The notion of the “pathless path” lies at the heart of the direct approach to spiritual awakening that I offer in my books, retreats, and programs. Essentially, the approach provides verbal pointers, guided meditations, self-inquiry exercises, and other skillful means that invite you to wake up directly to your natural state of nondual presence and essential inseparability from Being itself. More progressive and prescriptive approaches to truth may certainly play a part in your pathless path, as long as you don’t take to heart their counsel that you need to achieve something new or cultivate qualities you don’t already have. Remember, you already are what you’re seeking,you just need to learn to recognize it and abide there.

Beyond even the direct approach, and perhaps the most pathless of paths, is to simply recognize that this luminous, sacred, and indivisible reality right now is what you are essentially—and just be it. No path is necessary to take you there. But only the maturest of souls can even understand what this directive means, let alone follow it, so the direct approach offers an actual path constructed of steps and stages that end up leading, paradoxically, to where you already are.

After many years of teaching the direct approach in the School for Awakening, I thought it best to condense the teachings into a book while they’re still fresh in my mind and make them accessible to a wider audience. Over the years, hundreds of people have passed through the School, and a significant number have experienced some measure of awakening to their essential spiritual nature. Of course, the School is not just a collection of pointers and practices, it’s a living and lived experience with a group of kindred spirits and the live presence of a teacher. But I hope this book offers a glimpse of what others have learned there. 

Unlike many books on spiritual awakening, this one is not only or even primarily a collection of pointers and practices, though it does include an abundance of both. Rather, it’s more of a roadmap to the pathless path itself, a guidebook to what can’t be charted or anticipated, an overview of where the journey may take you and how to deal with the challenges and breakthroughs you encounter along the way.

The book offers recommendations from my experience as seeker and teacher on understanding the nature and trajectory of awakening, choosing the right teacher, navigating the direct approach, working with challenging emotions and mind-states, engaging in awakened relationships, and appreciating the effect of past trauma on the path. Experiment with the experiential offerings and let yourself gravitate to the teachings and pointers that resonate for you. And be sure to take your time, especially if you’re new to this approach—nondual wisdom offers a radically different perspective on life that must be contemplated slowly and repeatedly, and digested and assimilated gradually, until it takes hold and transforms you from the inside