Castaneda crashed his rationalism, his western culture and his anthropology against what for him was incredible and frightening knowledge of an enigmatic Indian elder.
The "power" had selected Castaneda and Don Juan prepared a trick to "hook" him as an apprentice. This task requires an impeccable imagination effort from the witch. According to tradition, the apprentice should be attracted either by drastic means or by awakening his curiosity or interest. In his case, Castaneda had to do an anthropological investigation and Don Juan appeared before his eyes as an excellent informant. Thus during separate visits or during summers, in the course of little more than four years, the researcher turned into an apprentice was impeccably driven, despite its rational resistance, apparently unbreakable, towards the intricate paths of another reality.
The literary wealth of this book, that managed to arouse the interest and fantasy of many, contrasts with the little deep knowledge that Castaneda adds to the book. By no means this is meant to diminish the intrinsic value and the enormous effort of Castaneda to try to understand the new reality presented before his shocked reason.
During this time Don Juan spoke to him and showed him many things and Castaneda began his path to knowledge; but, as already noted, the apprentice receives instruction in two areas, the tonal (right) and the nagual (left). Due to the low energy that Castaneda had at that time, the teachings of the left side were simply stored and, to understand the teachings of the right side, Castaneda did not yet have enough flexibility.
Of this book we will say that Castaneda reflects the concern of Don Juan in trying to make the author responsible for the path he begins to walk and that can lead him to become a man of knowledge. To the Castaneda question regarding what he should do to become man of knowledge, Don Juan replies that he must challenge and defeat his "four natural enemies".
Don Juan says that knowledge is never what we would expect. At each step the apprentice is caught in a quagmire, and his fear grows without mercy... Thus stumbles with its first natural enemy: fear!, which we must challenge before the next step, and the next and all subsequent. He will be full of fear and, however, must not stop. Then the time will come when his first enemy withdraws. Men begins to feel self-assured. His purpose becomes stronger and the learning task ceases to be terrifying. At that time men has beaten his first natural enemy... has acquired the clarity of mind which eliminates fear. This is his second natural enemy, clarity! The clarity of mind may blind him because it forces him to have no doubts about himself. This security encourages him to do whatever he wants, because he sees everything clearly. But clarity is a "power" illusion to which he can surrender; if he does, he will have succumbed to his second natural enemy and may not learn, due to his clumsiness. To avoid this he should challenge his clarity and wait patiently and cautiously before proceeding further; must think that his clarity can be an error. Then comes the moment when he can understand that his clarity is only "a point in front of his nose".
He will have thus defeated his second enemy. He will have reached a point where nothing can harm him. The desired power will be his at last. He may do anything he wishes with his power. He can dominate his ally and his wishes will be the rule. He will then encounters his third natural enemy: power! At this stage man can barely notice that his
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