This excerpt is from the middle of Chapter 2 of The Fire from Within, by Carlos Castaneda, narrated by Luis Moreno. This part of the book is the end of a conversation discussing the concept of Petty Tyrants and Don Juan subsequent encounter with what he called a “King Sized” Petty Tyrant.
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Considering what's going on in the world in 2026-2026, it's blatantly patent that as a species we have a supply of very prominent and global "king sized" petty tyrants (without naming names or sliding into politics).
And a cadre of small fry's, emboldened by the more connected ones.
As people are feeling the call to bring out the best of themselves and stand against the escalations these petty tyrants have brought about in their communities, it's tempting to think that that is the purpose of a petty tyrant. To identify what, for each of us, crosses the line and what demands a response.
But as far as sorcery goes, it isn't.
It's about whether or not you can do whatever you choose to do as a response to the petty tyrant, without an internal dialogue about it. Without a ruminating echo in your head.
Because if you can do that in the worst of circumstances, then being dead silent outside of those circumstance become a snap!
What you chose to do, or not do, was not the important part. From a sorcery perspective.
I don’t get the last paragraph. Help pls!
The universe isn't committed to any single outcome, other than the continuation of awareness. It's not political, doesn't play favorites, and isn't moral.
Or even nice 😬.
This does not* mean we that shouldn't attempt to push things in a direction that bends towards justice, since the universe directly responds to zeal and effort.
But we should always be aware that the subject of that zeal is not the universes prerogative.
It wants to explore possibility and see what happens.
Your first paragraph touches the question of faith and destiny. This particular subject was mentioned in numerous instances in the series. However, no definitive and reliable conclusion can be made due to the opposing viewpoints in almost each of those parts where these are mentioned. I can cite some, but I am sure you could name more of them than I can.
It seems quite obvious that it responds to zeal and continued effort. However, if I try to challenge these principles, I can easily think of a few things that would prove otherwise. Stock traders, sports bettors or lottery enthusiasts - all of them are hooked to their hobby (read vice) and this activity of theirs rarely happens to disappoint them regardless of their prolonged, not to say addictive, efforts. The final result is definitely negative for 99% of those blokes. On the other hand, you have a guy who never bought a lottery ticket, buys one only and gets the main prize. There are countless examples of first time strikers.
Furthermore, everyone has heard of various artists in struggle. Musicians, painters and actors are all known for their hard work and tough life prior to success. However, most of these people never make it despite their enormous enthusiasm, fervor and zeal. It doesn’t even seem to correlate with talent. Just look at all the popular “artists” today - it’s sad.
Now, if all of this has something to do with personal power, I don’t know. It could be. One thing I know for sure is that karma doesn’t exist. That whole boomerang philosophy is just off. I personally know people who tread over others and live great lives (according to modern social and material standards). And these are old enough that they can’t even repay their debts if they ever needed to.
Success and luck are human determinations.
From the perspective of the universe at large, the beggar on the street is as much a "success" as the wall street bro, simply by existing.
Being aware.
Now, the quality of that awareness does seem to be something that the universe has a stake in, in that it does seem to take steps to increase that by deliberately playing around and "punching holes in things."
I am quite disappointed that you didn’t comment on the subject of destiny.
Anyway, it shouldn’t mean much to a warrior because he only has to do his best and that’s about all there is to it. Just being impeccable is sufficient, although it wouldn’t hurt to know if there are some tasks or quests that one is to complete during the lifetime.
Could you be so kind and name some awareness classes? Obviously, we are talking about humans. It seems as if you are saying that some people have the basic awareness (that goes only up to the toes), while other have an advanced awareness. How does one achieve those heightened states? Is it possible for someone that doesn’t know of the work?
One thing that confuses me about petty tyrants or about silence in general is feelings and emotions they boost the need for internal dialogue to justify why things are such and so and ive been catching myself recently dozing off and indulging even tho i grew up with a god sized petty tyrant of a step-mom which means ive had more than 10 years of practice, i still find it very hard to be utterly detached from thinking of things and sparking that bitch of internal dialogue. The thing that i wonder about is wether i should be embracing those emotions with no dialogue or try cutting all of them not even paying attention to how i feel. Are these emotions also a hinderance ??
For reference, don Juan after defeating his petty tyrant, was still subject to his fear of the inorganic being which his benefactpr used to scare him. He overcame his fear of it and saw it for what i "really" was, an energetic configuration. Also, he seemed to get stuck with ( seeing) that. His urge to go (up North?) and be with a woman then ce to him, which he did. But his " average man's" destiny would have to let him g. He had to " die", so to speak.
I know what it's like to have such a stepmom. Those feelings have to be recapped. She could unkowingly or unwillingly be providing you with a bridge . I don't think it would be good to just try "cutting all of them". Their like weeds, they'll grow back. I'd sooner go for " embracing". Stalk the stalkers!
It's not really going to work until you can move your assemblage point, or until you've had it moved by the Nagual's blow.
That's the actual situation in the books, when don Juan explains this.
Carlos had ALREADY learned amazing levels of sorcery knowledge. And seen absolute wonders over and over.
He just couldn't access them. Couldn't even remember them.
If you try to pretend you can deal with petty tyrants before you've actually gotten to where Carlos was, when this was explained to him, you'll only be pretending.
You'll turn into something similar to a bible carrying weird guy on an ego trip.
The Christian equivalent of "Annoying Yoga Man".
Or like a Buddhist "Master" pretending to be enlightened around his followers, and meanwhile raping nuns in private.
I studied with a famous Zen master who did that, back in the very early 70s. Joshu Sasaki. He claimed to have invented "mindfulness".
Anytime you pretend to be superior to others, which includes being "more tolerant", or "calmer", or even wiser, you're screwed big time.
UNLESS you can actually move your assemblage point.
In that case, you can see how easy it is to move it daily, and figure out what messes that up.
THEN is when a petty tyrant is useful.
Because you can see precisely how to deal with them, in such a manner that it benefits your sorcery practices.
And you'll see when you screwed up, and they're harmed.
If a new person thinks this is blasphemy, keep in mind that since that book came out, not a single person managed to learn any sorcery at all.
Not one.
We only have what we have now because Carlos died, and left instructions with his 2 allies.
They're responsible for what's in this place.
Dealing with petty tyrants is not.