Don Miguel Ruiz, bestselling author of The Four Agreements, talks about truth and lies in this abridged excerpt from his latest book, The Voice of Knowledge.
I was born into an ancient wisdom tradition known as Toltec. My grandfather was an old nagual (shaman), and I worked hard all my youth to earn his respect.
As a teenager, I wanted to impress him with my opinions about everything I was learning in school. I told him my point of view about all the injustice in the world, about the violence and the conflict between good and evil. Grandfather listened patiently, which encouraged me to speak even more. Then I noticed a little smile on his face as he said, “Miguel, those are very good theories that you’ve learned, but everything you’ve told me is just a story. It doesn’t mean that it’s true.”
Of course I felt badly and tried to defend my point of view, but then grandfather started to talk. “Most people believe there’s a great conflict in the universe — a conflict between good and evil. Well, the conflict only exists in the human mind. It’s not true for the rest of nature. And the real conflict in our mind is between the truth and lies. Good and evil are the result of that conflict.
“Believing in the truth creates goodness, love, happiness. Believing in lies and defending those lies creates what you call evil. It creates all the injustice and violence, all the drama and suffering, not only in society, but also in the individual.”
Hmm. . . . what grandfather said was logical, but I didn’t believe him. How could all the conflict and suffering in the world be the result of something so simple? Surely it must be more complicated than that.
“Miguel, all the drama in your personal life is the result of believing in lies. And the first lie you believe is I’m not good enough, I’m not perfect. Everyone is born perfect and will die perfect because only perfection exists. But if you believe you aren’t good enough, thy will be done because that is the power and magic of your faith. With that lie you begin to search for an image of perfection that you can never become. You search for love, for justice, for everything you believe you don’t have, not knowing that everything you are searching for is already inside you. Humanity is the way it is because collectively we believe in lies that come from thousands of years ago. We react to those lies with anger and violence, but they’re only lies.”
I was wondering how to know the truth when grandfather said, “We can perceive truth with our feelings, but as soon as we try to describe it with words, we distort it, and it’s no longer truth. It’s our story.
Imagine that Pablo Picasso painted a portrait of you. You say, ‘I don’t look like that,’ and Picasso says, ‘Of course you do. This is how I see you.’ For Picasso, it’s true; he is expressing what he perceives. Well, everyone is an artist — a storyteller with a unique point of view. We use words to make a portrait of everything we witness. We make up stories, and just like Picasso we distort the truth; but for us, it is the truth. When we understand this, we no longer try to impose our story on others or defend what we believe. As artists, we respect the right of all artists to create their own art.”
In that moment, my grandfather gave me the opportunity to become aware of all the lies we believe. Every time we judge ourselves, find ourselves guilty, and punish ourselves, it’s because we believe in lies. Every time we have a conflict with our parents, our children, or our beloved, it’s because we believe in lies, and they believe in them, too.
How many lies do you hear in your head? Who is judging, who is talking, who is the one with all the opinions? If you don’t enjoy your life, it’s because the voice in your head won’t allow you to enjoy it. I call it the voice of knowledge because it’s telling you everything you know, and that knowledge is contaminated with lies.
Well, if you follow two rules, the lies won’t survive your skepticism and will simply disappear. First, listen to your story, but don’t believe yourself because now you know your story is mostly fiction. Second, listen to others tell their story, but don’t believe them. Truth survives our skepticism, but lies only survive if we believe them.
Just being aware of the lies that exist makes us aware that truth also exists. And by cleaning up the lies we believe about ourselves, the lies we believe about everybody else will change. Only the truth will lead us back to love, and this is a big step toward healing the human mind.
wow,that was great,I have to read your book,thanks for sharing,Peace and LOve my friend.
Don Migeul, Thank you so very much for all that you share with me. I have never heard of Toltec wisdom before coming to this site… but some of the teachings I have heard before. It is great to learn and to revisit. I have just purchased the four agreements book and the workbook along with your new book. I cannot wait for them to arrive and for your next teaching. This is exactly what I need at this time in my life. Bless you
GOOD EVENING!!!
WHAT A THRILL TO FIND THAT YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE Intent Community!!! Several years ago when I discovered and drawn to your book on the topic of the ancient Toltec Wisdom and "The Four Agreements" , or perhaps it found me, I really resaonated and connected with me. Many years later I still have the four agreements posted on my desk, refer to them regularly and they are my continuing aspirational guide posts, serving me very well in pursuit of greater virtue. I have also gifted many copies of this book to others and have seen it have a profound positive effect on the lives of others. THANK-YOU SO MUCH FOR OFFERING THIS PROFOUND AND IMPACTFULL WISDOM and OPPORTUNITY TO THE WORLD!! THANK-YOU, AMOUNST THE MOST UNDER-APPRECIATED WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, HOPING NOT SO IN THIS INSTANCE. CONTINUING TO ENJOY THE JOURNEY, WHEREVER AND WHENEVER IT TAKES YOU!!! CONTINUED BLESSINGS, PEACE AND LOVE!!!
Love it!
Fantastic ….. what a great way to start the day …. and live! Thank you.
Beautiful and enlightening as always.
Thank You!
Love
Adriana
Thank you Don for sharing your grandfather's wisdom. Love, char
Don Miguel,
Many years ago I had the pleasure of spending Thanksgiving with you and a group near Santa Fe. I lived on Michael and Ginny's land in an Airstream trailer when you were doing dream groups overnight in the unfinished house there. I was not part of your group, but had the pleasure of being influenced quietly while I wrote about 75 songs that are now on CD. You and I had a funny and meaningful exchange after Thanksgiving dinner. My experience with you has become part of my memoir, "School for Wonder", which is short stories of remarkable meetings and mystical teachings. I have had some fear about publishing this writing. Your post here reminds me that fearing judgement will only keep these writings from ever being shared. Can I send you the chapter that relates to you, and some others? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Jess
Thanks for sharing your story… but then again, it's just your story, and I don't believe you.
Just kidding! Great piece!
I have been fortunate enough to have read your book. This post is amazing. I really believe that words distort the truth and beauty. It can only be felt and we have always known it, it just gets overshadowed. Thanks for sharing such a great post.
I found this post tremendously insightful, thank you!
Namaste~
Don Miguel says~ "As artists, we respect the right of all artists to create their own art.
Thank you so much for your sharing! I have long believed when we question our belief systems, meditate to change them into Truth based on the present, we will grow spiritually…thus creating a Sacred World of peace, love, and understanding
Blessings,
Miguel,
I was first introduced to your work when Oprah chose it in "O" magazine as her book of the month. I was delighted and uplifted, to say the least. I have been a fan of 'nagualism" since the early 70's, when I discovered Carlos Castaneda and Don Juan. It was so comforting and exciting to read your words so many years later. Your style of writing and communicating is elegant, profound and common-sense simple all at the same time. Very user friendly. I have given copies of the Four Agreements to many of my friends and family, and I continue to recommend your books to others. I am a writer and astrologer and appreciate the cosmic essence of your work. Thank you so much for being here on Earth and sharing your knowledge with the world.
With great respect and appreciation,
cz***
Just ordered this book! Thank you for your heart and wisdom. I am eternally grateful for the heights your books have taken me to.