Carlos Castaneda was an author who left his mark on my generation – although in academic circles he was never considered someone worthy of attention. As a tribute to him, I present a summary of his most important writings:
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The most difficult thing in this world is to adopt the spirit and attitude of a warrior. It is no use being sad, complaining, feeling unjustly treated, and believing someone is doing something negative. No one is doing anything, and certainly not to a warrior.
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It matters not how we were brought up. What determines our way of acting is the manner in which we administrate our will.
The will is a sentiment, a talent, something which lends us enthusiasm. The will is something which is acquired – but it is necessary to fight for it one’s whole life.
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The humility of a warrior is not the same humility as that of a servile man. The warrior does not lower his head to anyone, and nor does he allow anyone to bow before him. The servile man, on the other hand, kneels before anyone he believes to be more powerful, and demands that the people under his command behave in a similar fashion before him.
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The bad thing about words is that they make us feel as if we were illuminated and understanding everything. But, when we turn and face the world, we see that reality is completely different from that which we discussed or heard. A warrior seeks to act, and not waste time in useless conversation.
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The ordinary man thinks that yielding to doubts and worries is a sign of sensibility, of spirituality. Acting thus, he remains distant from the true meaning of life. This type of person loves being told what he should do.
Only a warrior can endure the path of knowledge. A warrior does not complain or lament anything, and sees challenges as neither good nor bad. Challenges are simply challenges.
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The world is unfathomable and mysterious, just as we all are. The art of the warrior consists of reconciling the terror of being a man with the wonder of being a man.
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Walking the forest
A warrior knows the SPIRIT OF WILDERNESS IS CHAOS.
Order is above wilderness. Order is a human creation.
Order is openning the path with the sword.
DR
To be warlike is a constant challenge! The more we grow, we advance and we destroy obstacles, more enemy appear in our return! It is an incessant fight, a school for all life! It never can stop! It never can give up, until the end…
I hug Warrior!
Mr. Paulo… this is really good, how come he wasnt important, he speaks nothing but truth… I am astonished by his words.
you’re very inspiring, and well, you know that. but what you dont know is that we’re waiting for you to visit us in Jordan, please Mr. Coelho, won’t you consider it??
and thank you for all those articles u send us, they do nothing but help me figure out things.
You make me remeber a lot of true things. Thanks a lot : )
I was very happy to read the extracts from Castaneda.
The thing that inspired me most was when he said “What determines our way of acting is the manner in which we administrate our will…”
I think the use of our will is so important when we are trying to follow the Warrior’s path. Our will is our guiding force and we should use it in a positive way. It can motivate us and steer us clear of outside influences, thus freeing us for the journey ahead!
I have just had a new Internet Connection installed. It is called ADSL ‘Unlimited’! I think that with care, a Warrior’s dreams can be ‘unlimited’ for as the proverb says “Where there is a WILL there is a WAY !!!
Algunos días atrás me encontraba leyendo el único libro que no me había llamado de ud Sr. Coelho,¿Cúal? El peregrino. – Desde que comencé a leer he tenido a absoluta certeza de que no somos nosotros los que escogemos a los libros sino al contrario – Y una clara y rotunda negación decidió tomar a mis pensamientos: ME NIEGO A CREER QUE SOMOS PRODUCTO DE LAS CIRCUNSTANCIAS. Y agradezco desde el fondo de mi alma, que alla publicado esas lineas.
Read all Castaneda’s books about 15 years ago when I started embarking on the Shaman journey. Also love books by Lynn Andrews as she offer us a feminine perspective and experiences. I have actually recently given away, sold or even thrown away ALL my books, including yours Paulo, mostly because of a move abroad, but also because I don’t need them and will instead trust my inner knowing and strive to be more present.
Aloha,
/Alexandra
i love it… truly inspiring.. u rock.. Castaneda…u simply rock!
The dance being the dancer/s…
Lots of love,
Vicky
I just wish I cold stand and not react toward some people who live their life without knowing what real Joy is, but I just can’t. I just read the words of someone who has already commented in this page, but I think replying to him would be just worthless. It would be as speaking to deaf ears.
I see every day who has lost the meaning of real Joy in their life with the pretension that they are just being realists and that this is real life. So sad!
I have lesson with a professor who has your age Paulo, but he is the complete opposite of you in some aspects(in the most important ones). I have lesson with him every Wednesday and every Friday, and at that time your image crosses my mind very often.
He is a god man, even though many like to judge him and not like him. He doesn’t believe in God and doesn’t seem to be a cheerful person even though he know how to amuse his students a lot. Today he was about to leave me breathless because of what he was saying. OMG!
He doesn’t speak about his problems but since we have been taking lessons from him for a long time, things get to come out, and we’ve learned that he has his own big problems. Something we know is that hes son has Autism, but when he speaks about God he says: “If there was a God, there wouldn’t be so much problems in the world.” He doesn’t express anger, it looks like he had accepted his faith the way things are. It is so sad the gray look he has even though he can bring some nice moments to us. I think he enjoys that a lot. He is a hard worker too and have learned a lot in his life but I don’t think I can call him a wise man, because he looks just like an immense encyclopedia to me. Maybe one day he might surprise me, who knows…
Oh I just wish things could change! At least for people like him.
Dear Paulo, thank you for existing! You really have made some difference in this world!Have helped some warriors become so for real!
I just wish that some others could just decide to open their hearts and really understand your words or those of the Angels around.
Love
Olta
My God Paulo!!!!!!!!!
Such WISE WORDS!!!!!!!! 20 lines are enough to answer 100 questions! … So magic! I love you!
“The world is unfathomable and mysterious, just as we all are. The art of the warrior consists of reconciling the terror of being a man with the wonder of being a man.”
….and I would like to add the terror of being a woman with the wonder of being a woman…
thanks Paolo
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When I was a teenager I visited with a circle of friends who enjoyed Casta~eda, their views were different than mine back there and they were all olther than me. I can see I was not ready for the truth at the moment, as a friend tried to bring me into reaching a higher truth and developing a different level of consciousness, yet he went away like the wind althought his . Today these teachings are reaching my soul, thank you Paulo for the opportunity of learning about Casta~eda, and becoming engraved while my spirit rejoices and I continue finding the magical moments in my life. Speaking of which, today I drove to work by myself and took a different route. I was thinking about my relationship with my husband and how some days seem to be so difficult. I was not paying attention to the environment. All of a sudden I realized that the sun was about to come up and I was about to miss a great sun rise!!! How bad, I thought, to be thinking about negative things and yet let this magical moments slip like the sand. I was so joyful and so thankful with God that I started crying because I realized that there are so many wonders around us and it is up to us to find those lovely details and let them become engraved forever in our memory.
With Joy
Monica
Beautifully, poetically said, dear Paul. Thank you.
Be brave on the … battlefield!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
There are plenty of secrets left for all of us to enjoy!
“The world is unfathomable and mysterious, just as we all are. The art of the warrior consists of reconciling the terror of being a man with the wonder of being a man.”
<3
Muito bom mesmo,gosto de pensar assim,sem aquele sentimento vítima.
Um grande abraço.
Alice
Castaneda era o homem das bonitas palavras. Um homem que ganhou muito poder com essas bonitas palavras e com sua absurda criatividade, mas ele é realmente um exemplo de pessoa? Pra começar, um homem sem família não é nada. Um homem que renega seu passado é bem questionável. Um homem vaidoso e possessivo tambem indica sérios problemas espirituais.
A verdade está nas brechas, nas sutilezas, no que ha por trás da superfície. Qualquer um que o estude um pouco chega a conclusão de que Castaneda foi um dos maiores manipuladores da historia da literatura mundial. Pena que as pessoas vejam a realidade de forma tão superficial, e pena que outras de visão um pouco maior incentivem isso, num estilo que parece um jeito cômodo de ganhar popularidade e dinheiro.
Por que voce, Paulo Coelho, que assim como castaneda, veio do nada e ja ganhou os seus milhôes, seu poder e sua fama nesse mundo, nao tenta agora trazer essa realidade pras pessoas, não tenta contribuir pra que esse mundo seja um pouco menos superficial? É obvio que voce sabe que poucas pessoas têm, além do poder de colaborar pro mundo nesse sentido, a *responsabilidade*, e vocÊ é uma delas. Então ficam os votos de um ex leitor que certamente representa milhares de pessoas pensantes que podem um dia se surpreender realmente com voce e voltar a escuta-lo. Fico aqui torcendo.
Voce está errado com relaçao a Castaneda. Quanto a mim, claro que é livre para fazer seu julgamento. O dinheiro nao é tudo, embora essa seja a tecla que voce fica martelando.
querido Lucio, yo no hablo pero entiendo portugues por mi espa~ol, nadamas te queria comentar que el poder esta dentro de nosotros mismos, nuestra alma esta conectada al poder mas alto del universo y ees por esta fuerza e intuicion que nosotros debemos decidir. Dios todo poderoso nos ha dado el libre albedrio y podemos ir por dos caminos, estar sujetos a criticar y ver lo negativo de toda situacion o a ver lo positivo y poder llegar a ser mejores dentro de nuestras vidas. Podemos sentarnos y estar cada dia criticando y viendo lo peor que pasa frente a nosotros y tener una vida miserable. Por el otro lado tambien podemos ver lo mejor de todo y hacer de nuestras vidas una aventura emocionante.
Te invito querido Lucio a disfrutar de las maravillas que nos ha dado Dios para disfrutar. Un abrazo y que tengas un buen dia.
Con Cari~o
Monica
This is my view on bowing which is similar to the one expressed by Castenda according to Paulo Coelho.
he/she does not bow head to any one and yet always bowes to humanity.He does not let anyone bow to him instead he picks them up and make them his equal and contemporaries. He is not above or below anyone is always with.
kul bhushan
rxri.blogspot.com
Thank you for sharing this with us. I loved the bit about about feeling enlightened when we read the words, but when we turn around to face the world it’s a different story. So much truth is held in the essence of that particular extract. I myself have found that I’m full of natural enthusasim at sunrise when I read inspiring texts (Eckhart Tolle at present). Then as the day goes by I have to make a consious effort to keep up the good fight!
Love and deep graTitude
Karin
Know-desire-dare-keep silent
Great quotes! I feel connected with many of the things written and it is very inspiring. Thank you for pointing towards other great writers too. Makes me understand on how selfless and loving you are indeed! <3
Thank you Paulo for reminding me about Carlos Casteneda! I loved his books, and think I will read again.
that’s awesome… thanks!
your writings are nearest to what we are taught…fighting against one’s ego is indeed the biggest battle one can ever fight
I wish I could find a balance between the wonder and the terror of being what I am. I find myself too often consumed by the terror.
yes, you’ve got led e-go!
Khaled,
There is no need to fight against the ego. Simply dissolve it looking deeply at the interbeing of all things. Only by stopping (samadhi) and looking deeply can we truly see. Thank you Paulo for your reflections on Carlos Castaneda. You are both amazing and gifted writers.
I love Castaneda it sometimes takes me months to finish reading one of his books. I have to read a chapter or just a few pages then rest on it. I wait for a sign to get back to reading his books, which can take weeks or months, but I’m never finished reading his books even when I get to the last page, the lessons are always being reread in my mind.
Like Paul said no risk.. no gain! I agree totally
Lovely thoughts, thanks Paul. Like a ray of sunshine.
Operate differently is to be itself, in Life
Wonderful, wonderful thoughts here! Beautiful by all measure… I take warrior spirit upon me… I thank you Paulo et Carlos
Thank you dear Paulo for sharing Castaneda writings with us. Words of wisdom that inspire our path.
Here, find attached a poem I loved so much.
Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do ;)
“Three passions have governed my life:
The longings for love, the search for knowledge,
And unbearable pity for the suffering of humankind.
Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness.
In the union of love I have seen
In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision
Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined.
With equal passion I have sought knowledge.
I have wished to understand the hearts of people.
I have wished to know why the stars shine.
Love and knowledge led upwards to the heavens,
But always pity brought me back to earth;
Cries of pain reverberated in my heart
Of children in famine, of victims tortured
And of old people left helpless.
I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot,
And I too suffer.
This has been my life; I found it worth living.”
Bertrand Russell
loveNlight
Gabi
You are an angel.
Thank you.
Love
Marie-Christine
Very deep indeed, thanks for sharing….
Monica
Thank you very very much Paulo! It was enlightening to me!
And I think I got the answer of my question now.
Love <3
Olta
Fron ‘The Fire From Within’ ….Your command becomes the Eagles command…
This still fascinates me ???
Paolo, thanks a million for this. So inspiring. Thanks from a snowy Stockholm
So was that writer that inspired you the notion of Warrior of the Light? Some things in the text everybody tells, and I read it here before. Well, sure is ok we do not waorry too much, but where is the border between caring, being concerned and being only week( as you write “sensitive”)?
I disagree that ordinary people are those worrying too much, there is a study saying that people who are not verry intelligent are happiest, for they dont realise the problem, or they do not care.
And a sensitive person, worrying maybe a lot ok, is in my vision quite a Romantic one, if we remember from literature many many pieces and charaters. (Hamlet, Werther, etc).
Much love
Alexandra
the highest path of a warrior is the path of ascension. here, the greatest foe, ego, is taken on and destroyed.
Let me tell you something about “academic circles”. I always felt that they had something to offer me. Yes there are many great, great professors and great people in academic circles and there is a lot to get from there. I spent six years of my adult life in academic circles just because my grand parents that raised me always told me “you have to find a partner in academic circles, you have to have a degree and without “knowledge” you are no one” (funny). I remember when I decided to go after this knowledge I played dices and chose a subject to have a degree on, just because I had to see what academic circles can offer me. I learned so much too, I can not deny it.
But when you leave the academic world, you leave it. The beautiful and very good ideas have few affects on everyday people and most of the times it is a world of fine words. In the practice you have to live to learn what life is about. The academic world is a bit like the hierocracy described in the winner stands alone and Cannes, but in another formats.
Much love to Cstaneda.
I think I know what you mean… I have felt the same about Academic circle… but… there’s more to learn in life.. and once we finishe our studies the process jut begin! lol Funny, isn’t it?… YEP! All our life is a learning process and that one who donies it.. is a fool… This is jut my impression… Love to you all, Gabriela ROmaria
I agree, dear Hope… Besides other things, when we complained about classes, schedule, fees, they told us:” You will have a good job, earn lot of money”. Many of the best students either have no job, or they have a bad one…Maybe few fortunated with connections, parents relatives that pushes them, they have good jobs. But I have the feeling is a closed circle, if you are new, outsider, with no connections(relatives in high posiyions, money), they care not about you even if you are some genius.Is a bitter true. I feel like going to war, trying to enter the market, seeing no one take you in consideration, and is hard after a long period going on…I still fight.
Love
Alexandra(hoping for better days)
“wonder of beeing a man”, that is divine!
boy oh boy we are having some fun aren;t we?
You have to have faith don;t u?
it’s a revival !
-ing
Giannanoti
Great! See also The shambhala warrior. Thanks from Sweden
I really connected with several points in this article. One was that words can make us feel illuminated and knowledgeable. It made me think about the earth itself and how so much of the natural world is without words…that’s not to say that trees, grass, rocks, water, air, etc. don’t have language, it just isn’t in words. And it doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t understand languages in the natural world. We just have to learn them. I love this thought.
The last two sentences also spoke to me. That’s exactly how I have felt sometimes…teror and wonder both of being human, sometimes so connected to the world and other times feeling outcast and alone. There is an art to finding the balance in all things.
It’s interesting to think that we are the sum of our wishes. Also that choices have brought us here to this moment and that we are who we are because we dreamed and made choices. Wow.
Thanks for sharing this today.
Yes at the best of times when he or she is stuck for words ..talk Gibberlish – ,making no sense at all .And if your up for the challenge ..and dont want to take any sound advice – just swap your personality ..and at times act like an invisible angel ..Most of everything is an illusion anyway ..Blessings Tania
Paulo,
Thank you for posting this. Yes, we definitely have to be tough warriors to be able to stand up for ourselves, yet still keep our heads and hearts in the right places.
I needed these words today. I’ve been trying to find the right “warrior” words to help a friend who is now semi-homeless (in another state) and trying to survive. He does not quite understand being a warrior of light. I have sent him some of your stories and posts and he has started responding. This post will help greatly toward his realization. I’m going to send him some of your books. Which book would you first give a person like this to read?
Thank you once again for seeing and understanding.
Love and exceedingly warm light (it’s cold) to you,
Lainee
Estou justamente nesta fase…a de não confundir humildade com servilismo.Gostei muito do texto.
Very beautiful indeed… Did Castaneda inspire you, Mr. Paulo Coelho? I am still inspired by your book… THE PILGRIMAGE! SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL! xxx Gabriela Romaria
I will definitely be looking for further readings
Thank you Paolo to letting me know of Carlos Castaneda. I truly love his writings, all of those that you put here. The last sentence is one that really touches me “The art of the Warrior consists of reconciling the terror of being a man (woman) with the wonder of being a man (woman)” Reading all, I feel proud of the road undertaken of following that first dream that I dared to make real … start living what was deep inside me and follow my path. That brought me to go through many moments of awareness, many lessons that brought back the Warrior that I am.
With deep affection for you and gratitude for all that you do for me, others and the World
Jojo
Thanks Paulo for reminding me about Carlos Casteneda; and providing an excellent summary of references to the warrior from him.
Changed my course.
Nice, nice writting but I’m still fightting but the life don’t give to much to me . Possibily because I’m not a good warrior.
But anyway, I enjoy the writting of Sir Paulo and Castaneda was right, the life is only for the people how fight.
Paulo,
Love that you bring some attention to Castaneda. His writings had an huge impact on my life when I was a teenager. Reading this brings back warrior memories :)
Thank you for writing this. I find it to be inline with the old Grail romances of 1200 C.E., and how the knights (well some of them) used to behave.
Thanks for sharing your personal image of Castaneda and the warrior’s spirit… Castaneda is a great author in his own right… as long as people continue to read his works in a safe way! I hope you do not disappear on us some day.
I read somewhere that Charles Manson was inspired by Castaneda –
But yes it is good also to read in a safe place!!
Mesmo se Castaneda nao fosse um bom exemplo de pessoa, aquilo que importa mesmo é o que ele escreveu. Como disse Jesus: “Faça o que eu digo, nao o que eu faço”.
Abraços da Italia Paulo.
fadeingod you are the most “man” I know! And you are divine!
gracias Monica, pero veo su posicion como algo muy unilateral, que no ha visto mi intencion. Yo soy una persona muy feliz e fascinada por la vida, pero pienso que es muy importante disfrutar de lo mas interesante de la vida: analisar ella para conocer las cosas como realmente son. Com eso, tu conquista no solamente mas vision, como tambien se livra de prejudicios y maniqueismos, buscando una vida mas saudable y feliz.
Si no conoce las circunstancias, no puedes julgar. Me encanta Castaneda, y Yo etudie Castaneda por anos. No solamente por los libros, pero principalmente por la vida REAL de el. Hay cosas que mostram claramente su manipulacion: las mujeres que lo seguian cegamente y cometeram suicidio ritualistico logo despues de su muerte, por ejemplo. recomendo tambien ese livro, de una mujer que conoceu la seita de castaneda muy cerca: http://www.amazon.com/Sorcerers-Apprentice-Life-Carlos-Castaneda/dp/1583942068/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264022364&sr=1-4
Sea feliz, acreditando siempre en el camino de la vision e da verdad, no importa o quando te moleste.. porque en la realidad a verdade no deve molestar, pero sin hacernos mas feliz.
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