What comparisons and differences do you see in Carlos Castenedas philosophy?

Question

And those of Eastern practices? When I first read the books I thought it was an originial philosophy. However I did notice some similarities ... discuss.

And those of Eastern practices? When I first read the books I thought it was an originial philosophy. However I did notice some similarities ... discuss.
Whether or not it was pure fiction, or if Don Juan Matus was real or fictional, I do admit the "character" of Don Juan was extremely entertaining. And for the first person who answered, do you have a web site where Castaneda admits it was fiction?

Answer 1

Casteneda came out several years ago and admit it was fiction.
As far as original it is not philosophy except perhaps to see how much Datura or Peyote will make you hallucinate.

I've read all of them and during my drugging days thought WOW man that's cool ****. "Take a trip and never leave the farm"..

As far as the notion that people need to look beyond reality for answers, specifically to alternate realities as Carlos described, I think the answers we seek reside in ourselves and with our higher power. To believe that an temporal reality exists (perhaps in science fiction) The Tales of Don Juan, Journey to Ixtlan, and the others became more and more obtuse as Casteneda himself disintegrated into the hallucinations. Hallucinations are simply neurotransmitters firing random items to the visual cortex. Many in the 60s when casteneda wrote his works had grandiose visions induced by chemicals.

Pure and simple the books are drug experience and What IN Narcotic's Anonymous is called a Drug-a-Log.

Answer 2

I haven't studied Eastern practices enough as to compare them, but I believe there are some ideas or practices that are not present anywhere else besides the ancient shamanistic knowledge that Castaneda have written about (he doesn't write about HIS ideas, you know...), like for example the assemblage point as the place where perception occurs...
But precisely for the reason that that knowledge is very old I think it is very likely that there are going to be many similarities...

Answer 3

the inner teachings of all "practices" are quite similar in involving a lot of meditation amd "energy work". check out *the complete idiot's guide to toltec wisdom* for some helpful insights re casteneda's more or less fictional accounts and others that help to "raise consciousness" ;-)