Feeling important makes one heavy, clumsy and vain. To be a warrior one needs to be light and fluid.
Carlos CastanedaRead
The internal dialogue is what grounds people in the daily world. The world is such and such or so and so, only because we talk to ourselves about its being such and such and so and so. The passageway into the world of shamans opens up after the warrior has learned to shut off his internal dialogue
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our thoughts shape our perception of reality, influencing how we engage with the world around us.
This quote suggests that the way we communicate with ourselves internally defines our understanding and interaction with the world. By controlling our internal dialogue, we can achieve a deeper connection to reality and perhaps even tap into a more profound spiritual existence, akin to the wisdom of shamans, who learn to transcend ordinary perception.
Themes
Internal DialoguePerceptionRealityShamanismMindfulness
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a meditation workshop to emphasize the importance of controlling one's thoughts.
More from Carlos Castaneda
All quotes →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.
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It doesn't matter what one reveals or what one keeps to oneself. Everything we do, everything we are, rests on our personal power. If we don't have enough personal power the most magnificent piece of wisdom can be revealed to us and it won't make a damn bit of difference.
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Beware of those who weep with realization, for they have realized nothing.
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All paths lead nowhere, so it is important to choose a path that has heart.
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All paths are the same: they lead nowhere. However, a path without a heart is never enjoyable. On the other hand, a path with heart is easy - it does not make a warrior work at liking it; it makes for a joyful journey; as long as a man follows it, he is one with it.
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