C. Castaneda "The Teachings of Don Juan"

It is surprising and tragic at the same time that many sincere and aspiring Seekers can be lured by interesting but useless ideas. Such people will devote all their ardor, all their zeal to following the exciting but useless Path to Nowhere.

There is a saying: “If the path leads nowhere, then this path is to nowhere.”

What does "the path to nowhere" mean?

The path to nowhere is the path to the flat goals of a flat world. The surrounding world acquires volume, and a person acquires the ability to soar above the world, then and only when a person is guided by his Spirit.

Of course, each of us has a number of everyday goals: buying something, traveling anywhere, and other things that the Gods mock. And all these goals are worthy of the attention of the everyday person, the everyday person.

But magicians perceive the world not through the eyes of everyday life, but through the eyes of the Spirit. It is the Spirit that is the source of Strength in human life. If an individual has become detached from the Spirit and is not looking for a connection with it, then such a person loses the Force.

Behind any “earthly” goal there must be a goal from the Spirit. Any “earthly” goal should be only a step on the Path to the abstract goal of the Spirit. This goal does not belong to the Earth, but belongs to the eternal Essence of man. Anyone is able to soar on wings when one's goal is among the stars, and not among the dust of the earth on the side of the road, where time throws it.

What is the point of striving for anything and knowing anything if it does not lead to the restoration of connection with the Spirit? The benefit for a person is to step on the Path to the Spirit and to be in the Spirit. Everything that is apart from and without the Spirit is useless.

That is what Don Juan talks about to Castaneda.