The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge - Carlos Castaneda

While hunting for medicinal plants near the Mexican border as an anthropology student, a young Carlos Castaneda strikes up a friendship with don Juan Matus, a mysterious man who reveals himself to be a Yaqui Indian sorcerer. Don Juan offers to take Castaneda under his apprenticeship, instructing him in the use of hallucinogenic plants--including peyote, jimsonweed, and mushrooms--and helping him to discover deep truths.

The Teachings of Don Juan (1968) purports to be a document of Castanada's psychedelic experiences and adventure. Appearing at the height of the 1960's, the book became a New York Times bestseller and was followed by several sequels. Although classified by the publisher as non-fiction, today it is recognized as largely (or completely) fictional. Nevertheless, the character of don Juan has left an indelible impression on millions of readers, and the book remains an (oc)cult classic. Despite its bizarre subject matter, it is delivered in a credible, scholarly style, appreciated for its beauty, lucidity, and spiritual insight.

The Teachings of Don Juan:

• Pdf
• Audiobook 9h42m
• Abridged audiobook 2h51m

Supplemental:

• Don Juan Meets Buddha podcast with Jack Kornfield

Trivia:

• George Lucas has stated that Yoda and Luke Skywalker were inspired in part by don Juan and Castaneda.

Extracts:

• "...all this had bewitched him, and enchanted him, till he had sat motionless and bending over, as a tree-transformed and mystery-laden visitant, caught and fast bound in some necromancer's garden." (Pierre, 7.1)
• "'Arva' is a root very generally dispersed over the South Seas, and from it is extracted a juice, the effects of which upon the system are at first stimulating in a moderate degree; but it soon relaxes the muscles, and exerting a narcotic influence produces a luxurious sleep. In the valley this beverage was universally prepared in the following way:...." (Typee, 23)
• "When we came to start, the Yankee's boots were missing.... The doctor maintained... that one who was capable of drugging an innocent traveller with "Arva Tee" was capable of anything." (Omoo, 72)
• "And I, you, and he; and we, ye, and they, are all bats; and I’m a crow, especially when I stand a’top of this pine tree here. Caw! caw! caw! caw! caw! caw! Ain’t I a crow? And where’s the scare-crow?" (Moby-Dick, 99)

This meetup is part of a series on Fig Leaves and Fancy Pants.