¿tiene corazón este camino?

Cualquier cosa es un camino entre cantidades de caminos. Por eso debes tener siempre presente que un camino es sólo un camino; si sientes que no deberías seguirlo, no debes seguir en él bajo ninguna condición. Para tener esa claridad debes llevar una vida disciplinada. Luego hazte a ti mismo, y a ti solo, una pregunta: ¿Tiene corazón este camino? Todos los caminos son lo mismo: no llevan a ninguna parte. Son caminos que van por el matorral. Puedo decir que en mi propia vida he recorrido caminos largos, largos, pero no estoy en ninguna parte. Ahora tiene sentido la pregunta de mi benefactor: ¿Tiene corazón este camino? Si tiene, el camino es bueno; si no, de nada sirve. Ningún camino lleva a ninguna parte, pero uno tiene corazón y el otro no. Uno hace gozozo el viaje: mientras lo sigas, eres uno con él. El otro te hará maldecir tu vida. uno te hace fuerte, el otro te debilita.

Don Juan Matus

Las Enseñazas de Juan (1968)

Carlos Castaneda

Anything is one of a million paths. Therefore you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path; if you feel you should not follow it, you must not stay with it under any conditions. To have such clarity you must lead a disciplined life. Only then will you know that any path is only a path and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do. But your decision to keep on the path or to leave it must be free of fear or ambition. I warn you. Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary.

This question is one that only a very old man asks. Does this path have a heart? All paths are the same: they lead nowhere. They are paths going through the bush, or into the bush. In my own life I could say I have traversed long long paths, but I am not anywhere. Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn’t, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn’t. One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it, you are one with it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you.

Don Juan Matus

The teachings of Don Juan 

Carlos Castaneda (1968)