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230th out of 289 books
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The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship --Toltec Wisdom Book
by
Miguel Ruiz
In the tradition of Carlos Castaneda, the author distills essential Toltec wisdom on human relationships as well as techniques for integrating this awareness into daily life.
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
November 1st 2002
by Amber-Allen Publishing
(first published March 30th 1999)
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Mastery of Love is one of the most influential books I have ever read. I recommend it to all of my girl friends and I think every guy should read it as well. Ruiz also wrote The Four Agreements...very good read but I liked Mastery of Love more b/c as a girl that has grown up in a (pleasantly) divorced family, I am a skeptic of love and it’s hard for me to open up.
This book starts off discussing love on a conceptual level but then turns into more of a How To book...which is the part...more
This book starts off discussing love on a conceptual level but then turns into more of a How To book...which is the part...more
We practice and practice, and we master how to be what we are not.
Soon we forget who we really are, and we start to live our images. We create not just one image, but many different images according to the different groups of people we associate with. p20
If you take your happiness and put it in someone's hands, sooner or later,s he is giong to break it. If you give your happiness to someone else, she can always take it away. Then if happiness can only come from inside of you and i...more
Soon we forget who we really are, and we start to live our images. We create not just one image, but many different images according to the different groups of people we associate with. p20
If you take your happiness and put it in someone's hands, sooner or later,s he is giong to break it. If you give your happiness to someone else, she can always take it away. Then if happiness can only come from inside of you and i...more
This book has very little and everything to do with creating meaningful relationships with others. It's sole focus is about creating a loving relationship with yourself. It gives real world examples of how we create our own hell. If we can create it, we can destroy it. This book looks at how and why we've created a dream of hell and sheds light on how we can turn that dream into a dream of heaven.
Although I was not big on the slightly religious undertones in some of the chapters, I do ...more
Although I was not big on the slightly religious undertones in some of the chapters, I do ...more
Friend Cat Lee, in NYC recommended. I took a "google peek" and bought it today at my fav independent "Warwick's" in La Jolla. I will report back.
~~~
Blew through this. Much here reminds me of reading Krishnamurti over 20 years ago.
Living as an art, being aware, making choices, having the courage to see what's fearful, facing off with our fears, making changes, taking risks, and in the end LOVING ourselves, others and life.
Ruiz ...more
~~~
Blew through this. Much here reminds me of reading Krishnamurti over 20 years ago.
Living as an art, being aware, making choices, having the courage to see what's fearful, facing off with our fears, making changes, taking risks, and in the end LOVING ourselves, others and life.
Ruiz ...more
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Ruiz's delivery irritates me just as much as Thomas Friedman of the World is Flat. Of course, I have been in the minority before, and I don't mind being in it again.
On the positive side, this book contains some healthy and true messages about how we love, and why we fail, and how so many of our actions and reactions are based on fear. There were some messages in this book that I needed to hear, but I could have removed a lot of fluff of the analogies and stories. They either just fel...more
On the positive side, this book contains some healthy and true messages about how we love, and why we fail, and how so many of our actions and reactions are based on fear. There were some messages in this book that I needed to hear, but I could have removed a lot of fluff of the analogies and stories. They either just fel...more
I'm not good at rating these because I want more Oomph, but for what it is, it is pretty good. This is essentially the same book as the Four Agreements, told in a slightly different manner with a focus on love from within. I hate it when authors feel the need to rewrite the same idea in slightly different, albeit comparably mushy new-age self-help ways. However I am willing to overlook this and give Ruiz 4 stars (would do 3 1/2 even, not enough original quirky stories for me here though I am al...more
The best spiritual book I have ever read. It teaches you how you can reach happiness and love, within yourself. Once you have mastered self-love and have healed from emotional wounds, happiness is achieved and this is vital for a healthy loving relantionship. This book will have a dramatic influence in 2010 for me, just what I needed. Can't wait to start reading the Four Agreements.
"Happiness can only come from inside of you and is the result of your love. When you are aware t...more
"Happiness can only come from inside of you and is the result of your love. When you are aware t...more
Just like his more well-known work, “The Four Agreements,” Ruiz knocks it out of the park. While the book states it is about relationships it is mainly focused on the relationship with oneself. The main concept of this book is that if you are not able to forgive, love and respect yourself then you cannot do those things to others and cannot expect others to do so unto you. “The Mastery of Love” really forces the reader to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Ruiz will make you stare your imperf...more
This book both frustrated and inspired me. I could not relate to the continual analogy of human relationships as the same as animal relationships, but there were many excellent pieces of advice: "Happiness never comes from outside us . . . If you take your happiness and put it in someone's hands, sooner or later, she is going to break it.". "Love has no obligations. Fear is ful of obligations.". There are excerpts I will read again to remind myself that "happiness is th...more
I've never read Ruiz's more accredited book, the four agreements, I picked this up instead and am thankful that I did. It came at a time when I was questioning what Love meant and was. I knew love existed, but I never believed that it would exist for me, and I was okay with that.
The most influencal part of this story for myself was the chapter on the man who didn't beleive love existed. I don't think faith or belief in love between two people could ever be written better.
A d...more
The most influencal part of this story for myself was the chapter on the man who didn't beleive love existed. I don't think faith or belief in love between two people could ever be written better.
A d...more
I read this alongside "The Four Agreements" for a book club this month. I did not like this book as well as The Four Agreements. I found the advice to be way too general (open your heart and let the love in). Also, I felt the advice was geared more to people who were still looking for their life partner, not for people who were already in a relationship that needed help. I found my mind drifting off during a lot of it and I was continually having to force myself back to the word. ...more
There was a lot of good stuff in this book. These were my favorite quotes:
"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. You feel sorry for me, when you don't think I am strong enough to make it. On the other hand, love respects. I love you; I know you can make it. I don't have to make your choices for you. You can make it. Compassion comes from respect and from love; feeling sorry comes from a l...more
"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. You feel sorry for me, when you don't think I am strong enough to make it. On the other hand, love respects. I love you; I know you can make it. I don't have to make your choices for you. You can make it. Compassion comes from respect and from love; feeling sorry comes from a l...more
Angel
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Angel by:
I had read Ruiz's other book
Shelves:
spiritual-or-inspirational
I liked this book, but compared to The Four Agreements, it is not as tight or tidy, so to speak. The book presents some very good points, but it is a bit repetitive at times. In other words, what he did in about 200 pages, he could have done in 100, or at least 150, without losing the essence of the message.
The main thing I took away from it was the need to look into ourselves. This is a common sense concept and important because it leads to the idea that we cannot love or respect o...more
The main thing I took away from it was the need to look into ourselves. This is a common sense concept and important because it leads to the idea that we cannot love or respect o...more
Good. One should definitely read the Four Agreements first, even though this repeats some of that. The basic message is that you can't love anyone else until you love yourself. Love comes from within, not without. I think most people know this, but don't really live it. One of his big points in both books is that most of what we see/think about life is an illusion. Everything exists in our perception, we don't see things as they really are, we see them how we're trained to see them. He asserts ...more
This book completely changed my perspective on life. I strongly recommend it to everyone no matter your religion. I bought this book over a year ago and the beginning was a little slow but this month I picked it back up and finished it. The book told me exactly what I needed to hear to change my thoughts about myself, others, and how I view the world. This isn't a book i would want to check out of the library because it is a book that I plan on rereading multiple times and probably even highligh...more
I loved this book. We are taught in scripture that "perfect love casteth out fear". This book helped me understand how that is possible. I realized so many fallacies that I practiced in my life. I learned what love is, what love isn't and how to better apply it in my life. It's opened up my mind and released some emotional misconceptions. I plan to read it again and again.
I have one beef with the book. But that's neither here nor there. Read it. It will change your life.
I have one beef with the book. But that's neither here nor there. Read it. It will change your life.
Don Miguel Ruiz has a way of sharing practical advice and making it sound much more mystic than it is. Every once in a while he contradicts himself but the overall message here is a good one, as with other works of his that I have read. The Mastery of Love applies not only to romantic relationships, but to platonic relationships and the relationship you have with yourself. I had a few ah-ha! moments, as I did with The Four Agreements. Definitely worth the read, and easy to get through.
One of my top 10 favorite books. I learned that "love" alone is never enough to sustain a happy relationship. We can fall in love with any living thing (such as a dog) if we spend enough time with it. Just because we love our dog doesn't mean we should carry on a romantic relationship with our dog.
What's most important is compatibility -- sharing the same values and views on major issues (money, sex, children, attitude, etc.)
What's most important is compatibility -- sharing the same values and views on major issues (money, sex, children, attitude, etc.)
One of the best books I have read about love and relationship. You will need to understand the meaning of terms like "Hell" and "dream" in toltec teaching in order to understand the concepts fully. Don Miguel Luiz has done a great job of bringing examples from various mythologies in order to expain drama, failure and success in our intimate relationships. He has explained how awareness, forgiveness and self-love are very important factors in creating and maitaining successful...more
This was probably the most profound book ever given to me by a person of the male persuasion. It is quite helpful in any area of life, particularly in learning the concepts of love - and is a quite under-rated spiritual guide book. It's one of those books you can only bring out when you need answers to a question and want an in-your-face answer, but are willing to accept the imperfection of your own actions.
Hm, Miguel Ruiz praesentiert viele interessante Gedanken und seine Ansicht des Lebens und des Lebens in Beziehungen harmoniert sehr mit der meinen.
Aber irgendwie war mir das Buch trotzdem zu seicht, ich haette mir mehr Tiefe gewuenscht - statt Spiritualitaet: mehr Beispiele und praktische Hinweise, ausfuehrlichere Erklaerung, weitere Ausfuehrungen seiner Lebensphilosophie, und einfach ein besser strukturiertes Argument, welches das gesamte Buch durchzieht. Es ist ein bisschen die le...more
Aber irgendwie war mir das Buch trotzdem zu seicht, ich haette mir mehr Tiefe gewuenscht - statt Spiritualitaet: mehr Beispiele und praktische Hinweise, ausfuehrlichere Erklaerung, weitere Ausfuehrungen seiner Lebensphilosophie, und einfach ein besser strukturiertes Argument, welches das gesamte Buch durchzieht. Es ist ein bisschen die le...more
While not as concise, clear, or practical as The Four Agreements, this book was okay. I found the last few chapters profound, but earlier portions of the book muddled, condescending and not illuminating. Most dissapointingly, I found that the tone of the book made huge assumptions about the reader. Given that the Third Agreement is not to make assumptions, this was annoying. Could go either way on it - depends on where you are and what you are looking for.
although this book did not find me love. (maybe i should read it again. which one do you think--first the artist's way and write a new book and THEN find love or vice versa?)
but this writer is a doll. hs first book, the four agreements book got me interested in toltec wisdom or spirituality--the path of a warrior in a way.
this book is basically one of those reminder books about loving the self and others.
have you ever watched to see if you have true compassion ins...more
but this writer is a doll. hs first book, the four agreements book got me interested in toltec wisdom or spirituality--the path of a warrior in a way.
this book is basically one of those reminder books about loving the self and others.
have you ever watched to see if you have true compassion ins...more
I have to read this one again~so wise! It was recommended to me by a spiritual lady who told me once I love myself completely my true love would come! Of course I had to read it! "When you are aware that no one else can make you happy, and that happiness is the result of your love, this becomes the greatest mastery of the Toltecs: the Mastery of Love" I love the section on forgiveness too.
Katherine
added it
Pg. 90 "I like you: you are wonderful....you bring the flowers, I'll bring the soft music. It's no longer a war of control; it's about service.
But you can only do that when the love you have for yourself is very strong."
I also liked pg. 103, 157, 169.
This book has a lot of insight. Its about the art of our relationship with self, as well as with others.
But you can only do that when the love you have for yourself is very strong."
I also liked pg. 103, 157, 169.
This book has a lot of insight. Its about the art of our relationship with self, as well as with others.
My friend Ruby lent this book to me. It provides a lot of useful insight into both business and personal relationships. I think its worth reading in general. Turns out to be mostly about your own relationship with yourself more so than with other people. (helps put things in perspective when you are dealing with impossible co-workers even! hah)
Stellar book about relationships and how we are tainted about them as children. And touches on every part of a relationship most people feel, such as feeling you are responsible for the other person's happiness, trying to control relationships and how we conduct ourselves in a relationship. It was really easy to read and I absolutely enjoyed it.
A common sense approach to the human psych.An easy read and will open your eyes to what life and love are really about!I highly recommend this book Miguel Ruiz Has captured much of the wisdom of the ancient Toltec way of viewing our lives and how we are programmed and domesticated throughout our lives.Again A MUST READ.
This is a wisdom book about the art of love-loving yourself, being at peace with yourself....and therefore having true love for others and being at one and peaceful with the world. At times I thought it was a bit poorly written and too religious for my taste, but I thought overall the message was a very good one.
Do you wan to see the dynamics of relationships from the Toltec point of view? This book made me aware of all the things that were important in maintaining a loving relationship, how to nurture love, and the illusions that prevent this. An excellent book and one of my top ten self-help books.
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“You don't need to justify your love, you don't need to explain your love, you just need to practice your love. Practice creates the master.”
—
31 people liked it
“...Nothing that your partner does is personal. Your partner is dealing with her own garbage. If you don't take it personally, it will be so easy for you to have a wonderful relationship with your partner”
—
16 people liked it
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