Carlos Castaneda's "Instruction in Self-Discovery: An Example"

[shanmonster]

Carlos Castaneda's "Instruction in Self-Discovery: An Example" (from Jacob Needleman's Religion for a New Generation) reads like a cross between Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and any master/apprentice story. Taken at face value, it's the simple tale of a neonate magus desperate for knowledge. Castaneda is eager to work with the sorcerer don Juan, but at the same time, frustrated by the seemingly impossible and pointless tasks he is given.

He finds further confusion after going on a peyote bender. He is told he has actually parleyed with Mescalito, and that Mescalito has, in an unprecedented event, played with him.

As with most stories, "Instruction in Self-Discovery" exists on multiple levels. At face value, it's a pretty pointless tale, albeit comical in a trainwrecky sort of way when it comes to the rolling around on the floor and the piss fight between Castaneda and the dog.

But the title of the piece makes it apparent the story cannot be taken at face value. There's more to it. After all, on a cursory reading, Castaneda doesn't appear to have achieved any sort of self-discovery, unless it's in the simple fact that he is strongly affected by peyote. The tale must therefore be an allegory.

Don Juan tells Castaneda to find a spot where he can feel "happy and strong" (Castaneda 487). Even if don Juan is apocryphal, it does not change the subtext of the story. It's the journey which is important in this tale--not the existence of a master. The "spot" Castaneda must find may be less of a physical place on a porch floor than a place within Castaneda's own mind where he is at his best. It can be described as the centre of his true nature and demeanor.

Colour is also important in the story. Castaneda sees aura-like colours while searching for his spot. Whether or not these colours are literal or figurative is indeterminable. I'm sure an analysis of colours in relation to the writings of Castaneda exists, but the information within the scope of this story is insufficient for me to make any informed conjectures.

I also note the recurrence of urine in Castaneda's story. When he writes of don Juan's two trips to the chaparral, I was at first compelled to shrug it off as descriptive writing: colourful, but essentially meaningless. However, since the end of the story is also marked by a similar event, it appears the act of urination is symbolic. A toilet is also mentioned halfway through the story, but Castaneda doesn't say if he used it or not. Perhaps the exchange of urine between Castaneda and the dog as Mescalito implies something similar to blood brotherhood. Castaneda will always have something of the peyote in his psyche, and Mescalito will always have something of Castanedo in his. They have melded together into one reeking, surreal entity.

Liquid in general is an important part of the story. Whether it's piss, vomit, water, saliva, or tequila, it seems vital. Perhaps it symbolizes the fluid nature of existence. When the canine embodiment of Mescalito drinks water, it passes through the dog throat, into his body, and shoots out through each hair. Soon after, Castaneda believes he is passing through a tunnel. Maybe this means he is part of the water, and as the peyote goes through his system, he in turn is passing through Mescalito's.

The final paragraph of the story is one of the only parts which I believe can be taken at face value. According to don Juan, "...fears are natural; ... all of us experience them and there is nothing we can do about it. But on the other hand, no matter how frightening learning is, it is more terrible to think of a man without an ally, or without knowledge."

It is therefore a person's responsibility to him or herself to gain knowledge and comprehension.

Comments

Mescalito

[saoilsinn.livejournal.com]

Hello. curtana has recommended you to me. She has exquisite taste -- I have friended you. It seems to bode well since the first thing I read here was about Casteneda.

I binged over his writings a decade ago. I enjoy the warrior type teachings. The collection of his books sits proudly in the (cough cough) 'mystical' section of my bookcases.

I look forward to reading your posts, but not in a "melded together into one reeking, surreal entity" way. At least, not yet ;)

Re: Mescalito

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Welcome! Reviews of Castaneda's writing aren't my typical fare, but I'm having fun with a wide variety of topics in my religious studies class.