I’m a big fan or charting my own course, all while letting go, and questioning things. I believe truth is in the eye of the beholder and no one is really an absolute expert in anything. Life is ever changing and being a student of life is half the fun.
The truth, in my mind, is a subjective wee thing. It’s only true if a person deems it be so.
With that thought in mind, I want to share news on the release of a new book by author and renowned spiritual teacher don Miguel Ruiz. He has collaborated with his son, don Jose Ruiz, on the sequel to The Four Agreements.
The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self Mastery expands on his last book with fresh insights and a powerful new agreement: Be skeptical, but learn to listen (for the five agreements, see below).
The fifth agreement uses doubt as a tool to discern the truth. Doubt takes us behind the words we hear to the underlying real message or intent. By being skeptical, we don’t believe every message we hear, and when we don’t put our faith in lies, we quickly move beyond emotional drama and the feeling of victimization, the book says.
According to the Ruizes, The Fifth Agreement prepares us to “return to our innate wisdom, and live our lives based on truth”. The truth leads to self-mastery, to a life that’s very easy; believing in lies leads to needless conflict and human suffering.
“Many years ago, I began to teach the fifth agreement, but then I discovered that no one was ready to learn the advanced Toltec teachings that underlie this agreement. The Four Agreements were enough of a challenge at the time,” don Miguel Ruiz says.
“The fifth agreement is ultimately about seeing our whole reality through the eyes of truth. The result of practicing this agreement is the complete acceptance of ourselves just the way we are, and the complete acceptance of everybody else just the way they are. The reward is our eternal happiness,” says don Jose Ruiz.
Without further adieu, here is a snapshot of the Five Agreements:
BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
BE SKEPTICAL, BUT LEARN TO LISTEN
Don’t believe yourself or anybody else. Use the power of doubt to question everything you hear: Is it really the truth? Listen to the intent behind the words, and you will understand the real message.
The Fifth Agreement is available at bookstores everywhere. For more information check out miguelruiz.com.
