Michael

Don Miguel Ruiz, a nagual, who teaches the knowledge of the ancient Toltecs, has a very good book called The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship: A Toltec Wisdom Book. I’ve read about 3/4 of it and I have gotten a lot out of it. It’s a slightly different insight into the nature of love and hence the nature of relationships. (Relationships can be any kind; romantic, friendship, and etc.)

In the second chapter (p. 26) called The Loss of Innocence, Don Ruiz talks about how we as children do not have any definition of love as an abstract concept. He states, “We just live love. It’s the way we are.” But soon, we begin to play the game of adults. We learn fear. We accept injustice. We learn to accept a loss of freedom as normal.

Chapter 4 is titled The Track of Love, The Track of Fear. Some snippets from this chapter:

Love has no obligations, Fear is full of obligations.

Love has no expectations. Fear is full of expectations.

Love is based on respect. Fear doesn’t respect anything, including itself.

Love is ruthless; it doesn’t feel sorry for anyone, but it does have compassion. Fear is full of pity, it feels sorry for everyone.

Love is completely responsible. Fear avoids responsibility.

Love is always kind. Fear is always unkind.

Love is unconditional. Fear is full of conditions.

Other key points Don Miguel discusses are The Dream, The Perfect Relationship and Healing the Emotional Body.

Some of the concepts you have probably read or heard based on other traditions, but I liked the fresh simple approach that is taken with this most important subject. I don’t think we can hear these concepts too many times.

I’ll leave you with a quote from the book jacket summary.

When we master Love, we align with the Spirit of Life passing through us. We are no longer the body, or the mind, or the soul; we are Love. Then every action we take is an expression of Love, and Love in action can only produce happiness.