[DrakeWan]

I read a lot of stuff, and can't help but see similarities between a lot of things I read.

I find this particular quote from the gospel of st thomas interesting..

Jesus said, "It is to those who are worthy of my mysteries that I tell my mysteries. Do not let your left (hand) know what your right (hand) is doing


Could he possibly be talking about the obvious problem of remembering what happens when in heightened awareness?

and

Jesus said, "The heavens and the earth will be rolled up in your presence. And the one who lives from the living one will not see death." Does not Jesus say, "Whoever finds himself is superior to the world?"

Is this not describing finding your 'light-body' .. or the 'dreaming-self' ...

rolled up in our presence... meaning this particular set of emanations?

I don't mean to be totally off-topic, or on-topic... I was just wondering if anyone has taken anything from anything else they've read and applied it to don juans teachings as well..

[Lilac]

Not about Gnostisism, but about "naguals in another books?" is this:

2.Kings2:9-11

And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.

And it came to paas, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

(King James Bible)

So... An apprentice asking to have the leadership as a double being, and the old nagual saying that if he can stay in hightened awaresnes: if he can see and remember his master leaving the world with the fire from within, then he can be the new nagual?

[ensonar]

I was just wondering if anyone has taken anything from anything else they've read and applied it to don juans teachings as well..

I haven't followed Christianity very closely. Although there was one book that I found particularly interesting a while back, and felt that much of it didn't go against the teachings of Don Juan. That book was "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas Kempis. I haven't read it in a while though, so I'm not sure what I'd think of it at this point.

But to answer your question, yes, all the time. The next closest thing I've come across that in my opinion seems very similar to the teachings of the Nagual is Taoism. I never grow tired of reading the Tao Te Ching.

I've been interested in many different religions and philosophies, and it seems to me that when you find the similarities between them all, you may be glimpsing "universal truths". Or at least that's the way I like to look at it.

Don Juan talks about inner silence leading to seeing. Inner silence is also practiced by Hindus, Budhists, Taoists, and many other religions for differing, but perhaps similar reasons.

I feel that the Toltec lineage which Don Juan and Carlos were part of refined knowledge and practice to such an extent that it has become an art that leads to the source of power and energy in a most direct way.

I do feel that filling oneself with knowledge of all sorts is good too though. Looking at things from different angles can be very fulfilling.

[DrakeWan]

I was just wondering if anyone has taken anything from anything else they've read and applied it to don juans teachings as well..

I haven't followed Christianity very closely. Although there was one book that I found particularly interesting a while back, and felt that much of it didn't go against the teachings of Don Juan. That book was "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas Kempis. I haven't read it in a while though, so I'm not sure what I'd think of it at this point.

But to answer your question, yes, all the time. The next closest thing I've come across that in my opinion seems very similar to the teachings of the Nagual is Taoism. I never grow tired of reading the Tao Te Ching.

I've been interested in many different religions and philosophies, and it seems to me that when you find the similarities between them all, you may be glimpsing "universal truths". Or at least that's the way I like to look at it.

Don Juan talks about inner silence leading to seeing. Inner silence is also practiced by Hindus, Budhists, Taoists, and many other religions for differing, but perhaps similar reasons.

I feel that the Toltec lineage which Don Juan and Carlos were part of refined knowledge and practice to such an extent that it has become an art that leads to the source of power and energy in a most direct way.

I do feel that filling oneself with knowledge of all sorts is good too though. Looking at things from different angles can be very fulfilling.

The imitation of christ is a good book...

One thing I would like to comment on, is... perhaps we just haven't studied the other 'ways' of knowledge properly... maybe we didn't 'see' them .. I've found that gnosticism... ( a lot of the Nag Hammadi Library) seems to go very indepth with it knowledge in a very condensed manner, only a truly enlightened person could 'see' what its saying, I've had certain insights but by no means understand its concepts fully... all those who reason it out seem to misunderstand certain portions of it... Taoism is very good.... I just think Don Juan didn't mention certain things because he knew we'd find out anyway... like observing the spirits voice in all things... even untruth. although all of these are just concepts and words discribing something undescribable.

For this reason, do not take error too seriously. Thus, since it had no root, it was in a fog as regards the Father, engaged in preparing works and forgetfulnesses and fears in order, by these means, to beguile those of the middle and to make them captive. The forgetfulness of error was not revealed. It did not become light beside the Father. Forgetfulness did not exist with the Father, although it existed because of him. What exists in him is knowledge, which was revealed so that forgetfulness might be destroyed and that they might know the Father, Since forgetfulness existed because they did not know the Father, if they then come to know the Father, from that moment on forgetfulness will cease to exist.

Could it be that they are describing seeing the human form??? for what it is.. and calling it the father? It seems to me to be explaining the forgetfulness of the true being inside of us.. the dreaming body/light body... People hear the word father and think they are talking about 'God' or something but not taking it for what it means... For example a better way of seeing the word could be:
3. any male ancestor, esp. the founder of a race, family, or line; progenitor.
or
a person who has originated or established something: the father of modern psychology; the founding fathers. or the form that originated or established something.

[Warbaryan]

I haven't followed Christianity very closely.

Heed my advice: do not.

[DrakeWan]

I haven't followed Christianity very closely.

Heed my advice: do not.

Heed YOUR advice? .. what a noble being to shield the masses from something that exists..

I tell you this... if you leave any stone unturned .. it will be the stone to conquer you.

[Warbaryan]

Heed YOUR advice? .. what a noble being to shield the masses from something that exists..

I tell you this... if you leave any stone unturned .. it will be the stone to conquer you.

Heh! I'm shivering with the fear of "God" now...

Just kidding, I rather choose freedom.

There's no time to turn all the stones. That way, you just get stoned; and lose focus.

[Lilac]

I think one should be indifferent to religions. Leave them as they are, if nobody comes to torture you with his/hers religion.

For some years I used to hate them, mostly about Christianity. Now I try to understand that what ever I do or feel the stupidity of the world will always remain. And it's not about that which religion is in charge. It's about human beings, that they don't want to SEE. See themselves, the world.

[Nick]

I think that there is a hidden truth in all religions that has been missed by the masses. The concept of the devil (who is described as a serpent) sounds just like the flyers. Both reside inside us somewhere & lead us astray. Both require discipline to overcome them. Religion the world over has been hijacked by the power-hungry.

[Nick]

I don't mean to be totally off-topic, or on-topic... I was just wondering if anyone has taken anything from anything else they've read and applied it to don juans teachings as well..

I recomend reading the posting "Gnostic Parallels in the Writings of Carlos Castaneda" on the Twilight Zone site

http://www.percivale.co.uk/castacontin/

I found it very interesting.