a Yaqui "Man of Knowledge" named don Juan Matus. His 12 books have sold more than 28 million copies in 17 languages.
Critics have suggested that they are works of fiction; supporters claim the books are either true or at least valuable works of philosophy.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 184 reviews
May 19, 2012
Awesome. Spectacular. My favorite Carlos Castaneda book by far. The lessons in this book have a similarity to many things I've been discovering lately that I've garnished from many different sources. It doesn't surprise me that philosophies the world over share many things in common.
This book makes me want to wander around the deserts of Mexico seeking out a teacher. It also encourages me to be more impeccable and to ground myself out more. My meditations become even more meaningful in light of the stories in this book, and clearing my head of its internal dialogue in order to perceive things outside of the story I have been telling myself for so long has been one of the most beneficial things that I've ever done in my life. This book just reaffirms the importance of that daily practice.
I do not dismiss the tales told in this book no matter how fanciful some of them might seem. I am not in a place to deny or confirm the truthfulness of the stories found in the Carlos Castaneda books. My own experience of the world tells me that there is much more to it than meets the eye, and I would be closing myself off to many possibilities by not keeping an open mind. Let's just say I believe without believing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is exploring their spirituality, or who has an interest in a culture that is so far removed from the one they are familiar with. This book provides us with great insights into the nature of the human psyche and spirit, and leaves you with more than you had before you read it.
This book makes me want to wander around the deserts of Mexico seeking out a teacher. It also encourages me to be more impeccable and to ground myself out more. My meditations become even more meaningful in light of the stories in this book, and clearing my head of its internal dialogue in order to perceive things outside of the story I have been telling myself for so long has been one of the most beneficial things that I've ever done in my life. This book just reaffirms the importance of that daily practice.
I do not dismiss the tales told in this book no matter how fanciful some of them might seem. I am not in a place to deny or confirm the truthfulness of the stories found in the Carlos Castaneda books. My own experience of the world tells me that there is much more to it than meets the eye, and I would be closing myself off to many possibilities by not keeping an open mind. Let's just say I believe without believing.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is exploring their spirituality, or who has an interest in a culture that is so far removed from the one they are familiar with. This book provides us with great insights into the nature of the human psyche and spirit, and leaves you with more than you had before you read it.
December 27, 2012
If this is a fiction - it's amazing!
If this is real - it's amazing!
If this is real - it's amazing!
July 15, 2011
I think it is freaking hilarious when people find comfort in "proving" something like this to be a hoax. Even if it is completely what hoaxers say it is(n't?), I fully believe in Oscar Wilde:
Now, the value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it.
August 16, 2020
Este es el cuarto tomo de la serie de “Las enseñanzas de Don Juan” publicado en el año de 1974.
Si a estas alturas alguien continúa sin conocer el contexto, con gusto podemos abundar: Un estudiante de antropología oriundo de Los Ángeles California se adentra en la sierra mexicana para estudiar a los indios yaqui. Ahí se encuentra con un viejo chamán llamado “Don Juan Matus” y posteriormente a un segundo llamado “Don Genaro”, quienes fungirán como maestro y benefactor a lo largo de una peculiar jornada didáctica que tiene como fin convertirl a nuestro estudiante en un hombre de conocimiento. Tales enseñanzas llegan a su fin en esta cuarta entrega, en la que el protagonista tendrá que demostrar el valor suficiente para superar las últimas y más difíciles pruebas.
Después de haber leído los primeros tres volúmenes el lector sabe a lo que se atiene: la crónica de una serie de experiencias bizarras y a veces terroríficas que se presume no corresponden a alucinaciones sino manifestaciones de una “realidad paralela”, acaso más reveladora que la que cotidianamente perciben nuestros sentidos. En esta oportunidad Castaneda va más allá, y su propuesta fantástica llega a niveles Borgesianos.
Dentro de este “mundo paralelo” (cuyo acercamiento pretende revelar los secretos del universo), la razón sería un estorbo. En estas experiencias nada puede explicarse, los personajes simplemente deben asumirlas y sacar de ellas el aprendizaje adecuado. El viejo debate de que si estos hechos son reales o ficticios ya no tiene relevancia. Para mí esta literatura es ficción... pero el mensaje es real. válido y universal.
La de Castaneda es una literatura en toda la extensión de la palabra, cuyo mensaje místico debe ser interpretado como el de cualquier epopeya clásica. Tomar al pie de la letra lo que aquí se narra, o pretender que sus premisas salgan avantes frente a las exigencias el método científico, sería un error. De esta manera, negar la veracidad y el supuesto valor antropológico de estas narraciones no representa en modo alguno desprecio por al autor. Por el contrario sería emparejarlo con las grandes glorias de la literatura de ficción.
Está claro que el personaje de Don Juan Matus habla de manera figurada. Por lo tanto el lector debe ser capaz de interpretar sus conceptos. A continuación comparto mis propias deducciones, las cuales no necesariamente tienen que parecerse a las suyas:
“El guerrero” es una suerte de hombre iluminado que conoce las fuerzas de la naturaleza y pretende utilizarlas a su favor.
“El poder” no es otra cosa que el conocimiento que permite ver la vida no como se nos presenta, sino como realmente es.
“El mundo” es una manera de nombrar a la fugaz existencia humana.
“El doble” es la otra parte de nuestra mente, la cual se mueve en el nivel subconsciente y se manifiesta por medio de la ensoñación.
“Soñar” equivale a silenciar el pensamiento y hurgar dentro de uno mismo para encontrar respuestas a los desafíos que enfrenta el “guerrero”.
“Ver” es desarrollar la conciencia que nos permita adentrarnos en la verdadera realidad y percibir lo que otros no pueden.
La “importancia personal” es un obstáculo en el aprendizaje del guerrero; aquí entra la vanidad y el deseo de reconocimiento, los cuales solamente sirven para alimentar el ego.
“La voluntad” es la intuición o la capacidad para evaluar el desafío, para de esta manera, convertir el conocimiento en una fuerza que opere al servicio del guerrero.
“El aliado” es un ser o una imagen que nos avisa de la necesidad prepararnos para entrar en la batalla.
“El tonal” es lo contrario a la importancia personal. Osea, la correcta valoración del mundo y de la propia valía, más allá de las trampas del ego.
“El nagual” es el concepto más difícil de entender. Se trata de una fuerza metafísica descomunal, la cual tiene que ser enfrentada para poder acceder al anhelado plano superior de conocimiento al que aspira el guerrero. Una vez superado, el nagual se convierte en una energía aliada.
A partir de esta valoración damos cuenta de que la narrativa de Castaneda toma inspiración del conocimiento místico procedente de diferentes tradiciones. Mucho del fondo ideológico parece proceder de un mundo muy antiguo (el estilo “rudo” de transmitir las lecciones nos remite al lejano oriente). Sin embargo, el mensaje central se erige como una construcción de carácter sincrético. Se intenta explicar con una terminología mesoamericana la tradición esotérica que persiste en muchas partes del mundo.
Cabe mencionar que en esta ocasión el asunto de las plantas enteógenas no se menciona en absoluto. Los eventos extraordinarios y las realidades alternas se hacen presentes gracias a otros medios. ¿Cuáles? no sabría decirle con exactitud. Sin embargo el resultado final constituye una explicación congruente y luminosa de los misterios de la existencia.
El narrador en primera persona describe de manera detallada las bizarras experiencias y las sensaciones que va experimentando en cada una de sus espeluznantes pruebas. Hasta ahora no hemos reparado en el hecho de que Castaneda redacta de manera impecable (y al mismo tiempo, el traductor logra que sus palabras queden fielmente registradas y fácilmente legibles en la edición castellana). Los lectores parecen dejarse llevar solamente por los conceptos y por el natural debate que suscitan, pero esto hace que pasen por alto el talento literario y la desbordante imaginación que nuestro escritor despliega a manos llenas.
El titulo “Relatos de poder” no significa que este libro este estructurado en forma de relatos independientes, sino que continúa con la dinámica novelística de los tres volúmenes anteriores. Al final el autor propone otro concepto metafísico bien conocido: "el salto al vacío". Y con ello logra consolidar un gran desenlace; el perfecto colofón para una saga de intensidad creciente, en el que cada volumen parece superar al anterior.
La literatura de Carlos Castaneda nos hace voltear a una forma de sabiduría que ha dejado de ser considerada por la intelectualidad del mundo occidental; una filosofía que queda relegada a un círculo muy reducido de místicos y antropólogos. Y por desgracia, completamente ignorada por los estudiosos de la literatura. Al igual que cualquier persona que clama poseer un conocimiento esotérico, Castaneda corrió el riesgo de ser tomado por un embustero. Sus libros son dignos, o bien de un iluminado, o bien de un merolico, según la vara con que se midan. Cada lector posee su grado de sensibilidad y la decisión final es suya. Lo que está claro es que todos debemos leerle alguna vez en la vida.
Y si alguien deseara saber mi opinión sobre cuál es el mejor de los cuatro volúmenes, creo que me inclinara por “Relatos de poder“.
Si a estas alturas alguien continúa sin conocer el contexto, con gusto podemos abundar: Un estudiante de antropología oriundo de Los Ángeles California se adentra en la sierra mexicana para estudiar a los indios yaqui. Ahí se encuentra con un viejo chamán llamado “Don Juan Matus” y posteriormente a un segundo llamado “Don Genaro”, quienes fungirán como maestro y benefactor a lo largo de una peculiar jornada didáctica que tiene como fin convertirl a nuestro estudiante en un hombre de conocimiento. Tales enseñanzas llegan a su fin en esta cuarta entrega, en la que el protagonista tendrá que demostrar el valor suficiente para superar las últimas y más difíciles pruebas.
Después de haber leído los primeros tres volúmenes el lector sabe a lo que se atiene: la crónica de una serie de experiencias bizarras y a veces terroríficas que se presume no corresponden a alucinaciones sino manifestaciones de una “realidad paralela”, acaso más reveladora que la que cotidianamente perciben nuestros sentidos. En esta oportunidad Castaneda va más allá, y su propuesta fantástica llega a niveles Borgesianos.
Dentro de este “mundo paralelo” (cuyo acercamiento pretende revelar los secretos del universo), la razón sería un estorbo. En estas experiencias nada puede explicarse, los personajes simplemente deben asumirlas y sacar de ellas el aprendizaje adecuado. El viejo debate de que si estos hechos son reales o ficticios ya no tiene relevancia. Para mí esta literatura es ficción... pero el mensaje es real. válido y universal.
La de Castaneda es una literatura en toda la extensión de la palabra, cuyo mensaje místico debe ser interpretado como el de cualquier epopeya clásica. Tomar al pie de la letra lo que aquí se narra, o pretender que sus premisas salgan avantes frente a las exigencias el método científico, sería un error. De esta manera, negar la veracidad y el supuesto valor antropológico de estas narraciones no representa en modo alguno desprecio por al autor. Por el contrario sería emparejarlo con las grandes glorias de la literatura de ficción.
Está claro que el personaje de Don Juan Matus habla de manera figurada. Por lo tanto el lector debe ser capaz de interpretar sus conceptos. A continuación comparto mis propias deducciones, las cuales no necesariamente tienen que parecerse a las suyas:
“El guerrero” es una suerte de hombre iluminado que conoce las fuerzas de la naturaleza y pretende utilizarlas a su favor.
“El poder” no es otra cosa que el conocimiento que permite ver la vida no como se nos presenta, sino como realmente es.
“El mundo” es una manera de nombrar a la fugaz existencia humana.
“El doble” es la otra parte de nuestra mente, la cual se mueve en el nivel subconsciente y se manifiesta por medio de la ensoñación.
“Soñar” equivale a silenciar el pensamiento y hurgar dentro de uno mismo para encontrar respuestas a los desafíos que enfrenta el “guerrero”.
“Ver” es desarrollar la conciencia que nos permita adentrarnos en la verdadera realidad y percibir lo que otros no pueden.
La “importancia personal” es un obstáculo en el aprendizaje del guerrero; aquí entra la vanidad y el deseo de reconocimiento, los cuales solamente sirven para alimentar el ego.
“La voluntad” es la intuición o la capacidad para evaluar el desafío, para de esta manera, convertir el conocimiento en una fuerza que opere al servicio del guerrero.
“El aliado” es un ser o una imagen que nos avisa de la necesidad prepararnos para entrar en la batalla.
“El tonal” es lo contrario a la importancia personal. Osea, la correcta valoración del mundo y de la propia valía, más allá de las trampas del ego.
“El nagual” es el concepto más difícil de entender. Se trata de una fuerza metafísica descomunal, la cual tiene que ser enfrentada para poder acceder al anhelado plano superior de conocimiento al que aspira el guerrero. Una vez superado, el nagual se convierte en una energía aliada.
A partir de esta valoración damos cuenta de que la narrativa de Castaneda toma inspiración del conocimiento místico procedente de diferentes tradiciones. Mucho del fondo ideológico parece proceder de un mundo muy antiguo (el estilo “rudo” de transmitir las lecciones nos remite al lejano oriente). Sin embargo, el mensaje central se erige como una construcción de carácter sincrético. Se intenta explicar con una terminología mesoamericana la tradición esotérica que persiste en muchas partes del mundo.
Cabe mencionar que en esta ocasión el asunto de las plantas enteógenas no se menciona en absoluto. Los eventos extraordinarios y las realidades alternas se hacen presentes gracias a otros medios. ¿Cuáles? no sabría decirle con exactitud. Sin embargo el resultado final constituye una explicación congruente y luminosa de los misterios de la existencia.
El narrador en primera persona describe de manera detallada las bizarras experiencias y las sensaciones que va experimentando en cada una de sus espeluznantes pruebas. Hasta ahora no hemos reparado en el hecho de que Castaneda redacta de manera impecable (y al mismo tiempo, el traductor logra que sus palabras queden fielmente registradas y fácilmente legibles en la edición castellana). Los lectores parecen dejarse llevar solamente por los conceptos y por el natural debate que suscitan, pero esto hace que pasen por alto el talento literario y la desbordante imaginación que nuestro escritor despliega a manos llenas.
El titulo “Relatos de poder” no significa que este libro este estructurado en forma de relatos independientes, sino que continúa con la dinámica novelística de los tres volúmenes anteriores. Al final el autor propone otro concepto metafísico bien conocido: "el salto al vacío". Y con ello logra consolidar un gran desenlace; el perfecto colofón para una saga de intensidad creciente, en el que cada volumen parece superar al anterior.
La literatura de Carlos Castaneda nos hace voltear a una forma de sabiduría que ha dejado de ser considerada por la intelectualidad del mundo occidental; una filosofía que queda relegada a un círculo muy reducido de místicos y antropólogos. Y por desgracia, completamente ignorada por los estudiosos de la literatura. Al igual que cualquier persona que clama poseer un conocimiento esotérico, Castaneda corrió el riesgo de ser tomado por un embustero. Sus libros son dignos, o bien de un iluminado, o bien de un merolico, según la vara con que se midan. Cada lector posee su grado de sensibilidad y la decisión final es suya. Lo que está claro es que todos debemos leerle alguna vez en la vida.
Y si alguien deseara saber mi opinión sobre cuál es el mejor de los cuatro volúmenes, creo que me inclinara por “Relatos de poder“.
November 10, 2020
I read Castaneda's first three books--'The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge', '68; 'A Separate Reality: Further Conversations with Don Juan', '71; 'Journey to Ixtlan: The Lessons of Don Juan', '72--while on summer break from Grinnell College, one after another. Of the three, I most like 'The Teachings of Don Juan', his reworked doctoral dissertation.
In the years following I obtained a copy of 'Tales of Power' ('74), fourth book in the series. I also read an article in the 'NY Times' suggesting that all four books were hoaxes and that Castaneda's doctorate had been revoked upon discovery of the fraud. This was a great disappointment, like the day 'The Chronicle of Higher Education' revealed Martin Luther King's plagiarism in his dissertation.
Still, just as King's youthful academic dishonesty does not detract from his later political work, so Castaneda's does not detract from a certain authenticity to his work, however fictional. Having not followed the controversy since that initial 'Times' article I have no opinion about Don Juan or what Castaneda's actual fieldwork, if any, was based upon. I do, however, recognize that he at least had some substantial experience with altered states of consciousness, experiences one would assume were drug-induced. The popularity of his initial trilogy during the sixties was likely based to some considerable extent on the fact that many recognized in his experiences and insights some of their own.
In any case, having the fourth book anyway and recognizing this "certain authenticity", I proceeded to read it. Alas! It didn't work. I knew, perhaps, too much to be enchanted again. Besides, it was redundant...
In the years following I obtained a copy of 'Tales of Power' ('74), fourth book in the series. I also read an article in the 'NY Times' suggesting that all four books were hoaxes and that Castaneda's doctorate had been revoked upon discovery of the fraud. This was a great disappointment, like the day 'The Chronicle of Higher Education' revealed Martin Luther King's plagiarism in his dissertation.
Still, just as King's youthful academic dishonesty does not detract from his later political work, so Castaneda's does not detract from a certain authenticity to his work, however fictional. Having not followed the controversy since that initial 'Times' article I have no opinion about Don Juan or what Castaneda's actual fieldwork, if any, was based upon. I do, however, recognize that he at least had some substantial experience with altered states of consciousness, experiences one would assume were drug-induced. The popularity of his initial trilogy during the sixties was likely based to some considerable extent on the fact that many recognized in his experiences and insights some of their own.
In any case, having the fourth book anyway and recognizing this "certain authenticity", I proceeded to read it. Alas! It didn't work. I knew, perhaps, too much to be enchanted again. Besides, it was redundant...
April 11, 2017
I was reading Castaneda books at the age of 15 and i can't put into words how much they impacted me. I was always searching for answers about god and Castaneda series of books explained and delivered it all. But you need to read all of them to understand the whole picture. Many of the Don Juan teachings corelate with modern day quantum physics theories, energy vibrations and law of attraction. I found it fascinating, you can connect them also to many spiritual belifs around the world they are just put into different words.
5/5
5/5
June 15, 2025
I first read this book in the early 1980s, when I was completely entranced by the world of Carlos Castaneda. I still am, in a way, though now I am now convinced that, in the end, Carlos went in for the "dark side" of sorcery. It was the search for power that ultimately engulfed him.
Tales of Power tells of Carlos's discovery of an "ally" in the form of a kind of super-moth. Most of the book deals with lessons on the subject of the and nagual, where the former if everyday life, and the latter, a merging with the spirit world. Finally, Carlos has his "final examination" along with another acolyte and is told by Don Juan and Don Genaro, his teachers, that he is finished with his lessons.
Whatever Castaneda was in actual life, his books are worthwhile discussions of a uniquely occidental form of meditation, being located mostly in the deserts of Sonora. There is, however, an interesting scene in Mexico City as Don Juan is attired in a made-to-order suit.
Tales of Power tells of Carlos's discovery of an "ally" in the form of a kind of super-moth. Most of the book deals with lessons on the subject of the and nagual, where the former if everyday life, and the latter, a merging with the spirit world. Finally, Carlos has his "final examination" along with another acolyte and is told by Don Juan and Don Genaro, his teachers, that he is finished with his lessons.
Whatever Castaneda was in actual life, his books are worthwhile discussions of a uniquely occidental form of meditation, being located mostly in the deserts of Sonora. There is, however, an interesting scene in Mexico City as Don Juan is attired in a made-to-order suit.
April 2, 2021
Castaneda is either a genius, a madman or a fraud. I really enjoy all of the speculation about the insights that he provided in this series, I think it is all appropriate for his work to understand it in multiple lights at the same time, encompassing both the tonal and the nagual fully.
Though this was not my favorite of Castaneda's works (I far preferred the Teachings of Don Juan and A Separate Reality; thorough reads of which will undoubtedly aid in the digestion of this particular work), the way that the book ends is worth the journey. After many random and mundane encounters and adages, no doubt to help build the readers considerations of the tonal, and by intrinsic contrast, the nagual, we finally are faced with the true spirit of don Juan, don Garano, Castaneda, Pablo and Nestor. The final strings are woven together to put the capstone on the incredible, fantastic and painfully mind-bending adventure that Castaneda has provided for us in this book. We learn about all the secrets behind the mysteries that his readers are forced to experience second hand through Carlos's journals. Whether entirely fabricated and fictitious or a literal transcription of the journal that he is always said to be writing in, there is a mystic and informative kind of knowledge inscribed in these works which tries to take us into ourselves and beyond (at the same time-the totality of self).
We become warriors, men of knowledge and sight, we experience the luminous emersion of the totality of ourselves along side Carlos in his journeys that are undertaken under the sage-like guidance of his teacher and benefactor. Like the nagual itself, they simply must be experienced through the as-if-ness of this text. Likely not everyone will understand the true philosophical, and perchance anthropological, depth which is on display in these works. Hidden between the oddities and either overladen or lacking descriptions which are encoded here hide the sinisterly powerful message behind Castaneda's idea of Will and Power (which can just as well be a modality of ancient Northern American Indian traditions of shamanism, or a thoughtful recapitulation of motifs explored by modern and contemporary philosophy and developmental metaphysics).
I highly recommend this for anyone interested in the forgotten cultures of the North Mexican desert, mysticism, shamanism, contemporary metaphysics, or simply anyone too paralyzed with fear to venture far from their hometowns to experience what unknown treasures exist outside the island of the tonal for themselves. If you are curious what I am on about here, start in the beginning and read from the Teachings of Don Juan up through Tales of Power and you will have your best shot at beginning to formulate your own understanding from within the bubble while the spirits of the past begin to break through to you from the outside in.
Though this was not my favorite of Castaneda's works (I far preferred the Teachings of Don Juan and A Separate Reality; thorough reads of which will undoubtedly aid in the digestion of this particular work), the way that the book ends is worth the journey. After many random and mundane encounters and adages, no doubt to help build the readers considerations of the tonal, and by intrinsic contrast, the nagual, we finally are faced with the true spirit of don Juan, don Garano, Castaneda, Pablo and Nestor. The final strings are woven together to put the capstone on the incredible, fantastic and painfully mind-bending adventure that Castaneda has provided for us in this book. We learn about all the secrets behind the mysteries that his readers are forced to experience second hand through Carlos's journals. Whether entirely fabricated and fictitious or a literal transcription of the journal that he is always said to be writing in, there is a mystic and informative kind of knowledge inscribed in these works which tries to take us into ourselves and beyond (at the same time-the totality of self).
We become warriors, men of knowledge and sight, we experience the luminous emersion of the totality of ourselves along side Carlos in his journeys that are undertaken under the sage-like guidance of his teacher and benefactor. Like the nagual itself, they simply must be experienced through the as-if-ness of this text. Likely not everyone will understand the true philosophical, and perchance anthropological, depth which is on display in these works. Hidden between the oddities and either overladen or lacking descriptions which are encoded here hide the sinisterly powerful message behind Castaneda's idea of Will and Power (which can just as well be a modality of ancient Northern American Indian traditions of shamanism, or a thoughtful recapitulation of motifs explored by modern and contemporary philosophy and developmental metaphysics).
I highly recommend this for anyone interested in the forgotten cultures of the North Mexican desert, mysticism, shamanism, contemporary metaphysics, or simply anyone too paralyzed with fear to venture far from their hometowns to experience what unknown treasures exist outside the island of the tonal for themselves. If you are curious what I am on about here, start in the beginning and read from the Teachings of Don Juan up through Tales of Power and you will have your best shot at beginning to formulate your own understanding from within the bubble while the spirits of the past begin to break through to you from the outside in.
May 27, 2012
I finished the first four books in the series now. This is by far the best so far. The second book '"A Seprate Reality" had some incredible imagery in it. The third one "Journey To Ixtlan" had some of the best writing up to that point. This combines both of those qualities wonderfully. This one has the best plot, a fantastic section where Don Juan sits Carlito down and explains the unity of his teachings for over twenty pages. He does this becuase his aprentice is now ready for that. He even encourages him to ask any questions he wants and write everything down (something Don Juan previously mocked him for as trying to explain alternate realities when some things can't be explained using conventional wisdom). Also the ending is such a great climax to the book. This is truly one that you just don't want to end, it's that good. On to "Second Ring Of Power" now.
March 9, 2013
A philosophy book under the guise of the story about a man learning sorcery. I enjoyed it. I didn't feel like I'd missed anything having not read the previous books. In fact, I didn't know there were others until I started reading this one. Still, the ideas were clear, and it was a pleasant enough read. I liked that it was set in the Mexican desert. I don't know why, but a desert seems to me the most appropriate setting for a magical story set in the 20th century.
January 15, 2021
Mi reputo un razionalista e un materialista storico, questo libro mi descriverebbe come intrappolato nella bolla del tonal, non penso che al mondo ci sia posto per fenomeni che non possano essere spiegati con le leggi della fisica, eppure è stato impossibile, per me, non farmi affascinare da Carlos Castaneda e dal suo maestro stregone Don Juan. L'isola del Tonal è stato il mio primo incontro con l'antropologo sudamericano e sebbene non mi sia mai spinto, come alcuni fanatici new age, a considerare come precetti di vita, gli insegnamenti che Don Juan elargisce a Carlos, ad ogni pagina dovevo convincermi che ciò che leggevo probabilmente era solo fiction. Merito della scrittura di Castaneda, incisiva e profonda, capace di descrivere fenomeni straordinari così come di penetrare l'animo umano portandone alla luce le inquietudini. Un libro che consiglierei a tutti, anche solo come romanzo, lontano anni luce dalla spazzatura misticheggiante che è sorta attorno alla figura dell'autore
April 6, 2024
Tales of Power is the fourth installment of Castaneda's interactions with don Juan and don Genaro. Like his other works, tough to rate. As a work of fiction it rates one star. There is no plot, no real story line and the characterizations are minimal. As a philosophical system it rates a little better. Castaneda describes a number of different mystical philosophies under the guise of the dialectic between him and don Juan, but he does not describe any of the actual practices that might be effective in leading to a real understanding of what he is trying to convey, other than it is a long road to follow. That is the main reason this series can be so disappointing in the end. The ideas are worthwhile and intriguing, but as a practice they are always shrouded in incompleteness. That being said, the last forty or so pages of this installment are a fairly comprehensive outline of the sorcerer's explanation. It is all about how we build our reality with our concepts, how we shape our perceptions and knowing that, changing them.
September 25, 2018
Книгата определено отваря много теми за размисъл. Може да се каже, че не е я чета в подходящия момент от битието си. Оценявам я като идея, но човек трябва да е настроен по спиритуално, за да й даде по-висока стойност. Все пак бих прочела още нещо от Кастанеда.
November 21, 2023
definitely was finally convinced that I had traversed the rift in which castañeda started making up things for shock value until I got to the end that perfectly encapsulated the mystical metaphysics of beeeeiiiing—if it’s true it’s awesome and i’m almost confused as to why castañeda is sharing (passing the torch?) and if it’s fake it’s an interesting philosophical exercise
January 23, 2020
Добре пише
February 19, 2023
Carlos learns to split his nagual and tonal and use the light lines eminating from his belly. to jump off a cliff. Nicely written. Very believable. On to book 5.
April 24, 2023
نویسنده در حال سفر با سرخپوستی به نام دون خوان آشنا میشود و توسط او با دنیای ساحران اشنا میشود و راه و رسم یک سالک را می اموزد
March 19, 2013
The fourth book in Castaneda's tales of Don Juan is a brilliant blend of philosophy and story, somewhat inspired by Native American mysticism but made timeless through expertly woven undertones of eastern philosophy. It is both a weird and inspiring modern myth that pits some of man's most challenging psychological life lessons against the backdrop of a fanciful world of sorcery.
Unlike his first three books, the plot here evolves through a connected sequence and in a way such that odd concepts foreshadowed early on are revisited and fully developed in the latter half of the book. Concepts that mirror the eastern ideas of Qi, Dantien, Linga Sharira, Wu Wei and Bhumi-sparsha are all introduced early on and developed in incremental layers until they are fully incorporated into the main character towards the end of the book. Castaneda's struggle to battle his own immaturity, mental laziness, indulgences and fears, is heartwarming, humorous and deeply encouraging. The evolution of his protagonist is just as incredible to reflect on through the course of these books as his writing ability style and story structuring.
In years following the publication of these stories, the American culture may have taken a disapproving view of Castaneda's storytelling (calling them hoaxes with numerous inaccuracies concerning the traditions of the Yacqui and Mazatec Indians) but that probably just speaks to their near complete inability to understand and have practical purpose for mythology. In contrast, Taoism and Buddhism are packed with myths yet their practitioners as a whole don't seem compelled to view myth as literal recounting of events, and they don't throw out the baby with the bath water if those stories are indeed just myths. The late expert on mythology Joseph Campbell was deeply concerned with the flaw in his American culture's thinking that "myth" simply means falsehood; there is a functional power in myth & story and reminding his university students and readers of this was one of his aims. Yet to those who must believe in miracles and refuse to vacate the special place in their heart reserved for UFOs, ghosts, and men who die on crosses and come back to life, the labeling of "myth" is an action that lets the air out of their balloons.
So though the debate still continues as to whether the stories of Don Juan happened as described or whether they were merely stories, perhaps at least one can recognize the wonderful myth present in them and allow it to have an effect. When encountering weird and wonderful stories one doesn't have to place the mind in the kind of choke hold that says it has to "believe" them (ie, thinking that they actually took place) to get something out of them. Modern man is not so great that he has "outgrown" the use for mythology or worse, to de-classify as myth the stories of disembodied spirits, aliens or a man who walks on water, but have no use or place for stories of gods who hurl thunderbolts or Yacqui sorcerers who leap safely from cliffs.
Unlike his first three books, the plot here evolves through a connected sequence and in a way such that odd concepts foreshadowed early on are revisited and fully developed in the latter half of the book. Concepts that mirror the eastern ideas of Qi, Dantien, Linga Sharira, Wu Wei and Bhumi-sparsha are all introduced early on and developed in incremental layers until they are fully incorporated into the main character towards the end of the book. Castaneda's struggle to battle his own immaturity, mental laziness, indulgences and fears, is heartwarming, humorous and deeply encouraging. The evolution of his protagonist is just as incredible to reflect on through the course of these books as his writing ability style and story structuring.
In years following the publication of these stories, the American culture may have taken a disapproving view of Castaneda's storytelling (calling them hoaxes with numerous inaccuracies concerning the traditions of the Yacqui and Mazatec Indians) but that probably just speaks to their near complete inability to understand and have practical purpose for mythology. In contrast, Taoism and Buddhism are packed with myths yet their practitioners as a whole don't seem compelled to view myth as literal recounting of events, and they don't throw out the baby with the bath water if those stories are indeed just myths. The late expert on mythology Joseph Campbell was deeply concerned with the flaw in his American culture's thinking that "myth" simply means falsehood; there is a functional power in myth & story and reminding his university students and readers of this was one of his aims. Yet to those who must believe in miracles and refuse to vacate the special place in their heart reserved for UFOs, ghosts, and men who die on crosses and come back to life, the labeling of "myth" is an action that lets the air out of their balloons.
So though the debate still continues as to whether the stories of Don Juan happened as described or whether they were merely stories, perhaps at least one can recognize the wonderful myth present in them and allow it to have an effect. When encountering weird and wonderful stories one doesn't have to place the mind in the kind of choke hold that says it has to "believe" them (ie, thinking that they actually took place) to get something out of them. Modern man is not so great that he has "outgrown" the use for mythology or worse, to de-classify as myth the stories of disembodied spirits, aliens or a man who walks on water, but have no use or place for stories of gods who hurl thunderbolts or Yacqui sorcerers who leap safely from cliffs.
October 23, 2020
After the disappointing "Journey to Ixtlan", which was a book in limbo between two worlds (anthropology and fiction), Casteneda shows the best of his magic in this book. He completes the fictionalisation of Don Juan and Genaro (it's all "tales" now), revises (and changes) all the previous teachings, puts them all together anew and writes a number of wonderful magical and mystical scenes to illustrate his new syntaxis. We see a great magician with words at work, and as always with the best magicians, you start to wonder if it might be real magic they're performing. The role of Don Genaro becomes much clearer, and Castaneda pulls a few fascinating tricks with doubling up characters and concepts. Apart from the silly but fascinating theory of the warrior's "double", Don Genaro also becomes the full counterpart of Don Juan, Pablito becomes the full counterpart of Castaneda, the nagual becomes the full counterpart of the tonal. It's pretty skillful how Castaneda manages to jostle the concepts and makes everything binary. There are many inconsistencies in the teachings, but Castaneda pulls it off skillfully by creating a mist. The most blatant inconsistency would be that Castaneda needed 13 years of training before he was allowed to hear of the more advanced teachings learned in this book; Don Juan stresses that all the 13 years of training were meant to prepare the totality of his body/mind, rather than his mind. Otherwise, all this knowledge would be mortally dangerous. Nevertheless, the reader, who hasn't done any of the desert walks with Don Juan or witnessed any of the miracles by Don Genaro, can apparently safely digest all the teaching presented just by reading. In the book, the character Castaneda supposedly runs the risk to die of his exposure to the teachings time and time again, but for the reader there is clearly no risk at all. That would be the greatest inconsistency; if you take it literally, it means that the reader cannot learn anything from the book. Which is in itself a brilliant disclaimer on the part of the author. Castaneda is really the white falcon that can never be caught.
Anyway, I would almost be compelled to give it 5 stars because of the sense of philosophy, magic and mystic. But the repetitive slapstick, cheap frights, gratuitous insistence that everything witnessed is oh so very dangerous, the guru's rolling on the floor with laughter for no reason, this all diminishes the realness a bit. Nevertheless there's great storytelling, power of suggestion, and a spectacular reveal of the sorcerers' system, an explanation of all that went in three books before. It's a magical and mystical allegory with a lot of Buddhist teachings at the core, I would say. In the end, Castaneda leaves it all undecided, when, after the big jump off the cliff, he finds himself alone.
Anyway, I would almost be compelled to give it 5 stars because of the sense of philosophy, magic and mystic. But the repetitive slapstick, cheap frights, gratuitous insistence that everything witnessed is oh so very dangerous, the guru's rolling on the floor with laughter for no reason, this all diminishes the realness a bit. Nevertheless there's great storytelling, power of suggestion, and a spectacular reveal of the sorcerers' system, an explanation of all that went in three books before. It's a magical and mystical allegory with a lot of Buddhist teachings at the core, I would say. In the end, Castaneda leaves it all undecided, when, after the big jump off the cliff, he finds himself alone.
August 2, 2025
Not my normal fare, I read this in preparation for reading a book by a friend on a related topic and also because I was short of reading material and this landed on my lap.
To be honest, although it is somewhat enchanting I found it a chore. I am going to reserve full judgement as it is the fourth in a series and I haven't read the others. Saying that, some of what had gone on before was reprised in this and I didn't feel I had missed too much.
Recounting the last stages of the author's supposed initiation into sorcery by don Juan and don Genaro, much of the book involves the subject's physical and mental reactions to his encounter with the Nagual, the dangerous creative and destructive being that is hidden from normal sight, and lies outside the world of the Tonal, that is all the objects of the world that can be perceived, named, touched and conceived. This dark matter is only accessible to those who, guided, can arrest their inner dialogue, grasp the totality of themselves (as per the Tonal) and attune themselves to these forces.
The actual experience of this process, beyond the vaguely interesting elucidation of the metaphysical premises of the phenomenon and noumenon, is less interesting. It involves strange projections, translocations, improbable feats of leaping and flying, lots of mental stupefaction and physical upheaval. Although the author does not take psychoactive substances in this book, these imaginings have that dreamlike quality. They are described ok, but one knows what they say of hearing about others' dreams, and I was quickly bored. When you are tripping your nuts off, you have all sorts of profound experiences, but someone watching you is going to have a considerably less enlightening experience.
Again I haven't done much other reading on this yet. To me, currently, this is a simply a work of esoteric fiction that will appeal to people who are looking for spiritual insight. I do sense that it has been taken as a serious philosophy and I fear that might be something of a pity.
To be honest, although it is somewhat enchanting I found it a chore. I am going to reserve full judgement as it is the fourth in a series and I haven't read the others. Saying that, some of what had gone on before was reprised in this and I didn't feel I had missed too much.
Recounting the last stages of the author's supposed initiation into sorcery by don Juan and don Genaro, much of the book involves the subject's physical and mental reactions to his encounter with the Nagual, the dangerous creative and destructive being that is hidden from normal sight, and lies outside the world of the Tonal, that is all the objects of the world that can be perceived, named, touched and conceived. This dark matter is only accessible to those who, guided, can arrest their inner dialogue, grasp the totality of themselves (as per the Tonal) and attune themselves to these forces.
The actual experience of this process, beyond the vaguely interesting elucidation of the metaphysical premises of the phenomenon and noumenon, is less interesting. It involves strange projections, translocations, improbable feats of leaping and flying, lots of mental stupefaction and physical upheaval. Although the author does not take psychoactive substances in this book, these imaginings have that dreamlike quality. They are described ok, but one knows what they say of hearing about others' dreams, and I was quickly bored. When you are tripping your nuts off, you have all sorts of profound experiences, but someone watching you is going to have a considerably less enlightening experience.
Again I haven't done much other reading on this yet. To me, currently, this is a simply a work of esoteric fiction that will appeal to people who are looking for spiritual insight. I do sense that it has been taken as a serious philosophy and I fear that might be something of a pity.
September 18, 2021
When I read about 1/3 of the book I had confronted feelings, not sure if I was liking it or not, and now that I’m almost done with it I still don’t know how I feel about it! I don’t even know how to describe this book… but let me try it…
Tales of Power by Carlos Castaneda is a series of books (this being the 4th book of the series, but you could read them individually I would think) about the teachings of Don Juan to Carlos about how to be a man of knowledge. Even if it’s considered a fiction book has part of reality depending on how you look at it. While you are reading it you don’t know if the protagonist is living the situation or if it’s a dream. If I had to compare to something will be something in between Murakami’s world, Alice in Wonderland, and the mind of David Lynch, but also not even close to any of that. Yes, is that f*cking weird, I have never read anything like this before, and it messes up with your mind that I have been having weird dreams since then.
At first, I was thinking about rating it with a 3 stars, but now that I’m almost done with it, I realized that:
1. I have never read anything like these
2. You don’t know what’s real or not
3. I can’t stop reading or thinking about it
4. I want to know more about it
So just because of that, I’m going to rate it with 5 stars. Craziest book ever. Can’t wait to finish it and read the rest of the series.
Definitely not a book for everyone, but if you like spirituality, metaphysics, dreams, sorcerers, mysticism, bizarre things… you need to read it.
Tales of Power by Carlos Castaneda is a series of books (this being the 4th book of the series, but you could read them individually I would think) about the teachings of Don Juan to Carlos about how to be a man of knowledge. Even if it’s considered a fiction book has part of reality depending on how you look at it. While you are reading it you don’t know if the protagonist is living the situation or if it’s a dream. If I had to compare to something will be something in between Murakami’s world, Alice in Wonderland, and the mind of David Lynch, but also not even close to any of that. Yes, is that f*cking weird, I have never read anything like this before, and it messes up with your mind that I have been having weird dreams since then.
At first, I was thinking about rating it with a 3 stars, but now that I’m almost done with it, I realized that:
1. I have never read anything like these
2. You don’t know what’s real or not
3. I can’t stop reading or thinking about it
4. I want to know more about it
So just because of that, I’m going to rate it with 5 stars. Craziest book ever. Can’t wait to finish it and read the rest of the series.
Definitely not a book for everyone, but if you like spirituality, metaphysics, dreams, sorcerers, mysticism, bizarre things… you need to read it.
September 8, 2016
Encontré este libro muy interesante porque es toda una experiencia sensorial de la cosmogonía milenaria de las culturas indígenas Mesoaméricas, la comprensión del Tonal y del Nagual son conceptos metafísicos de difícil comprensión y determinan en buena parte la temática de este libro. Es sin duda una obra literaria compleja y tremendamente ilustrativa de un conocimiento ancestral con el que sentí gran conexión y simpatía.
Me gustaron muchas de sus citas que resalte en mi lectura, el libro en general tiene gran sabiduría y me invito a una posterior reflexión filosófica en referencia a entender cuál es camino del guerrero.
Me gustaron muchas de sus citas que resalte en mi lectura, el libro en general tiene gran sabiduría y me invito a una posterior reflexión filosófica en referencia a entender cuál es camino del guerrero.
June 10, 2018
اعتماد به نفس یک سالک یا یک مبارز مثل اعتماد به نفس آدمهای معمولی نیست
آدم معمولی اطمینان را در چشم دیگران جستجو میکند و اسمش را هم اعتماد به نفس میگذارد ولی یک سالک و مبارز، اعتماد به نفس را از دیدگاه خود میبیند و اسمش را فروتنی و تواضع میگذارد
شخص معمولی متکی به دیگران است، ولی سالک و مبارز فقط و فقط به خودش متکی است
آدم معمولی اطمینان را در چشم دیگران جستجو میکند و اسمش را هم اعتماد به نفس میگذارد ولی یک سالک و مبارز، اعتماد به نفس را از دیدگاه خود میبیند و اسمش را فروتنی و تواضع میگذارد
شخص معمولی متکی به دیگران است، ولی سالک و مبارز فقط و فقط به خودش متکی است
August 25, 2013
I read Castaneda`s books, oh about 30 years ago. They had a big impact on me back then and while I don't think of them consciously now, I KNOW they are part of the ME thats passed through all the filters- and makes up whatever constitutes the deepest part of my being.
February 13, 2010
The same like the rest of the series, wonderful.
February 22, 2018
و بعد، من بودم، تنها
July 22, 2018
Another book to read if you are on a path of Earth Spirit; and a whole lot more.
August 15, 2020
dnf p. 49. the writing style is too simplistic to keep my attn. i'm bored.
October 14, 2017
The books are about consciousness, awareness. The things happened, they didn’t happen, some happened, some didn’t happen – it doesn’t matter. As individuals we each move among many levels of awareness. What can be called real, what we think about it, what we think it is after we process it. What we dream when we are asleep, what we daydream about, the things we carry with us, saved movements in time that are as real in the present as they ever were in the past, all get bundled into what we know, what we perceive. Much of it is something we can’t explain, can tell to no one, as if it too complex, to a degree, but because, really, no one is interested in hearing about it. Castaneda allows that all of these levels exist and uses each of the separate realities in a linear fashion, coming and going among them.
They are books about a lot of things, but the uniting theme, among them, is a simple explanation of how most anyone perceives, thinks; how we form what is known as conscious thought, the inner voice. That he brought these books, and his life, into one expression, one way of saying things is the brilliant part of this art. The fact that he created the characters, and events, maybe molded them from bits and pieces, doesn’t matter. They become real are real, is the point. Each of us do this, when we imagine what we will say, should have said, would have done differently in the past, what would have happened if, when and why. I can just as easily reimagine a situation with a different outcome, and say it as such, an imagined thing, but as I am thinking it, it is as real as anything. I am imagining it as real. It is functionally no different than recalling something, something previously forgotten. Each are alternate scenarios, separate realities. We bundle these alternate version of our pasts, presents and futures together to create who we are, to become the conscious version of ourselves. They are a brilliant explanation of the common, everyday existence of anyone.
They are books about a lot of things, but the uniting theme, among them, is a simple explanation of how most anyone perceives, thinks; how we form what is known as conscious thought, the inner voice. That he brought these books, and his life, into one expression, one way of saying things is the brilliant part of this art. The fact that he created the characters, and events, maybe molded them from bits and pieces, doesn’t matter. They become real are real, is the point. Each of us do this, when we imagine what we will say, should have said, would have done differently in the past, what would have happened if, when and why. I can just as easily reimagine a situation with a different outcome, and say it as such, an imagined thing, but as I am thinking it, it is as real as anything. I am imagining it as real. It is functionally no different than recalling something, something previously forgotten. Each are alternate scenarios, separate realities. We bundle these alternate version of our pasts, presents and futures together to create who we are, to become the conscious version of ourselves. They are a brilliant explanation of the common, everyday existence of anyone.
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