Carlos Castañeda, 72, an American author with a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California at Los Angeles and an influential Mexican-born philosopher, died April 27, 1998. Castañeda was born Dec. 25, 1925, in Cajamarca, Peru and grew up in the Mexican state of Sonora. He was the author of “The Teachings of Don Juan: The Yaqui Way of Knowledge” and “The Eagle's Gift” among other books. The depth of his work touched the lives of many people around the world and his ideas on the spiritual life transcended traditional cultural boundaries. Castañeda's novels and works in the field of anthropology have become essential reading in cultural studies. His life and his works propagated awareness and appreciation of ancient and spiritual knowledge and revealed a deep, metaphysical understanding of the world. Castañeda's life's work left a legacy of knowledge and appreciation of spiritual traditions from around the world. He is remembered with admiration and respect by those whose lives were enriched by his work.