Carlos Castaneda was a popular American anthropologist and writer who wrote over 15 books during his lifetime. His books were widely popular and sold over 8 million copies worldwide. They mainly revolved around his training in shamanism that he got by a Yaqui called Don Juan Matus.
Castaneda wrote his first three books while he was still a student at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). However, despite writing several books, he refrained from making any public appearances. The Times magazine even described him as “an enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a tortilla”.
In this article, we have searched and listed the most insightful Carlos Castaneda quotes for you to take inspiration from. Read on to find the enlightenment that people did after reading his books.
Here Are the Most Insightful Carlos Castaneda Quotes for You
1.”In a world where death is the hunter; my friend there is no time for regrets or doubts. There is only time for decisions.” — Carlos Castaneda, ‘Journey to Ixtlan’
2.”We hardly ever realize that we can cut anything out of our lives, anytime, in the blink of an eye.” — Carlos Castaneda
3.”You say you need help. Help for what? You have everything needed for the extravagant journey that is your life.” — Carlos Castaneda
4.”Nobody knows who I am or what I do. Not even I. Don Juan Matus.” — Carlos Castaneda
5.”Life in itself is sufficient, self-explanatory, and complete.” — Carlos Castaneda
6.For an instant, I think I saw. I saw the loneliness of a man as a gigantic wave which had frozen in front of me, held back by the invisible wall of a metaphor.” — Carlos Castaneda
7.”The dying sun will glow on you without burning, as it has done today….and then your death will point to the south. To the vastness.” — Carlos Castaneda
8.”Death is the only wise advisor that we have. Whenever you feel, as you always do, that everything is going wrong….nothing really matters outside its touch. Your death will tell you, I haven’t touched you yet.” — Carlos Castaneda
9.To worry is to become accessible, unwittingly accessible. And once you worry you cling to anything out of desperation; and once you cling, you are bound to get exhausted or to exhaust whoever or whatever you are clinging to.” — Carlos Castaneda
10.”The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.” — Carlos Castaneda,’Journey to Ixtlan’
11. “If one must succeed in anything, the success must come gently, with a great deal of effort but with no stress or obsession.” — Carlos Castaneda, ‘Tales Of Power’
12. “We are men and our lot in life is to learn and to be hurled into inconceivable new worlds.” —Carlos Castaneda, ‘A Separate Reality’
13. “Only if they remain totally detached can they have the energy to be free. Theirs is a particular type of detachment which is born not out of fear or indolence, but out of conviction.” — Carlos Castaneda, ‘The Art of Dreaming’
14. “Think about it: What weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellow men. Our self Importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone.” — Carlos Castaneda, ‘Fire From Within’
15.“Forget the self and you will fear nothing, in whatever level or awareness you find yourself to be.” — Carlos Castaneda, ‘The Active Side of Infinity’
16.”Be aware of those who weep with realization, for they have realized nothing.” — Carlos Castaneda, ‘Fire From Within’
17.”I would say that the best of us always comes out when we are against the wall when we feel the sword dangling overhead.” — Carlos Castaneda, ‘Tales Of Power’
18.”That was the way human beings are; they love to be told what to do, but they love even more to fight and not do what they are told, and thus they get entangled in hating the one who told them in the first place.” — Carlos Castaneda, ‘Second Ring Of Power’
19.“A path is only a path, and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you . . . Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself alone, one question . . . Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn’t it is of no use.”― Carlos Castaneda
20.“The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse.” ― Carlos Castaneda
21.“In a world where death is the hunter, my friend, there is no time for regrets or doubts. There is only time for decisions.” — Carlos Castaneda, ‘Journey to Ixtlan’
22.“A man of knowledge lives by acting, not by thinking about acting. ” ― Carlos Castaneda
23.“We hardly ever realize that we can cut anything out of our lives, anytime, in the blink of an eye.” ― Carlos Castaneda, ‘Journey to Ixtlan’
24.“For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path that may have heart, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length–and there I travel looking, looking breathlessly.” ― Carlos Castaneda
25.“Anything is one of a million paths. Therefore you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path; if you feel you should not follow it, you must not stay with it under any conditions. To have such clarity you must lead a disciplined life. Only then will you know that any path is only a path and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do. But your decision to keep on the path or to leave it must be free of fear or ambition. I warn you. Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary.
This question is one that only a very old man asks. Does this path have a heart? All paths are the same: they lead nowhere. They are paths going through the bush, or into the bush. In my own life I could say I have traversed long long paths, but I am not anywhere. Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn’t, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn’t. One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it, you are one with it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you.
Before you embark on any path ask the question: Does this path have a heart? If the answer is no, you will know it, and then you must choose another path. The trouble is nobody asks the question; and when a man finally realizes that he has taken a path without a heart, the path is ready to kill him. At that point very few men can stop to deliberate, and leave the path. A path without a heart is never enjoyable. You have to work hard even to take it. On the other hand, a path with heart is easy; it does not make you work at liking it.” ― Carlos Castaneda, ‘The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge’
26.“To seek freedom is the only driving force I know. Freedom to fly off into that infinity out there. Freedom to dissolve; to lift off; to be like the flame of a candle, which, in spite of being up against the light of a billion stars, remains intact, because it never pretended to be more than what it is: a mere candle.” ― Carlos Castaneda, ‘Don Juan: the Sorcerer’
27.“Forget the self and you will fear nothing, in whatever level or awareness you find yourself to be.” ― Carlos Castaneda, ‘The Active Side of Infinity’
28.“A man goes to knowledge as he goes to war: wide-awake, with fear, with respect, and with absolute assurance. Going to knowledge or going to war in any other manner is a mistake, and whoever makes it might never live to regret it” ― Carlos Castaneda, ‘The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge’
29.“Only as a warrior can one withstand the path of knowledge. A warrior cannot complain or regret anything. His life is an endless challenge, and challenges cannot possibly be good or bad. Challenges are simply challenges.” ― Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda’s Powerful Quotes about Soul, Life | Don Juan’s Wisdom
Carlos Castaneda will forever remain in history. His books on the teachings of the resurrection of Don Juan’s Indians are read all over the world. In this video, you will hear Don Juan’s wise quotes and teachings. The publisher has also added a few Indian proverbs and sayings about life for you.
https://youtu.be/0NlYdJ0UvK4
Summary
These are some of the most inspirational Carlos Castaneda quotes that we came across. Castaneda knew his way around words and wrote several popular non-fiction books. His shaman training proved to be really enriching for him and turned him into a great writer. Tell us about your favorite Carlos Castaneda quotes from this list in the comments below.
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“Good used booked buy: ‘Tales of Power’ by Carlos Castaneda – hardcover for $9.95” by Jeremiah Vandermeer is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
“Carlos Castaneda Croquet” by randomlife is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“The Teachings of Don Juan, by Carlos Castaneda” by Make It Old is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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