A Sorcerer’s Journey, based on the works of Carlos Castaneda, opens this week. A few thoughts about the show. (For more information about Carlos Castaneda, see this 1973 Time Article.)
Knowing who said something can have a large influence on whether we believe it to be true. The context in which information is given to us and the associations we make with it can change our perception of its importance and validity.
Carlos Castaneda is thought of by some as the grandfather of spirituality, by some as a teacher and guru, and by others as a fraudulent cult leader. It’s widely believed that his works are to a certain extent fictionalized, yet he always insisted that his books written from his real experiences, making Carlos Castaneda a man of great debate.
How do our pre-conceived notions of Carlos Castaneda impact our willingness to learn from his writings and to accept his teachings as truth? If his works are fact, are his teachings true? If his works are fiction, are his teachings false? If one doesn’t believe in spirituality or alternate realities, is there anything of value in Carlos Castaneda’s writing?
