Page:Para leer a Carlos Castaneda.djvu/29

 -“You see, one of the warrior arts is breaking down the world for a specific reason and then restore it to continue living... "I have taught you almost everything a warrior needs to know to go to the world and gather power by himself. But I know you cannot do it and I have to be patient with you. I know that it is needed to fight a lifetime to be alone in the world of ''power..." A warrior never turns his back to power without paying for'' favors received.” C.C.

THE LAST STOP OF A WARRIOR

A warrior, first and foremost and above all things, is a human being. A humble man conscious of his limitations, but also of his potential; he knows that he must take advantage of the wonderful opportunity to be alive and knows that his life can end at any time.

A warrior knows what he wants from life and uses the world to achieve it. He knows that it is a difficult and almost impossible road. But there is nothing in the everyday world that satisfies his spirit. The warrior tries "using" the everyday world with tenderness and subtlety; he does not get dirty or clings to people, feelings, ideas or objects. He is very ambitious, covets the almost impossible, and is not willing to settle or fool himself with anything. He knows he has very few opportunities and, above all, very little time. He tirelessly prepares through an iron discipline; strengthens his body and refines his spirit; his battlefield is the world and everyday life. The vortex of centrifugal forces that draw us to the image of ourselves and the idea we have of the world and of life require a huge energy consumption.

Don Juan tells Castaneda that each warrior chooses a site in the world where to perform his "last power dance". This site is the place of his preference. There death will sit down to watch him, and in this dance the warrior shall express his lifetime of struggle and his feelings over all the battles of his life. He will talk of his joys and uncertainties while in pursuit of power. "—A warrior is nothing but a man. A humble man. He cannot change his death designs. But his impeccable spirit which has gathered power after huge penalties, can certainly stop his death for a moment, a moment long enough to allow him to rejoice for the last time in the memory of his power. We can say that this is a gesture death has with those who have an impeccable spirit." C.C.

THE POWER WALK

Don Juan tells Castaneda that he thinks that he will understand all by asking questions (and we would add that neither by reading Castaneda). Power does not belong to anyone, nor this is the only and true path. Don Juan tells Castaneda that there are many different paths to knowledge, even in his same lineage; for example, there are witches who come to knowledge in different ways, some dancing, others healing, others without doing anything.

"Power" is the knowledge, and "personal power" is the sum of knowledge the apprentice has managed to obtain. In this part of Castaneda teachings, Don Juan is gradually leading him to "understand" what cannot be understood. The Don Juan teachings are rather experiential and spiritual than rational. Don Juan argues that men, in addition to reason, has other elements to perceive knowledge.

Later in the book will be called "the silent knowledge". These