  don miguel Ãngel ruiz (born 1952), better known as don miguel ruiz, is a mexican author of toltec spiritualist and neoshamanistic texts. his teachings are similar to new age philosophies which focuses on the ancient toltec teachings to achieve happiness. ruiz is listed as one of the watkins 100 most spiritually influential living people in 2014.watkinsâ spiritual 100 list for 2014 his teaching is significantly influenced by the work of carlos castaneda. his most famous book, the four agreements, was published in 1997 and has sold around 5.2 million copies in the u.s. and has been translated into 38 languages. the book advocates personal freedom from beliefs and agreements that we have made with ourselves and others that are creating limitation and unhappiness in our lives. it was featured on the oprah television show, the four agreements are: # be impeccable with your word. # don't take anything personally. # don't make assumptions. # always do your best. ruiz then wrote several other books, including the mastery of love, the voice of knowledge, and prayers, which was renamed and re-released as the circle of fire in 2013. he also wrote a companion book to the four agreements. don miguel ruiz's son don jose ruiz has subsequently released a sequel with his father, the fifth agreement, which adds a further agreement: :5. be skeptical but learn to listen. ==biography==  don miguel ruiz was born in rural mexico, the youngest of 13 children. don miguel attended medical school, and became a surgeon. for several years he practiced medicine with his brothers. a near fatal car accident changed the direction of don miguelâs life. don miguel promptly returned to his mother to finish his training and he became a shaman. don miguel then moved to 
1952_births Living_people Mexican_animists Mexican_spiritual_writers Motivational_speakers Motivational_writers Neoshamanism