Don Miguel Ruiz looks on, calm as the sea, sure that his mission has been accomplished.
The autumnal sun is setting; the Baja Californian Pacific Ocean sways softly as Don Miguel opens the doors of his temporary apartment.
A blue sweater, black trousers, dress shoes, and trusty sombrero have become his classic signature look.
I met Don Miguel almost ten years ago, and time hasn't passed. He is, in essence, a salmon swimming upstream, a survivor above everything else.
On this occasion, Don Miguel spoke in an exclusive interview with San Diego Red about everything: his upcoming book, the legacy of The Four Agreements, and current issues such as artificial intelligence and robots.
Amid a creative process of book writing, the author of The Four Agreements has adapted perfectly to his new heart while reaching what he calls the end of a fantastic dream—a dream fueled by creative energy that keeps him alive.
We are in the last act of that dream. Creation is the most important thing we have. It is the legacy of a dream and what we are leaving to future generations.
Though he has decided to retire from speaking at conferences and public presentations, his creative energy continues unbothered. Miguel Ruiz has been working on a new book called "El Mito" (The Myth).
I am writing a new book called "El Mito"; this myth reflects life itself with that human being dreaming that dream. That dream is but a myth that joins the myths of other people and the rest of humanity.
Miguel Ruiz Macías was born in Guadalajara on August 27, 1952, but only a few days later, he was taken to Tijuana to live with his grandparents.
His birth certificate was made in Tijuana, just like the oldest memories of his childhood experiences at Colonia Juárez.
Miguel grew up on the streets of Tijuana and occasionally returned to explore the places where his childhood blossomed.
The publication of his book The Four Agreements in 1997 was an inflection point in his life.
With over 10 million books sold in the United States alone, translated into over 52 languages, and 30 years after its publication, The Four Agreements has stood the test of time and proven its worth.
In 2024, The Four Agreements was Amazon Mexico's No. 1 best-selling book. Years go by, and this book continues to gain followers and influence new generations.
"The Four Agreements is a classic that has been translated into over 52 languages; it has spread worldwide, and they have significantly changed humanity's dream," Don Miguel said.
In his opinion, every human leaves a legacy, though we rarely perceive it.
Humans will leave a legacy even if they don't realize it. The importance of leaving a legacy of this magnitude is that it is recorded to benefit everyone who tries to understand it.
Even so, the author of The Four Agreements' life has not been free of ups and downs and surprises.
The death of his older brother when he was still young deeply affected him. After that, he survived a severe car accident just as he had obtained his medical degree from UNAM.
Two years ago, Don Miguel Ruiz underwent a second transplant surgery.
In 2002, a massive heart attack almost killed him. A heart donated by a young woman who had lost her life in an accident saved his life.
With his new heart, he lived twelve more years until a series of complications forced him to undergo a second transplant surgery on December 5, 2022.
The 2nd anniversary of Don Miguel Ruiz getting his third heart will be soon, and his body's response to it will be extraordinary.
Despite this, his last heart transplant made him change his latest book's perspective and refocus his narrative approach.
What made me change was the heart transplant that took place almost two years ago. When I woke up from that surgery, my point of view changed. Everything that I had written before was from Miguel's point of view, but it is now written from the point of view of life itself, which is what creates everything that exists.
The world sprints towards a more fantastic future, but Don Miguel Ruiz thinks that high technology is only a piece of humanity's great collective dream. He does not believe that artificial intelligence or robots could ever replace human beings.
Artificial intelligence, according to Don Miguel, is just an extension of homo sapiens' brains. Nevertheless, one should never forget that it is a creation born from human intelligence.
"They are the result of our intelligence. We create a brain that is an extension of our brain. It is our creation. Brains have been created in something as tiny as a cellphone, but what are we seeking with artificial intelligence? We are looking for immortality. That is the goal. To be immortal," he claims.
Today, Miguel Ruiz spends his days without fearing death, knowing that even if this day was his last, he has lived a life worth living one thousand times.
Having undergone transplant surgery does not change my dream. The only thing that has changed is my body. Let's say that I don't need to look for immortality because I am not afraid of death. Because I know I am immortal, because I am that energy, I am life itself, and that energy is indestructible. A body, however, can be destroyed. I could die in five or ten years or tomorrow; it doesn't matter; my legacy has already been set.
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