Everything that follows is both essential and completely unnecessary. Each “step” is simultaneously something to do and nothing to take too seriously. Hold this paradox lightly as we proceed.

1: Foundation Development

Apparent doing:

• Study classic pointers and questions
• Learn basic exercises and analogies
• Practice with fundamental tools

Simultaneous understanding:

• All of this study is pointing to what’s already here
• You’re not actually learning anything new
• There’s no one becoming a better coach

2: Self-Investigation

Apparent doing:

• Apply tools to your own experience
• Journal insights and revelations
• Notice what works for you

Simultaneous understanding:

• There’s no separate self investigating anything
• “Your experience” is just experience happening
• “What works” is merely what appears to work

3: Building Your Library

Apparent doing:

• Collect tools from various teachers
• Organize your approaches
• Create your own variations

Simultaneous understanding:

• Each tool is just another finger pointing at the moon
• The library is empty of inherent existence
• Nothing needs to be created or collected

4: Working with Others

Apparent doing:

• Start practicing with willing participants
• Develop sensitivity to what’s needed
• Learn to read where clients are stuck

Simultaneous understanding:

• There’s no separate coach or client
• Nothing is actually stuck or needs fixing
• Whatever appears is perfect as it is

5: Refining Your Approach

Apparent doing:

• Get feedback
• Adjust your language
• Improve your timing

Simultaneous understanding:

• Refinement happens by itself
• There’s no one to become more skilled
• Perfect expression is always already here

Practical Guidelines

• Do the apparent work while knowing it’s unnecessary
• Build skills while seeing through the skill-builder
• Help others while knowing there’s no one to help
• Learn from experience while seeing all experience as dream-like
• Take your role seriously while knowing it’s ultimately empty

Remember:

• When caught in pure nondualism, return to practical reality
• When caught in doing and achieving, return to absolute truth
• When in doubt, let both perspectives inform each other
• Neither perspective is complete alone; both serve the whole

Signs of Integration:

• Comfortable moving between relative and absolute
• No need to defend either perspective
• Natural responsiveness to what’s needed
• Lightness around the whole endeavor
• Ease with apparent contradiction

Ongoing Invitation:

• Continue apparent development
• Deepen understanding of emptiness
• Let both inform each other
• Stay open to not knowing
• Trust what naturally arises

All of the above is equally true and untrue. Take what’s useful, let go of the rest, and remember that even this guidance is empty of inherent existence while being perfectly useful in its domain.