CARLOS CASTANEDA SPEAKS ABOUT HIS ENCOUNTER WITH A DISCIPLE OF GURDJIEFF

In a 1982 interview, Carlos Castaneda recounted an encounter he had with a disciple of the Armenian mystic George Gurdjieff, and the interviewer Graciela Corvalan wrote the following about this event:

« A few years after his encounter with a guru, Castaneda had a similar experience with one of Gurdjieff's disciples.

Castaneda met him in Los Angeles at the request of a friend.

And it seems that this gentleman had imitated Gurdjieff in everything.

"He had shaved his head and had enormous mustaches," Castaneda commented, indicating their size with his hands.

"As soon as we entered, he grabbed me forcefully by the neck and gave me some tremendous blows.

Immediately afterwards he told me that I should leave the teacher I had because, according to him, I was wasting my time.

According to this gentleman, in eight or nine classes he was going to teach me everything I needed to know.

Can you imagine? He was going to teach me everything in just a few classes!!"

Castaneda also told us that this Gurdjieff's disciple had mentioned the use of drugs to accelerate the learning process.

The interview didn't last long. It seems Castaneda's friend quickly realized the absurdity of the situation and the magnitude of his mistake. This friend had insisted that Castaneda visit this Gurdjieff's disciple because he was convinced that Castaneda needed a more serious teacher than Don Juan.

When the interview ended, Castaneda told us that his friend felt deeply ashamed. »

(Mutantia)

OBSERVATIONS

I don't know if this story is true or if it was invented by Carlos Castaneda.

Gurdjieff did not encourage the use of drugs for spiritual development, and in fact h considered them an obstacle that generated imagination and false identification. Although there were accounts of substance use with select groups, he maintained that true inner work should be done without external aids.

But it's also true that several of his disciples did decide to experiment with drugs. However, I find it very hypocritical that Castaneda was scandalized by this, since he encouraged many people to experiment with hallucinogenic plants, particularly peyote.