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Toltec Wisdom for the Planet

Mar 26, 2012 ● By Linda Sechrist

In the tradition of the Toltec, don Miguel Ruiz, a nagual (shaman), guides individuals to personal freedom. After exploring the human mind from a Toltec and scientific perspective, Ruiz combined ancient wisdom with modern insights and created a new message for all mankind, based in truth and common sense. He has dedicated his life to sharing this simple message through his books including, The Four Agreements and The Fifth Agreement, which offer practical concepts that promote transformation.

Ruiz’s message contains the wisdom of the Toltec who were scientists and artists that formed a society to explore and conserve the spiritual knowledge and practices of the ancient ones. Ruiz believes that following their teachings can lead us to see ourselves as artists and everything around us as art. When we shift our attention and focus to only seeing the beauty around us, we will see the world through the eyes and spirit of an artist, and then create a masterpiece of art in everything we do.

What art are we to create, and how can it help the planet?

The most important piece of art we create is the story of ourselves. This story is only a dream we are dreaming while our brain is awake. Humans are dreaming all the time. Before we were born in a physical body, a whole society of storytellers was here with an ongoing story. Those who came before us created the dysfunctional dream of the planet, which is an illusion that is not harmonious with sustaining our planet or civilization. What keeps us from seeing the dream is a belief system based on lies, which has been transferred via language from one person to another throughout generations.

How can mastering our dream affect the world we live in?

It is important for everyone to master their own dream. This is why the Toltec became dream masters. Your life is the manifestation of your dream; it is an art. And you can change your life anytime if you aren’t enjoying the dream. Dream masters create a masterpiece of life; they control the dream by making choices. Everything has consequences, and a dream master is aware of the consequences. To be Toltec is a way of life where there are no leaders and no followers; where you have your own truth and live your own truth.

What are the masteries that lead to becoming Toltec?

There are three masteries that lead people to become Toltec. First is the Mastery of Awareness—to be aware of who we really are, with all the possibilities. The second is the Mastery of Transformation—how to change, how to be free of domestication. The third is Mastery of Intent—that part of life that makes transformation of energy possible. From the Toltec point of view, it is the one living being that seamlessly encompasses all energy, or what we call “God.” Intent is life itself; it is unconditional love. The Mastery of Intent is therefore the Mastery of Love.

How can we use the Five Agreements to change the world?

You don’t need to change the world; you need to change yourself. And you have to do it in your own way, because only you have the possibility of knowing yourself. It’s obvious that you cannot change the world, at least not yet, because the world is not prepared for the truth. You can only change yourself, but that is a big step. By returning to the truth, you take a big step for everybody else.

Forget everything you have learned in your whole life. This is the beginning of a new understanding, a new dream. The dream you are living is your creation. You have the power to create hell and you have the power to create heaven. Why not dream a different dream? Why not use your mind, your imagination and your emotions to dream heaven?

Just use your imagination and a tremendous thing will happen. Imagine that you have the ability to see the world with different eyes whenever you choose. Each time you open your eyes, you see the world around you in a different way.

What is the essence of the Fifth Agreement?

The Fifth Agreement is ultimately about seeing your whole reality with the eyes of truth, without words. The result of practicing the Fifth Agreement is the complete acceptance of yourself just the way you are, and the complete acceptance of everybody else, the way they are. The reward for this is your eternal happiness.


Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

don Miguel Ruiz and his son, Jose, will present the keynote lecture at this year’s Celebrate Your Life conference in Chicago on June 8 to11.  For more information, call Mishka Productions at 877-300-7352 or visit CelebrateYourLife.org.