The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery (Toltec Wisdom)

Don Miguel Ruiz was born in rural Mexico to a family of healers. His grandfather was a nagual (shaman) of the Eagle Knight lineage, and his mother was a curandera (healer). Miguel initially pursued a conventional path, attending medical school and becoming a surgeon in the 1970s. After a near-fatal car accident, he abandoned his medical practice to explore the traditional Toltec wisdom he had learned from his family.

Miguel studied under a nagual in the Mexican desert, immersing himself in ancient Toltec teachings. After completing this apprenticeship, he began sharing these philosophies with others, adapting Indigenous concepts into accessible practices for contemporary audiences. His background in both modern medicine and traditional healing informed his approach to spiritual teachings.

Don Jose Ruiz, Miguel’s son, was exposed to Toltec wisdom from childhood. Unlike his father, Jose did not pursue conventional education before becoming a spiritual teacher. Instead, he apprenticed directly to his father, learning through immersion and practice rather than academic study. This direct transmission from father to son continues the traditional lineage system they describe in their works. Jose began working alongside his father as a teacher in his twenties, developing his own interpretations of Toltec principles.

Don Miguel first gained international recognition with The Four Agreements, published in 1997. This guide to personal freedom became a phenomenon, selling over eight million copies and being translated into 46 languages. It remained on the New York Times bestseller list for over a decade, establishing Miguel as a significant voice in contemporary spirituality literature.

Miguel subsequently published several works expanding on Toltec wisdom, including The Mastery of Love and The Voice of Knowledge. The Fifth Agreement, published in 2010, represented the first major collaborative effort between father and son.

The book emerged during a significant period in Miguel’s life. In 2002, he suffered a heart attack that left him in a coma for nine weeks. After recovering, he found that Jose had begun effectively teaching principles Miguel had struggled to communicate before his illness. Their collaboration thus represents both a continuation of Miguel’s earlier work and an evolution through Jose’s fresh perspective.

The Fifth Agreement expanded on the original Four Agreements by adding a fifth principle: “Be skeptical, but learn to listen.” This addition addressed the relationship between language, perception, and truth that had been implicit in earlier work but not fully explored. The father-son collaboration allowed for a more comprehensive examination of how individuals can navigate the symbolic world while maintaining awareness of its limitations.

Following The Fifth Agreement, both authors have continued publishing independently. Miguel released The Three Questions (2018), while Jose published The Wisdom of the Shamans (2018) and The Medicine Bag (2020).

The Fifth Agreement received varied responses. Readers valued its practical approach to personal transformation and accessible presentation of complex philosophical concepts. Academic reception has been more mixed, with some scholars questioning the historical accuracy of the Ruizes’ presentation of Toltec civilization, noting differences from archaeological understandings of pre-Columbian Mexican societies.

Despite these critiques, the book has maintained cultural relevance, particularly in self-development circles. Its principles have been incorporated into coaching methodologies, therapeutic approaches, and corporate training programs. The Ruizes’ work has contributed to increased interest in Indigenous wisdom traditions and their potential applications in addressing modern psychological challenges.

Both Miguel and Jose continue to teach through workshops, lectures, and retreats at their center in San Diego and international venues, demonstrating the living nature of the tradition they represent—one that continues to evolve through practice and intergenerational transmission.