The Fifth Agreement

I'm on a number of mailing lists related to Toltec and recently received one entitled, “Don Miguel's Fifth Agreement.” I did a bit of research and found this interview in which he states:

“What I am giving you right now is the first half of the Toltec Mastery of Transformation, which is the destruction of an old dream or belief system.”

“The Fifth Agreement” is being quoted as, “Don't believe me, don't believe yourself, don't believe anyone else,” and is really a combination of three rules he gave his students. Ruiz says, “Open your ears and your mind, listen and make choices. If you follow these three simple rules, you can go anywhere in the world and still protect your new dream of love and heaven in your mind. You have to be aware of what it is that you believe. You have to listen to that voice and make choices.”

One of the basic premises of Toltec, as it was originally taught to me, is that the entire purpose of the Toltec knowledge is to learn to eliminate belief systems, including itself. That was a tough one for me to wrap my brain around for a long time. But, essentially it came down to this:  We are inundated from the moment we draw a breath (and some would say before that) to conform to a world of belief systems. Think about it … when we cry, we get attention (or don't, for some of us), there is(n't) a god, the world is round (but only until about 600 years ago when that concept was challenged) … and it goes on and on and on.

The only way to achieve Personal Freedom is to get beyond beliefs and their systems that tie us to the Consentual Reality, and have personal experiences that teach us what we KNOW.

This topic, in other forums, has led to some of the most stimulating (and sometimes frigthening) conversations. While contemplating your contribution here, I'd like us to remember a couple of things: Don't assume, don't take it personally and don't use someone else's words to describe your experience.

Please share with us your personal knowledge (not your belief) …

What did it take for you to realize that much of what you “know” a is simply an implanted belief? How much do you think you “know” about your world? about yourself?

Re: The Fifth Agreement

when I read your question, what came up for me was some words I read in a “Readers Write” column in The Sun (magazine) many years ago:

After fifty years of trial and error,
I now live by one rule alone:
listen for the small voice inside
and do whatever it tells me to do,
no matter how unsettling, improbable,
frightening, difficult, or seemingly crazy.

–Gretchen Newmark

Re: The Fifth Agreement

And how does that translate into your own words and experience?

Re: The Fifth Agreement

I check in with myself very regularly about whether things resonate and feel right to me – I give myself complete permission to say yes or no based on that check-in, not based on what others expect or think is appropriate – it’s a cellular knowing that has nothing to do with belief

if I check in and am not getting a clear sense of the right path for me, I do a meditative check-in where I still myself and then imagine I said yes – I notice the impressions that come – then I clear away that energy and imagine I said no – I notice the impressions that come – it’s always clear to me which path to take

sometimes I also use art therapy (intuitive art) – I meditate for a few minutes on an issue and then spontaneously draw something – I let out whatever inner symbols want out – it’s another way to access my inner knowing

Re: The Fifth Agreement

I love this …

it’s a cellular knowing that has nothing to do with belief

Re: The Fifth Agreement

Very profound subject Gypsey Ladee! This is what I love about Don Miguel's work: the emphasis on the “story” and his willingness to call it a lie.

What I've learned as a coach, while listening to my clients tell their stories, is that the human mind seems to be a story-telling machine. Virtually anything it thinks is a story that may or may not be true. Most often, upon close inspection, it appears NOT to be true.

My challenge is to not replace my client's story with another. It may not be possible.

We seem to get closest when I ask, rather than tell, which has led me to wonder: Is the Truth really a question?

Take care, Julia

Re: The Fifth Agreement

One of the things I learned as a coach is that I can understand a lot about where a person is/what their story is by the questions they ask.

And I so agree with every moment - literally - is what I call a “choice point.

We seem to get closest when I ask, rather than tell can, Me too…

I know that I have nothing to teach anyone. I can only, perhaps, help them to discover.


A question is asking someone else to Tell us what our Truth is.

I don't think Truth can ever be found in a question. When we ask a question we are seeking outside of ourselves and not trusting that we already know.