This is the first book I’ve read by Castaneda in the last many, many years. I’m afraid I’m not good at reading books in the correct order, and this applies with Castaneda’s books too. It would perhaps have been easier to begin with his first books.In this book we are instructed, among other things, about the art of stalking and the mastery of intent.We learn about a point of brilliance called the assemblage point on the surface of the luminous ball surrounding our body. When this is moved from its usual position, it brightens up new energy fields, making them perceivable. This perception is known as seeing. Movement of the assemblage point enables perception of an entirely different world. “Sorcerers go into that other world to get energy power, solutions to … problems, or to face the unimaginable.”Intent is what causes us to perceive. The aim of sorcerers is to reach a state of total awareness.We are given the dramatic story of how the nagual Elias meets Julian, saves his life and takes him as his apprentice. Julian becomes the benefactor of Don Juan.Don Juan accompanies Castaneda on long treks and in particular to a special cave which was created as “an instrument to push the apprentice deep into heightened awareness”.Don Juan tells about a time years ago when he was kept prisoner by his benefactor, tricked into believing that the house belonged to a “monstrous man” and that he needed to wear women’s clothes in order to escape. Eventually he did manage to do so but kept being pursued by the monstrous man until he realized it was a figment of his imagination (actually, an “inorganic being”, a formless energy field).Don Juan keeps banging Castaneda on the back, thus enabling him to move his assemblage point and enter a heightened state of awareness, in which state he clearly understands everything. However, later, he may have forgotten not only his understandings, but everything that happened. (Don Juan states at one point that striking C’s back was actually more a trick to trap his attention than a bone fide maneuver to manipulate his perception.)We need to intend the movement of our assemblage point. We want it to reach the place of no pity, which is the site of ruthlessness. When this happens the eyes of the sorcerer begin to shine.Don Juan frequently bursts out laughing when Carlos opens his mouth, just as Don Juan’s benefactor Julian continually weeps profusely when together with Don Juan (which he does to hide his laughter).We learn about the art of stalking and its four moods – ruthlessness, cunning, patience and sweetness. Stalking is “special behaviour – it is secretive, furtive, deceptive behaviour designed to deliver a jolt. And, when you stalk yourself you jolt yourself using your own behaviour in a ruthless, cunning way.”You can use the idea of your death to stalk yourself. Death is our challenger – the only worthy opponent we have.I found comprehension of all the presented information to be extremely challenging. Carlos himself found the material challenging/incomprehensible. This is because it is a totally different sort of information than that we are used to understanding with the logical left part of the brain.But the book is well-written, fascinating, engrossing and highly entertaining, and I recommend it highly, although it may be preferable to begin by reading “The teachings of Don Juan” and the other early books before tackling this one.
Despite its progress on the "way of the warrior" that have earned the prestigious title of "nagual", Castaneda remains an eternal disciple of Don Juan face who tirelessly pursues his teaching and trying to initiate his pupil concepts increasingly sophisticated and concise at a time. That is, the element of mystery which remains attached to the apprentice, the "abstract cores," these truths that do not pass through words and are part of a "silent knowledge" that leaves tackle by direct intuition. They are part of the "spirit" of the "intent" and are only revealed at the end dune perfect asceticism. Such is the price to pay to approach the "abstract", this mysterious area where the reasoning must yield to pure reason, and where the speech ends, giving way to silence the "true" knowledge.
What do You think about Power Of Silence (1991)?
Castaneda was a graduate student studying Anthropology and was doing his thesis on Mexican Shaman and their use of regional plants and herbs to induce psychotropic effects in an attempt to cure people of various illnesses. Castaneda starts off with a scientist view, as a skeptic and later is blown away by what happens to him, which then becomes his life long pursuits. If you plan on reading these books, start with the Yaqui Way of Life, which is the first book and be prepared to be engrossed in Don Juan's teachings.
—Patrick
I am going to give the same review to all the Carlos Castaneda books I read in that series, simply because they are all outstanding. I was lucky to come across Castaneda very early on my magickal path. My spells and rituals have always relied on the power of intent, and I have found no better education on how to focus your intent than in this series of books. Back then (1994) they were classifed as nonfiction. Lately, they say they are fiction. All I know is much of what is in these books works. And having been a Wiccan Faery Witch now for 13 years I know much of what is real to us is fiction to those not walking a magickal path. These are life-changing books you will never forget, and their teachings still influence my life today. Can't get any better than that!
—Laura
سکوت لحظه ای است از زبان، خاموش شدن و لال شدن نیست، سرپیچی از گفتن است؛ پس خود گونه ای سخن گفتن است. سارترThe Power of Silence, Further Lessons of don Juan (The Teachings of Don Juan #8), Carlos Castanedaمجموعه ی این دوازده کتاب به توالی تاریخ انتشار به زبان اصلی که همه به فارسی ترجمه شده به قرار زیر است1-The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge (1968)تعلیمات دون خوان (طریقه ی معرفت نزد یاکی ها)۰ 1365 انتشارات فردوس ـ ترجمه ی حسین نیر2 - A Separate Reality: Further Conversation with Don Juan (1971)حقیقتی دیگر (باز هم گفت و شنودی با دون خوان)۰ 1364 انتشارات آگاه، ترجمه ی ابراهیم مکلا۰3 - Journey to xtlan: Lessons of Don Juan (1972)سفر به ایختلان (سفر به ناکجا آباد ـ درسهای دونخوان) کتاب باعنوان «سفر به دیگر سو» در ایران منتشر شده است۰4- Tales of Power (1974)افسانه های قدرت (نخستین حلقه ی قدرت)۰ 1363 انتشارات فردوس ـ ترجمه ی مهران کندری و مسعود کاظمی۰5- The Second Ring of Power (1975)دومین حلقه ی قدرت ـ چاپ اول 1364 ترجمه ی مهران کندری و مسعود کاظمی6- The Eagle's Gift (1981)هدیه ی عقاب ـ 1365 ترجمه ی مهران کندری و مسعود کاظمی7- The Fire from Within (1984)آتش درون ـ 1368 ترجمه ی مهران کندری و مسعود کاظمی8-The Power of Silence, Further Lessons of don Juan (1988)قدرت سکوت ـ 1368 ترجمه ی مهران کندری 9- The Art of Dreaming (1994)هنر خواب بینی ـ 1374 ترجمه ی فرزاد همدانی10- Magical Passes: The Practical Wisdom of the Shamans of Ancient Mexicoعنوان: حرکات جادویی - خرد شمنان مکزیک کهن؛ کارلوس کاستاندا؛ برگردان: مهران کندری؛ تهران، نشر میترا، 1377، در 330 ص، مصور، شابک: ایکس - 964599831؛ 11- The Wheel of Time: The Shamans of Mexico Their Thoughts About Life Death & the Universe (The Teachings of Don Juan #11), Carlos Castanedaعنوان: چرخ زمان : شمنان مکزیک کهن ، افکار آنان در باره ی زندگی، زندگی مرگ و جهان؛ نویسنده: کارلوس کاستاندا، برگردان: مهدی کندری؛ تهران، میترا، 1377، در 278 ص، شابک: 9645998360؛ موضوع: کارلوی کاستاندا از 1931 تا 1998، عرفان سرخپوستی، دین سرخپوستان یاکوئی، دین و اساطیر قرن 20 م12- The Active Side of Infinity (1998)کرانه ی فعال بیکرانگی ـ 1379 ترجمه ی مهران کندری
—Ahmad Sharabiani
