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The Fifth Agreement
A few words with Don Miguel Ruiz and Don Jose Ruiz
 
by Michael Abedin
 
Few cultures have rivaled the Maya and the Aztec as spiritual warriors, philosophers, builders, seers, astronomers, dimensional travelers.  Before them were the Toltec, a mysterious people who seeded a culture and seemed to disappear into time, leaving everyone still trying to figure out who they were.
Almost everyone.  “The Toltec were artists,” says don Miguel Ruiz – masters of esoteric knowledge that’s been hidden since the time of the conquistadors.  He shared some of that knowledge in The Four Agreements, and put The Fifth Agreement into words with his son and lifelong apprentice, don Jose.
Putting it into words is ironic, because the Fifth Agreement isn’t about words at all.  It’s about learning to see beyond the symbols that words can create, so you can see reality.  After learning the Four Agreements – be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions, always do your best – the next step is one that people weren’t ready for until now, don Miguel says.
Be skeptical, but learn to listen.
Skeptical.  Can that be right?
There you go.  See how it works?  If you believe everything you hear, every symbol created by the power of words, you’re caught up in a world of images, dreaming your way through life as victim, warrior, master, until you finally become a seer – in the purest sense.  When you can see the images created by words, you can learn to listen to the truth behind them. 
You can, of course, also see the lies.
 
The messengers.
True to his word, in a way, don Miguel Ruiz doesn’t speak much in an interview.  Don Jose is his voice.  His very presence speaks the truth, is how his father explains it in their new book, which is written from a single voice – I, instead of we.
It’s true – and truth. You could sit and discuss the weather with don Jose Ruiz and come away inspired.   His words are powerful and straight from the heart, but it’s his presence that radiates the truth in the old saying that knowledge is caught instead of taught.
            The world is sick, he says, addicted to suffering and lies, but it’s also full of messengers. “Learn to listen from the heart, to know right from wrong.  If you pray, the angel will listen.”  How we treat ourselves is how we treat God, he explains, so if we go against ourselves, if we don’t listen – well, draw your own conclusions on that one.
            Will the Maya come to save us in 2012?  Don Jose smiles.  “The jungle is the Maya,” he says – the Earth holds the knowledge we need.   “We cannot run away from where we live.”  Our mother is telling us to take action, and the Eagle Knights of the Toltec lineage are some of its messengers.
             The real question, he explains, is what kind of message are you? “This is the Spirit of the Fifth Agreement – respect the messenger inside you.”
 
The Fifth Agreement is available at bookstores and Amazon.com 
www.miguelruiz.com