[DrakeWan]

I was just wondering if anyone has taken anything from anything else they've read and applied it to don juans teachings as well..

I haven't followed Christianity very closely. Although there was one book that I found particularly interesting a while back, and felt that much of it didn't go against the teachings of Don Juan. That book was "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas Kempis. I haven't read it in a while though, so I'm not sure what I'd think of it at this point.

But to answer your question, yes, all the time. The next closest thing I've come across that in my opinion seems very similar to the teachings of the Nagual is Taoism. I never grow tired of reading the Tao Te Ching.

I've been interested in many different religions and philosophies, and it seems to me that when you find the similarities between them all, you may be glimpsing "universal truths". Or at least that's the way I like to look at it.

Don Juan talks about inner silence leading to seeing. Inner silence is also practiced by Hindus, Budhists, Taoists, and many other religions for differing, but perhaps similar reasons.

I feel that the Toltec lineage which Don Juan and Carlos were part of refined knowledge and practice to such an extent that it has become an art that leads to the source of power and energy in a most direct way.

I do feel that filling oneself with knowledge of all sorts is good too though. Looking at things from different angles can be very fulfilling.

The imitation of christ is a good book...

One thing I would like to comment on, is... perhaps we just haven't studied the other 'ways' of knowledge properly... maybe we didn't 'see' them .. I've found that gnosticism... ( a lot of the Nag Hammadi Library) seems to go very indepth with it knowledge in a very condensed manner, only a truly enlightened person could 'see' what its saying, I've had certain insights but by no means understand its concepts fully... all those who reason it out seem to misunderstand certain portions of it... Taoism is very good.... I just think Don Juan didn't mention certain things because he knew we'd find out anyway... like observing the spirits voice in all things... even untruth. although all of these are just concepts and words discribing something undescribable.

For this reason, do not take error too seriously. Thus, since it had no root, it was in a fog as regards the Father, engaged in preparing works and forgetfulnesses and fears in order, by these means, to beguile those of the middle and to make them captive. The forgetfulness of error was not revealed. It did not become light beside the Father. Forgetfulness did not exist with the Father, although it existed because of him. What exists in him is knowledge, which was revealed so that forgetfulness might be destroyed and that they might know the Father, Since forgetfulness existed because they did not know the Father, if they then come to know the Father, from that moment on forgetfulness will cease to exist.

Could it be that they are describing seeing the human form??? for what it is.. and calling it the father? It seems to me to be explaining the forgetfulness of the true being inside of us.. the dreaming body/light body... People hear the word father and think they are talking about 'God' or something but not taking it for what it means... For example a better way of seeing the word could be:
3. any male ancestor, esp. the founder of a race, family, or line; progenitor.
or
a person who has originated or established something: the father of modern psychology; the founding fathers. or the form that originated or established something.