Welcome to Gaia! ::

I'm not sure if anyone has heard of these or not, but for those who haven't, the book was written by Don Miguel Ruiz, and it gives four simple things that one can live their life by to achieve a state of heaven on earth. I have decided that I will try to live by them. They are these:

- Be impeccable with your word.
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

- Don't take anything personally.
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

- Don't make assumptions.
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. Just this one agreement can change many aspects of one's life.

- Always do your best.
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstances, simply do your best, and you will avoid self judgement, self-abuse, and regret.

At any rate, I'm curious as to people's thoughts on these. I can elaborate on them if anyone wishes it, to clarify more meaning.

Okay, I agree with all but the second one. I understand the whole "needless suffering" part, but, for example, if my boyfriend/mom/sister/best friend/ brother/ aunt/ *insert person here* told me they loved me and meant it, should I not take it personally? Or something to that effect anyway... It's a good ideal otherwise, but I agree with xindaris. It's impossible, though admarable. (that is not spelled right. This bothers me.)

The fact is, no human is really capable of even doing their best all of the time. Human nature is often to be lazy and not do your best.

Yes, it means to not take anything personally, including the Judge and the Victim inside your mind. The judge is the one that makes you feel regret, and the victim is the one that directs you to misery, self abuse, etc.

I don't really agree with those four rules. They sound good in theory, but when I try to imagine someone following them completely I see someone who doesn't know love or have any real goals in life. In love you assume the other person loves you back without having to be told all the time, and you will take the other person's feelings very personally. Same if you have goals and shoot for them. If you succeed you'll take it personally, gaining a sense of pride, and should you fail it will make you depressed.

Also, often times people feel so strongly about something that its almost impossible to put how they feel into words. Emotions are complex things, and there arn't enough words in a given language to fully describe the vast majority of things one may feel in their life.

First of all, they are not rules. They are agreements. Everything in life is a choice, including inaction. The only place for ego and pride is during the time you are given an award. That's the only place for it. In love, these can eventually give a clarity of thought, giving one the baility to say: "I like you, let's start a relationship," or "I don't like you. Bye bye." It may sound kind of cruel, but the truth is, if a person gets into a relationship, expecting you to change, then they aren't content with you as you are. People who go into a relationship trying to change someone don't ever actually change the person. In the end, it is always the other person's choice.
Also, as far as being able to convey emotion in words, it may not be easy, but what I did manage was rather close, when I fell so strongly for a girl I know a little while back. I wrote her several poems, and each one was more in tune with what I felt. My soul sang to her in rhyme. In truth, emotions are complex, but being able to open our perceptions, it takes seeing differently. I already knew most of the things comprised in the agreements before I began reading the book. It just granted more detail on the things I already knew. A lot of people probably wouldn't like or understand my thoughts on pain, nor mine of how one should think in combat.

Interesting agreement. However, for them to truly work is that a mass group of folks would have to agree and follow with it and perhaps the ball might start rolling. However, as this thread has shown, this isn't gonna happen anytime soon. Instead, folks are gonna want to feel as an individual as humanly possible and disagree to the agreements. Instead of seeing the bigger picture, they will pick on the details listed and how the statement is worded. They will use logic and reality as their excuse to refute such idealist thoughts ever working in this world. *shrugs* Maybe, but then again, making this post has simply proved what I have just said because I've just made an assumption on the minds of a human thus breaking agreement 3...how very human of me biggrin

Though the idea of following these four agreements sounds wonderful, it may never happen as long as there is a mind who wishes to be different or a mind who wishes to keep their individualism. I'm guessing that's where Xandris is trying to go with the whole "Not gonna happen because we're human" deal. *shrugs* Perfect example of a wonderful rule simply gone to teh shitter because of our human nature to argue: Golden Rule to Treat those as you wish to be treated. Heh, how often is that simple rule been violated? Eh, enough of this rant...I love the idea sir, but good luck implementing them to a society that questions everything in hopes of finding a better choice.


PS.



It isn't about being egotistical, but saying that you shouldn't carry the burden of other folk's opinion with you. Its not about "I can do no wrong", but more of "I have no control to the opinions of others and thus shouldn't allow it to burden me". It is like the story of the two buddhist monks.

Story time:

Somewhere in Tibet were these two buddhist monks. They have been praying in the mountains for several weeks and have made a vow of celebancy (A vow to not speak, touch, or talk to a woman). While on their way back to the temple, there was a woman in distress next to a rapid river. Rushing to the monks, she explained that she needed to get across, but there is no means and she cannot swim.

Without another word, one of the monks picked her up and carried her across the river. She thanked him as he came back on the otherside and they continued on their journey.

Three days later, they finally made it back to the temple. It was then that the other monk finally said something. "I can't believe you broke your vow and carried that woman across the river!" Turning to his brother, the monk shook his head. "I dropped the woman off on the otherside of the river. It is you who is still carrying her, brother."

Hopefull that has enlighten someone in the audience a bit...

Look, the problem is nothing to do with individualism, the problem is that it assumes (and is based mostly on the assumptions) that a human can live without emotional attachment, which is impossible, and that everything that happens to a person is a result of his/her own actions, which is incorrect.

There are, in fact, many philosophies based on these assumptions, and that's why none of them work.