Carlos Castaneda - A Separate Reality (Abridged Version)

Narrated by Peter Coyote

[davidadada]

At the age of 64 revisiting Don Juan’s teachings is very humbling.

[blondiedreadd]

I remember reading this 22 years ago, im 41 now, Carlos Castaneda, amazing

[SiriusB]

“A warrior does not abandon himself to anything, not even his death”

[triple_gem_shining]

i remember listening to this alone on the way to a buddhist monastery where i stayed for a week. Went dep within myself and had solitude out there. the monks dont bother you too much as long as you show up to meditate and eat and work so i could go deep within my mind and think about this while in solitude and man that was beautiful. I love these books. first and second are best!

[theincompleteskeptic]

I read this book oh so many years ago. I read almost all of his books. Thanks for posting the audiobook here.

[barrywilson]

In the early 1970s I was a university student in Canada. I had studied eastern philosophy for some years and had become involved with psychedelics. I would not discover the Don Juan books for some two or three years. Casteneda's books would eventually explain a number of baffling experiences I had during this period.
Firstly having discovered the Christian mystics; Theresa of Avalon, Meister Elkhart, St John of the Cross etc. through Aldous Huxley's Perennial Philosophy I had developed my own meditation to subdue my ego. One afternoon while walking alone on campus I was pursuing the censorship of my thoughts. Suddenly a disembodied voice loudly and clearly said "If you continue to pursue your practise you will die". I immediately heeded the warning and ended my practise. I intuitively treated this voice as having simply conveyed information. I sensed no personality, God or angel.
When years later I read the Don Juan saga I learned that this is the Voice of Seeing and yes there was no one home.
In another section of the books Don Juan explains that mystics in aggressively assaulting their selves are actually attacking the egg of energy enveloping us and protecting us from death. The mystic unwittingly rips open his or her cocoon of energy and perishes.
Another uncanny incident occurred when home from school for a long weekend. I awoke on Sunday morning with the feeling of a heavy sphere in my head. It gradually descended through my body all day long and disappeared though my feet in the evening. Years later I read Carlos Casteneda's account of his losing the human form. It was exactly as I had experienced it.
After finally discovering the Don Juan stories, so perhaps under their influence, I had other experiences as described by Carlos. I moved my assemblage point in an encounter with a telepathic young woman attacking me emotionally (magically).
The most disturbing was a year and half of revelations, mind altering and often terrifying. I was forced to review many incidents from my life infusing them with new meaning and destroying my belief in my  mundane life. I have only recently realized this was the Recapitulation of one's life practised as a discipline amongst warriors, but forcefully imposed upon me, having no teacher I suppose.
As I am not a joiner I never sought out Carlos or his organization. But I cannot deny the power of these works. I am definitely not a nagual. Strange things happen to me but I cannot accomplish anything through my will.
So now to discuss the fraud charges levied against Carlos which appear to be well authenticated. The later books of Castaneda have much to do with Stalking. Stalking is the creation of a false crisis designed to move a student's assemblage point and push them into magical realms. I believe the whole Castaneda phenomena was an exercise in Stalking. The World was Stalked. To what end. Sorry no idea.

[henryjraymondiii]

72 ! They were and are great. I saw Neil & Buzz LIVEI saw the fiorst American Manned launch, all Mercury and Gemini exceptand Apollo (with maybe 2 Gemini and 2 apollo that I saw later, rather than live).. and Kennedy died in 6th grade. Saw Manchurian Candidte when I was 8. I still review castenada audio and get refreshed.

[carlito]

Either way you read Mr. Castaneda's books you become a better person. Because what. he writes is as true as death

[Sundance]

Thank you for this I listened to the first book and half way thru this one I thoroughly enjoy these stories they have a sense of wonder and are just incredible

[lesliebaldwin]

Castenedas books and similarly Yoganandas autobiography I read often since 71

[kobe]

I love these first two books. What an adventure 🙂

[beerman]

I've read this book several times since the 70's. But I'm thoroughly enjoying this audio version perfectly presented by Peter.
So this is the big fat fiction concocted by Castaneda? Well yes according to the Chairman of the Yale school of Anthropology and others. If there is some truth here, which I'm convinced there is, believing it's all a fraud prevents one from seeing any truths, or taking a deep dive into what these books have to offer to open minds.

[dennismason]

When Carlos transited in 1998 many of the witches (read The Sorcerer's Crossing) wanted to leave with him and went to maximum effort in following him. Whew.

[onetruekeeper]

Of Castaneda's first 4 books this is my favorite, then next is Tales of Power.

[hilohahoma]

The greatest nightmare for a normal human being is that there has never been a beginning or that there will never be and end....TO THE EXISTENCE OF

[faithkirbybaldwin]

When people complain that you don't do anything. . So you finally do something and get yelled at for it 😂

[wolfiemom]

When combining a hive how do you keep them from rejecting eachhother or the introduced hive not attack the queen?

[dukromeo]

i have seen the guardian in a dream (nightmare)
a dark horseman that is like a shadow being. 2 miles (or more) tall and faster than lightning.
no wings because it does not need them.

[suryadas]

56:46 1968? In the first books he lists dates as late as 1969. This book allegedly took place after the first book. 🤔 I still love the first 4 books but this makes me wonder.

[jakobw]

We don't know if Carlos Castaneda's descriptions are based on heightened awareness of physical reality - or hallucinations and delusions, because of his use of certain plants.