The Mastery Of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship

Miguel Ruiz The Mastery Of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship

To my parents, my children, my siblings,

and the rest of my family,

with whom I am bonded not only by love,

but by our blood and ancestral roots.

To my spiritual family,

with whom I am bonded by our decision

to create a family based on unconditional love,

mutual respect, and the practice of

the Mastery of Love.

And to my human family,

whose minds are fertile for the seeds

of love contained in this book.

May these seeds of love

flourish in your life.

Acknowledgments

I WISH TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO JANET MILLS who, like a mother with her own child, gave form to this book with all her love and dedication.

I would also like to thank those people who gave of their time and their love, and helped us with the realization of this book.

Finally, I want to express my gratitude to our Creator for the inspiration and beauty that gave this book Life.

The Toltec

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, THE TOLTEC WERE known throughout southern Mexico as 'women and men of knowledge.' Anthropologists have spoken of the Toltec as a nation or a race, but, in fact, the Toltec were scientists and artists who formed a society to explore and conserve the spiritual knowledge and practices of the ancient ones. They came together as masters (naguals) and students at Teotihuacan, the ancient city of pyramids outside Mexico City known as the place where 'Man Becomes God.'

Over the millennia, the naguals were forced to conceal the ancestral wisdom and maintain its existence in obscurity. European conquest, coupled with rampant misuse of personal power by a few of the apprentices, made it necessary to shield the knowledge from those who were not prepared to use it wisely or who might intentionally misuse it for personal gain.

Fortunately, the esoteric Toltec knowledge was embodied and passed on through generations by different lineages of naguals. Though it remained veiled in secrecy for hundreds of years, ancient prophecies foretold the coming of an age when it would be necessary to return the wisdom to the people. Now, don Miguel Ruiz, a nagual from the Eagle Knight lineage, has been guided to share with us the powerful teachings of the Toltec.

Toltec knowledge arises from the same essential unity of truth as all the sacred esoteric traditions found around the world. Though it is not a religion, it honors all the spiritual masters who have taught on the earth. While it does embrace spirit, it is most accurately described as a way of life, distinguished by the ready accessibility of happiness and love.

A Toltec is an artist of Love,

an artist of the Spirit,

someone who is creating every moment,

every second, the most beautiful art -

the Art of Dreaming.

Life is nothing but a dream,

and if we are artists,

then we can create our life with Love,

and our dream becomes

a masterpiece of art.

INTRODUCTION The Master

When the Master finished speaking, the man walked through the crowd, looked into the eyes of the Master, and told him, 'I know you are busy and everyone wants your attention. I know you hardly have time to even listen to my words. But my heart is so open and I feel so much love for you that I have the need to invite you to my home. I want to prepare the best meal for you. I don't expect you will accept, but I just had to let you know.'

The Master looked into the man's eyes, and with the most beautiful smile he said, 'Prepare everything. I will be there.' Then the Master walked away.

At these words, the joy in the man's heart was strong. He could hardly wait to serve the Master and to express his love for him. This would be the most important day of his life: The Master was going to be with him. He bought the best food and wine, and found the most beautiful clothes to offer as a gift to the Master. Then he ran home to prepare everything to receive the Master. He cleaned his entire house, prepared the most wonderful meal, and made the table look beautiful. His heart was full of joy because the Master would soon be there.

The man was waiting anxiously when someone knocked at the door. Eagerly, he opened the door, but instead of the Master, he found an old woman. She looked into his eyes and said, 'I am starving. Can you give me a piece of bread?'

The man was a little disappointed because it was not the Master. He looked at the woman and said, 'Please, come into my house.' He sat her in the place he had prepared for the Master, and gave her the food he had made for the Master. But he was anxious and could hardly wait for her to finish eating. The old woman was touched by the generosity of this man. She thanked him and left.

The man had barely finished preparing the table for the Master again when someone knocked at the door. This time it was another stranger who had traveled across the desert. The stranger looked into the man's face and said, 'I am thirsty. Can you give me something to drink?'