Customer Reviews

Beyond Fear: A Toltec Guide to Freedom and Joy - The Teachings of Don Miguel Ruiz

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

If you have the courage to face the fact that their are errors in your earily religious teachings, then you will get something out of this book . What you get is entirley up to you. If you make it through this book then try An Encounter With A Prophet.

Having read don Miguel Ruiz's book, "The Four Agreements" and after meeting him at a lecture, I picked up a copy of "Beyond Fear" with the hope of learning more about Miguel's process. I wasn't disappointed. Author Mary Carroll Nelson has crafted a very well written summary of the life experiences and teachings of a modern day nagual (keeper of spiritual knowledge). Readers unfamiliar with the words of Ruiz are presented with a clear explanation of his principal teachings and a glimpse of the man behind the message. While not exactly a "how-to" book, "Beyond Fear" does contain a few exercises and ceremonies to help the reader align themselves with the spiritual practice that is the basis of The Four Agreements. Those agreements are: Be impeccable with your word. Don't take anything personally. Don't make assumptions. Always do your best. The basic premise of Miguel's teachings is that we must break old patterns that are based in fear and replace them with new "agreements" that are based in love, shedding the habits of "judging" ourselves and others and no longer being a "victim" of those judgements. And, the way to do that is to adopt The Four Agreements as a code of conduct, which is the "Toltec guide to freedom and joy." Anyone can become a Master of Intent. All it takes is a conscious effort to look at your life and "your world" without fear or judgements and realize that the dream you are dreaming can be whatever you want it to be.

I like this book very much. I am biased, because I have been an apprentice of don Miguel Ruiz for four years, and the Toltec path has changed my life. Mary Carroll Nelson has done a wonderful job of bringing don Miguel's simple wisdom and love to the pages of this book. I have traveled many paths searching for my freedom, although I did not always know what I was looking for. Now, with this and don Miguel's other two books, and using the tools found here (The Four Agreements, Stalking and Dreaming, The inventory, recapitulation, forgiveness, etc.) I have reclaimed my personal power and found the simple peace that I was seeking. Thank you, don Miguel. I recommend that anyone who has read this far in these commments buy this and don Miguel's other two books (THE FOUR AGREEMENTS, and THE MASTERY OF LOVE.) And then do what he says! Miguel Ruiz lectures, leads workshops, and takes Power Journeys to Mexico and Peru, also. Find him, and go!

Very direct, very clear, very truthful metaphysical teachings. No fluff here, no cute stories, could be entitled "How the world really works, and what to do about it if you have experienced enough pain and fear".

Like Castaneda, the implications of what Don Ruiz reveals can be both exhilarating and terrifying: Joy in finally knowing truths at the conscious level, terrifying in what is really going on in the 'Dream of the World' (This world really is Hell already, folks).

Do you want to know the truth, even if it will challenge many of your societally-imprinted beliefs? Are you ready to take full responsibility for recovering your full integrity?

I recommend that people new to Don Ruiz' teachings start with The Four Agreements - another of his books. If it rings true with you, Beyond Fear will expand your mind even more.

I truly don't understand these positive reviews!!

You could certainly call me a Miguel Ruiz follower, considering I've devoured each of his books, leaving the margins covered with notes and bracketed passages. The underlying message of perfection, along with the analysis of domestication has truly opened my mind to living life "BEYOND FEAR". But oh my God, what the hell is this book?

I was expecting a continued dialogue of his eye-opening philosophies, but instead I was bombarded with whack-job theories about civilizations far preceding ours with nuclear power? WHAT???

I'm sorry, It's like any religion.. Drop the Dogma, get down to the heart of what needs to be said....

This book was a complete dissapointment (spoken from a guy who will be re-reading Don Miguels books for ages)

I have read other books similar to this one. However Don Miguel presents the teachings in a very simple manner that anyone can understand. His teachings are so much from the heart one gets goosebumps knowing what he says to be true. It is a book I have recommended and gifted to several of my friends who are on this path as it gives a very clear idea of who we are, where we are and what we are becoming and how we can make this reality even better. An exceptional book. A must read.

This is the best book I ever read about Toltec knowledge. Written with confidence. Extends books of Castaneda to the things and changes happend at the world last few years, or as don Miguel says to the beggining of 6th sun.

Book is powered by love to human race, animals, plants, Earth and whole universe as a living being.

This is the book written by the Nagual, not by the student of nagualism (like Castanedas books), there are no doubts in it. It is the book of Toltec Wisdom.

I found this book to wander around in circles. Your best bet would be go right to the source - read "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz himself, and you will find the simplicity of his readings more beneficial - it's direct and intertwined with relations of the agreements with all aspects of life - home, friends, work - it's a wonderful philosophy, so to speak. Then read any of his other books and you will be pleasantly enlightened.

Not for the faint hearted, this material by Don Miguel Ruiz and Mary Carroll Nelson explain just how responsible we all are, for the quality of the "dream" we create with our thoughts & emotions daily. As energy flows between our internal "Judge" and "Victim" the impact of our domestication into powerlessness opens the door for tremendous fear to control our lives. Its only when we allow our false selves to die do we release our attachments to control and always being right.

"Beyond Fear" is packed full of invaluable insights and knowledge about how to address the global nightmare by dreaming our own authentic dream powered by self-love.

Don Miguel Ruiz is well known for his Four Agreements material, and I was concerned "Beyond Fear" may simply replicate this, but it doesn't. It provides both new material, and more in-depth discussion of how aspects of the four agreements interconnect to other Toltec knowledge. The use of Mary Carroll Nelson to transcribe the text, and add in bits of her own, could have backfired, but instead provides a unique flavour and at times you feel like you're part of a conversation. Inclusion within story telling is a useful gift.

I got a lot out of this book, and I don't know much about the Toltec's, so I'm sure others will too. I especially liked the discussion of the Mitote (illusion), and the idea of humanity being the emotional organ of the planet, and how we transform etheric energy between matter and emotions.

Will definitely get you thinking!

Basically, I am going to agree with the previous negative comments. I have read all of Ruiz' works and some others and this is just another case of someone trading off another's name. I, also, could not even get through this thing. If you are looking for self awareness stick to the basic books by Ruiz.