DRUGS 29
Chapter 2
The use and experience of drugs
Drugs exist even before there are people living on this planet. In the past drugs were used to
alleviate pains, or to relax completely, both in the animal and later in the human world.
The use of drugs by men has been described extensively by Carlos Casteneda who, in many
books, described the whole path of using and experiencing drugs. These are the most famous
books of his hand;
2-1 Carlos Castaneda
- The Teachings of Don Juan
- A Separate Reality
- Journey to Ixtlan
- Tales of Power
- The Second Ring of Power
- The Eagle’s Gift
- The Fire From Within
- The Power of Silence
Remarkable that one has doubts about everything and everyone, even over these books.
That while they are a clear story, how and why one should deal responsibly with drugs.
What does it matter whether Castaneda really followed lessons by a certain Don Juan?
What does it matter whether it’s a true story or a story written from experience, or perhaps
notes of several experienced drug users?
It is strange that in this world almost everything will be aborted which may contribute to the whole.
Drugs are older than the human race exists. Drugs exist so humans and animals can use it in
order to contribute to everyone’s life. Drugs are one of nature’s gift that is prohibited for the
lower class of the population as being dangerous. That, while the top and the elite are allowed
to use drug without any sanctions. There is not one bank director, nor a company director,
politician, etc. who does not make use of any drugs. All that unpunished, but meanwhile pointing to
the lower class who wants to use these drugs as well. Then there is a difference, and there are
heavy penalties, and one is criminal if one lay hands on drugs.
Mother Nature gives us these drugs, and we need to know how to work with, as long as we live
up to the rules.
Let us first post everything we know about Carlos Castaneda. The Don Juan lessons with
resources from nature right around your residence.
Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda in 1962
Born December 25, 1925 Cajamarca, Peru
Died April 27, 1998 (aged 72) Los Angeles,
California, U.S.
Occupation Author, anthropologist
Nationality American
Education UCLA (B.A.) UCLA (Ph.D.)
Period 20th century
Subject Anthropology, ethnography, shamanism
Carlos Castaneda (December 25, 1925–April 27, 1998) was an American author with a Ph.D.
in anthropology.
Starting with The Teachings of Don Juan in 1968, Castaneda wrote a series of books that describe
his training in shamanism, particularly a group that he called the Toltecs. The books, narrated in the
first person, relate his experiences under the tutelage of 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 and descriptions of practices which enable an increased awareness.
Castaneda withdrew from public view in 1973 to work further on his inner development, living in a large
house with three women whom he called “Fellow Travellers of Awareness”, and who were ready to cut
their ties to family and changed their names. He founded Cleargreen, an organization that promoted
tensegrity, purportedly a traditional Toltec regimen of spiritually powerful exercises.
2-1a Early life
Castaneda moved to the United States in the early 1950s and became a naturalized citizen on June 21, 1957.
He was educated at UCLA (B.A. 1962; Ph.D. 1973). Castaneda married Margaret Runyan in Mexico in 1960,
according to Runyan’s memoirs. Castaneda is listed on the birth certificate of Runyan’s son C.J. Castaneda
as his father even though his biological father was a different man. It is unclear whether Carlos and Margaret
were divorced in 1960, 1973, or not at all, and his death certificate even stated he had never been married.
2-1b Career
Castaneda’s first three books – The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge; A Separate Reality;
and Journey to Ixtlan – were written while he was an anthropology student at the University of California,
Los Angeles (UCLA). He wrote these books as his research log describing his apprenticeship with a traditional
“Man of Knowledge” identified as don Juan Matus, a Yaqui Indian from northern Mexico. Castaneda was
awarded his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees based on the work described in these books.
In 1974 his fourth book, Tales of Power, was published and chronicled the end of his apprenticeship under the
tutelage of Matus. Castaneda continued to be popular with the reading public with subsequent publications.
In his books, Castaneda narrates in first person the events leading to his 1960 introduction to Matus, a half-Yaqui
“Man of Knowledge”. Castaneda’s experiences with Matus inspired the works for which he is known. He also
says the sorcerer bequeathed him the position of nagual, or leader of a party of seers. Matus also used the term
nagual to signify that part of perception which is in the realm of the unknown yet still reachable by man, implying
that, for his party of seers, Don Juan was a connection in some way to that unknown. Castaneda often referred
to this unknown realm as nonordinary reality.
The term nagual has been used by anthropologists to mean a shaman or sorcerer who claims to be able to
change into an animal form, or to metaphorically “shift” into another form through magic rituals, shamanism and
experiences with psychoactive drugs (e.g., peyote and jimson weed – Datura stramonium).
Castaneda was the subject of a cover article in the March 5, 1973 issue of Time which described him as “an
enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a tortilla”. When confronted by correspondent Sandra Burton about
discrepancies in his personal history, Castaneda responded:
To ask me to verify my life by giving you my statistics ... is like using science to validate sorcery. It robs the world
of its magic and makes milestones out of us all.
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