To Adriane and All about Don Juan's teachings via Casteneda

[Guest guest]

Adriane wrote:

 

>> For those who don't know, Castaneda was writing his master's

>> thesis on Shamanism and the Native American (actually he was in

>> Mexico so is that Indian?) took him in as an apprentice.

 

 

 

Dear Adriane ~ Don Juan would not be considered an Indian (Native American),

nor was the term shaman used to describe his work, either by himself or by

Carlos Casteneda. Don Juan was of the indigenous Yaqui people of Mexico. I'm

not sure he would have seen himself as an "Indian," since that was an

erroneous term given to the indigenous peoples of North America by Columbus, as

he

mistakenly landed on what are now American shores instead of ending up in

India, which was his actual destination.

 

Don Juan referred to himself as a "Warrier," and clearly, by his teachings,

he meant spiritual warrier. Don Juan could be referred to, in a general way,

as a shaman, since his actions fit the "profile" of a shaman as one who

undertakes visionary journeys to obtain knowledge which can then be used to

benefit him/herself or others. This definition, which also includes other

activities, was defined by Mircea Eliade after long study of shamanic traditions

worldwide; it was expanded upon by Joan Halifax in her "Shamanic Voices: A

Survey

of Visionary Narratives," which after a brief introduction, were transcripts

of actual visits and conversations she had with many "shamans." Both are

wonderful "teachers," as is Don Juan, via Casteneda's works.

 

Whether one chooses to follow the path of a shaman, or become a devotee of

Amma, or even seeks, as a Christian, the mystical union with the "Christ

Within," the path is never easy. Our teachers make sure we "pay our dues." Ho ~

Linda

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Sure he would; he called his people Indians various times in

conversations with Carlos. That is, if he actually existed. (I

enjoyed the earlier books, but there are questions about the reality

of Castaneda's relationship with a Juan Matus.J)

 

The name Indian is rejected by some First Nations people, but my

impression is that the majority use it. There was kind of a backlash

against Native American, which many saw as academic, or euphemistic,

or you name it.

 

jai Maa

Max

 

>Don Juan would not be considered an Indian (Native American),

>nor was the term shaman used to describe his work, either by himself or by

>Carlos Casteneda. Don Juan was of the indigenous Yaqui people of Mexico. I'm

>not sure he would have seen himself as an "Indian,"

 

--

Max Dashu

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