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    The Three Questions: How to Discover and Master the Power Within You
    The Three Questions: How to Discover and Master the Power Within You
    The Three Questions: How to Discover and Master the Power Within You
    Ebook127 pages2 hours

    The Three Questions: How to Discover and Master the Power Within You

    By Don Miguel Ruiz and Barbara Emrys

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    About this ebook

    The beloved spiritual teacher builds on the message of his enduring New York Times and international bestseller The Four Agreements with this profound guide that takes us deeper into the tradition of Toltec wisdom, helping us find and use the hidden power within us to achieve our fullest lives.

    In The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz introduced seekers on the path to enlightenment to the tenets of Mesoamerican spiritual culture—the ancient Toltec. Now, he takes us deeper into Native American practice, and asks us to consider essential questions that drive our lives and govern our spiritual power. Three eternal questions can help us into our power and use it judiciously:

    • Who am I?
    • What is real?
    • How do I express love?

    At each stage in our lives, we must ask these simple yet deeply profound questions. Finding the answers will open the door to the next stage in our development, and eventually lead us to our complete, truest selves. But as Don Miguel Ruiz makes clear, we suffer if we do not ask these questions—or if we fail to pay attention to their answers—because we either never act on our power or use it destructively. Only when power is anchored in our identity and in reality will it be able to be in synch with the universe—and be of true benefit to ourselves and to others.

    The three questions provide a practical framework that allows readers to engage with Ruiz’s transformative message and act as a vehicle for overcoming fear and anxiety and discovering peace of mind. An essential guide for all travelers pursuing self-knowledge, understanding, and acceptance, The Three Questions is the next step in our unique spiritual metamorphosis.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJun 26, 2018
    ISBN9780062391117
    Author

    Don Miguel Ruiz

    Don Miguel Ruiz is the international bestselling author of The Four Agreements (over seven years on the New York Times bestseller list), The Mastery of Love, The Voice of Knowledge, and coauthor of The Fifth Agreement. He has dedicated his life to sharing the wisdom of the ancient Toltec through his books, lectures, and journeys to sacred sites around the world.

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    • 4/5
      Great read for people who looking for a different prospective on life.

    Book preview

    The Three Questions - Don Miguel Ruiz

    9780062391117_Cover.jpg

    Dedication

    This book is dedicated to those who have chosen to be the heroes of their own story. It is dedicated to all peaceful rebels who wish to change their world.

    This book is dedicated to those who love themselves without condition and who let that pure love shine for the world. It is dedicated to those who lead with compassion, who dare to act kindly, and who will not be governed by irrational fear.

    This book is dedicated to all women and men who act with courage and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. It is written in honor of those who use their words to deliver messages of love and respect.

    With heartfelt thanks to our readers,

    DON MIGUEL RUIZ AND BARBARA EMRYS

    Contents

    Cover

    Title Page

    Dedication

    Introduction

    1. The Three Pearls of Wisdom

    2. Opening the Door

    Question 1: Ask Yourself, Who Am I?

    3. The First Pearl

    4. The Voice of Me

    5. One Mind, One Community

    6. The Mind as Government

    7. Justice and the Judge

    8. The Commander in Chief

    Question 2: Ask Yourself, What Is Real?

    9. The Second Pearl

    10. Life Under Tyranny

    11. Getting Out of Jail

    12. The Diplomat

    13. Peace and Sanity

    Question 3: Ask Yourself, What Is Love?

    14. The Third Pearl

    15. The Love of Your Life

    16. Lovers and Sweethearts

    17. Love for Humanity

    18. Fear and Knowledge

    19. Peace in Our Time

    20. Afterword

    About the Authors

    Copyright

    About the Publisher

    Introduction

    1

    The Three Pearls of Wisdom

    ONE RAINY DAY, long ago, an old man was driving his wagon down a country road. The road was filled with potholes, so the drive was difficult, and the rain only made it worse.

    As the wagon plunged into a particularly deep hole, a rear wheel broke off. Calming his horse, the old man jumped down onto the muddy road and began to struggle with the wagon wheel. He soon realized that the hole was too deep and the wheel was too heavy for him to lift. As he stood there, wet and cold, he heard footsteps running toward him.

    A farm boy was on his way home to supper when he saw the old man’s broken wagon, with water flowing around it like a river. The boy was big, strong, and eager to help. Finding a fallen fence post, he stepped knee-deep into the muddy hole and propped up the wagon. Then he began fixing the wheel.

    While he worked, the boy spoke to the old man about his wishes for the future. He understood very little about the world, but he wanted to learn. He wanted to discover who he was and to find answers to life’s biggest mysteries. He was going to be a man soon and wanted to know more about love. He said he often daydreamed about the wonderful things yet to come.

    Most days, the boy laughed, I’m not sure if I’m dreaming or if I’m awake! The boy talked on, and the old man listened in silence.

    Within an hour, the job was done. The wheel was set securely in its place, and the wagon was back on the road. The old man, filled with gratitude, searched through his pockets for a few coins. Finding nothing to offer the boy for his work, he asked him if he would accept three pearls of wisdom instead, assuring him that the pearls would provide more riches than any coins. As the sun pierced through rushing storm clouds, the boy smiled. He knew he could not refuse the man’s gratitude, however it was offered. And, after all, he had much to learn.

    Yes, answered the boy politely. I am truly honored that you would share your wisdom with me, sir.

    So the old man leaned toward him and began to speak.

    To find your way in this world you need only answer three questions, the old man explained. "First, you must ask yourself: ‘Who am I?’ You will know who you are when you see who you are not.

    "Second, you must ask yourself: ‘What is real?’ You will know what is real when you accept what is not real.

    Third, the man finished, you must ask yourself: ‘What is love?’ You will know love when you realize what love is not.

    The old man straightened himself, brushing flecks of mud off his coat. The boy removed his hat respectfully and expressed his thanks. He watched the old man climb onto his wagon and whistle to his horse. The wagon lurched, shuddered, and then began to rattle down the road.

    As the boy turned toward home, where supper was waiting, he glanced back to see the back of the wagon disappear among the evening shadows.

    2

    Opening the Door

    SIMPLE STORIES INVITE us to reflect on our own lives. One way or another, they represent everyone’s story. If a story is good, it has the power to inspire questions and encourage us to look for answers. If a story is very good, it can get under our skin and dare us to see the truth. It can open new doors of perception. These stories leave us a choice: to be challenged by the truth or to close the door and continue walking a familiar path.

    This book is for those who are willing to see the truth of themselves. It is for those willing to ask what is real and to go through unfamiliar doors. Life is eager to begin a new conversation with you. If you’re willing to listen and to change, your world can be transformed.

    We humans are what we are today because of the way our nervous system has responded to light over millions of years. Our brains have become intricate, our capabilities diverse, and our societies complex. We’ve certainly made our mark on this planet. And yet, if we were asked what we had to show for humanity’s years of evolution, what would we say?

    Would we say that we’re free of worry and conflict? Would we say we finally understand how to be the best humans we can be? It would be wonderful to say that our beliefs no longer drive us to do terrible things. It would be great to say that our minds no longer wage their internal wars. It would be nice to say that humans have become far too wise to turn against each other. It would be nice to say that about our species, but we cannot—not yet, at least.

    In an ideal world, humans get along with each other for their own benefit and for the benefit of humanity. In an ideal community, people cooperate in order to prosper, and they appreciate their good fortune. They value life and care for the land that nurtures them. Ideally, they respect themselves and everyone else.

    In an ideal family, children are made to feel safe and appreciated. Parents are inspired teachers and vigilant protectors. The elderly continue to be productive. Groups of people form societies, of course, but no society tries to undermine any other. Together, they build greater communities, and together they ensure the well-being of every citizen.

    In this world of our imagination, governments may still exist. An ideal government presides over a country with respect. Its leaders are wise and farseeing. The best possible congress is one that legislates with conscience and compassion. Its laws are clear and just—and the rules apply to everyone.

    In this ideal world, people are also able to govern themselves justly. What does it mean to govern ourselves? It means we are in charge of our own thoughts and responsible for our own actions. We refuse to walk blindly through life. We see exactly what is and not merely what we prefer to see. We don’t permit the past to take command of the present. We view our personal reality the way a great artist would—with an eye for beauty and balance.

    In an ideal world, we don’t punish ourselves repeatedly for one mistake. We don’t indulge in self-pity. We don’t manipulate emotions. We don’t gossip or seek out drama.

    In an ideal world, we have no desire to judge or to blame. We are not defeated by guilt and shame, nor do we inflict shame on anyone else. In other words, we govern ourselves in the same way we want to be governed: with respect.

    There is much more we could say about that ideal world, but it’s important to consider why this world doesn’t actually exist for most of us. Helping the world move toward its ideal expression is too great a task for a small book, but we can take the first steps on our own. Everything we build together as human beings begins with a little imagination. We may believe we are tragic victims of circumstance, but with imagination we can take another perspective and see how unkindly we treat ourselves. With all its

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