A Guide to Good Living.
Many years ago, don Miguel Ruiz gave us a wonderful book (The Four Agreements) that told us about 4 agreements we could make with ourselves to lead a happy and authentic life. Now, with his son don Jose Ruiz, he has written another book that brings us a fifth agreement that can lead us to the truth.
There are many ways of looking at life and coming to the same essential truth that underlies all life. This is one way to express – and accept – that truth.
One really needs to read the book – called, simply, The Fifth Agreement – to understand this agreement, and also to go over the first four agreements again. But here, in a nutshell, are the five agreements that we are asked to make with ourselves. If we do, life becomes beautiful – and quite simple because in every moment we only need to consult our agreements and act accordingly.
The 5 agreements, based on Toltec wisdom, as enumerated by don Miguel Ruiz and don Jose Ruiz:
1. Be impeccable with your word. This one is about integrity and using the power of speech for good.
2. Don't take anything personally. The way people behave with you says more about them than it does about you. Don't take on other people's opinions of you as your own opinion of yourself (or of anyone or anything else). Judge for yourself.
3. Don't make assumptions. Find out how things really are – don't jump to conclusions.
4. Always do your best. Do the best you are capable of at any given moment and then move on – don't stop to judge yourself since you have already done your best.
1. Be impeccable with your word. This one is about integrity and using the power of speech for good.
2. Don't take anything personally. The way people behave with you says more about them than it does about you. Don't take on other people's opinions of you as your own opinion of yourself (or of anyone or anything else). Judge for yourself.
3. Don't make assumptions. Find out how things really are – don't jump to conclusions.
4. Always do your best. Do the best you are capable of at any given moment and then move on – don't stop to judge yourself since you have already done your best.
5. Be skeptical, but learn to listen. Don't believe in lies, don't put your faith in things that you don't know to be true, whether these are things told to you by others or things you've somehow come to believe yourself. Doubt everything so that you check it out to find out for yourself whether or not it's true. At the same time, learn to listen – go beyond the words to understand the intention and the true meaning of the words.
These explanations are mine, based on what I remember and understand of the books. But, hey, be skeptical! Check it out for yourself! Read more on don Miguel's website.
Living a good life is about appreciating the simple pleasures of life, being self-sufficient, and concentrating on your passions.You are a unique person connected to a global universal consciousness. You have great powers inside yourself whether you are acknowledging and using them or not.
ReplyDelete