The Fifth Agreement by don Miguel Ruiz & don Jose Ruiz: Be Skeptical, But Learn to Listen
By Meghan McChesney Gilroy
- Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
When I first heard The Fifth Agreement: Be Skeptical, But Learn to Listen, my reaction was, “Really? That’s The Fifth Agreement?” I felt skeptical, but willing to listen.
What I will now share with you is my interpretation of don Miguel Ruiz’s interpretation of the truth – which is perhaps the main and underlying topic of the entire book of Toltec Wisdom.
Don Miguel states that life’s creation is the truth. Objects of our perception are the truth. Our interpretation of them is a reflection of the truth. A chair just is. The image of light that is reflected off the chair and perceived through our eyes and brain is a reflection of the chair, of the truth. We then make an interpretation, we use language to assign it a name “chair” and then we might also attach our opinions about the chair. It’s a beautiful or ugly chair, a big or small chair.
Of course in the example of the chair, this may have minimal impact on our lives. Yet when we multiply our interpretations across every object and concept, when we apply interpretations of right, wrong, good, or bad to ourselves, to others, to religions, to nations, you can imagine the amount of distortion that we humans create. Especially if we believe that the way we see the chair (or ourselves or others) is the right way, the only way, or the same way as everyone else.
So that brings us to Be skeptical. We can use the power of doubt to learn to look beyond the way our mind, our program, or our domestication has instructed us to interpret the world. We no longer need to believe that our thoughts and stories are true. When we judge ourselves, when we criticize the way we look, when we feel we fall short of the way we “should” be, we can choose not to believe our interpretations.
Instead we can turn inward to our authentic hearts. We can challenge ourselves to see beyond our mind and its ability to name and categorize everything to the essence of ourselves. We can learn to connect to the force of Life itself and perceive our connection to it and to all living creatures. Can you imagine the freedom that can bring?
Which brings us to Learn to Listen. As we learn to see our intrepretation of life as a virtual reality, a reflection of the truth, we can learn to listen, to hunt for the meaning behind the words. Is it true what we hear within our heads? Is it true what others say about us? We can learn to listen to what is true for ourselves, to listen to our hearts. When we understand that each of us are using symbols – language – to express ourselves. We can be skeptical of the words but willing to listen. We might just connect to ourselves and to each other in a way transcends the words. Can you imagine the possibilities?
Each of us is an artist. How do we want to express our perceptions? How do we want to interpret our experiences in life? We can choose to express ourselves in ways that make us sad and bring suffering, or we can choose to express ourselves in ways that make us happy and bring us pleasure. We are here to enjoy life. Why not make it a work of art?
Ultimately, our presence is the message. What message are you delivering? What message do you share with yourself and those around you? With awareness, you have the freedom to be the real you. You have the power to make your life hell or a work of heavenly art.
I have practiced being skeptical and listening for many years now. Each day when I awake, I do my best to create a living work of art. I turn inward daily to connect to my heart, my true nature, my connection to all of Life. I am so grateful for don Miguel, who opened my eyes to the truth, and who has the courage and eloquence to craft into words an energy and experience that is truly indescribable. He is a true artist and an inspiration. I invite you to join him, to join me, in the journey of letting go of your interpretations and experiencing pure perception, of finding ways to express your interpretation authentically.
Don Miguel closes The Fifth Agreement by asking us to help change the world. Each of us lives within our own world, within the perceptions and interpretations within our minds, within our own unique physical body. When we take responsibility for living our life as a great work of art, with great joy and happiness, we can change the greater world as our happiness, peace and joy radiate out from us. Won’t you join us?
Buy The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery
… For those of you who have not had the pleasure (or need a refresher) of the first Four Agreements, here they are, which a little glimpse of don Miguel’s new twist in The Fifth Agreement:
- Be Impeccable with Your Word: The Story of You
- Don’t Take Anything Personally: Every Mind if a World
- Don’t Make Assumptions: Truth or Fiction
- Always Do Your Best: Practice Makes the Master
From the book The Fifth Agreement © 2010, don Miguel Ruiz, Don Jose Ruiz, Janet Mills. Reprinted by permission of Amber-Allen Publishing, Inc. P.O. Box 6657, San Rafael, CA 94903. All rights reserved.
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