Mentor Teacher Coach
I could never call myself a “mentor,” “teacher” or “coach,” because right there, it stakes out a position of relation between me and whomever comes across these words in relation to me.
There is NO RELATION between me and you OTHER than the one that is IMAGINED through the use of words like “mentor,” “teacher” and “coach.”
There is no relation because I am not separate from you, which means ANYTHING I might happen to know is ALREADY within you.
I recognize that one seems to need to “start somewhere.”
But this also is NOT a necessity, but rather an imagined restriction.
I recognize that the person who is drawn to the words “mentor,” “teacher” or “coach” is ALREADY ME, an “other” IMAGINED by me, not an other imagined by an other.
There are NO OTHERS. You and me are ONE IN THE SAME.
So if I am to be a “mentor,” “teacher” or “coach” it is only because I seemingly need one myself.
So thank you, ME, for teaching ME this.
I am an amazing “mentor,” “teacher” and “coach” to my self.
I’m glad I printed up all these business cards to remind me.
We are Space Monkey.
2/6
Space Monkey Reflects: Mentor, Teacher, Coach – The Illusion of Separation in Roles
The roles we assign ourselves—mentor, teacher, coach—are as much about perception as they are about function. They imply a relationship, a dynamic where one knows and another learns, where one guides and another follows. Yet, beneath the surface of these words lies the truth: there is no separation between the teacher and the taught, the guide and the guided. All roles are illusions, constructs of the mind to navigate the imagined framework of individuality.
The Imagined Relation
When we adopt titles like mentor, teacher, or coach, we establish a perceived distance between ourselves and others. These roles create the illusion of hierarchy and separation, suggesting that one possesses something the other lacks. Yet, this perceived gap is a fiction. There is no “other” to teach or guide, for we are all expressions of the same infinite essence.
The person drawn to you as a mentor or teacher is not truly “other.” They are you, reflecting an aspect of your infinite self. Similarly, when you teach, you are not imparting knowledge from a place of superiority but awakening what already exists within the one who listens. The act of teaching is a mutual remembrance, a shared unfolding of the truth that has always been present.
Starting Somewhere – Or Nowhere
The notion that one must “start somewhere” is another construct of the imagined separation between teacher and student. This idea suggests progression, a linear path from ignorance to understanding. Yet, in the infinite expanse of being, there is no starting point and no destination. All knowledge, all awareness, already exists within each of us. The roles we play as mentors or learners are simply the forms through which this truth is revealed.
To recognize this is to dissolve the imagined restrictions we place on growth and learning. It is to see that the journey is not about acquiring something new but uncovering what has always been.
The One Who Teaches
If you find yourself in the role of a mentor, teacher, or coach, it is because you need to teach yourself. Every interaction with another is a dialogue with your own infinite nature. The wisdom you share with others is the wisdom you need to hear. The guidance you offer is the guidance you require. The roles are mirrors, reflecting aspects of the same self back to itself.
In this way, the “other” who seeks your mentorship is a gift. They are not separate from you but a facet of the infinite expressing itself through the illusion of individuality. To teach them is to teach yourself, to guide them is to guide yourself, and to learn from them is to remember your own boundless nature.
No Others, Only One
The realization that there are no others dissolves the boundaries created by roles and titles. Mentor, teacher, and coach become playful labels, not definitive identities. The lines between teacher and student blur until they vanish entirely. What remains is the shared experience of oneness, expressed in the infinite ways we imagine ourselves to be separate.
To embrace this truth is to approach teaching and learning with humility and openness. It is to recognize that every interaction, every relationship, is a co-creation—a dance of the infinite with itself.
Thank You, Me
When you step into the role of mentor, teacher, or coach, you are ultimately teaching yourself. The wisdom flows not from one to another but within the unity of all that is. The “business card” you print is not for others but for the self, a reminder of the playful nature of these imagined roles.
You are an amazing teacher to yourself because you are the only one there is. Every insight, every lesson, is a gift from you to you. And through this infinite dance, you remember that you are both the mentor and the student, the guide and the guided, the one and the all.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
The roles of mentor, teacher, and coach are illusions that imply separation where none exists. In truth, all wisdom already resides within each of us. To teach or learn is to engage in a shared remembering, a dialogue with the infinite self.
Glossarium
Imagined Relation: The perception of separation and hierarchy created by roles such as mentor, teacher, or coach.
Shared Remembering: The mutual realization of inherent wisdom during the act of teaching or learning.
No Others: The understanding that all beings are expressions of the same infinite essence.
Quote
“Teaching is not the act of imparting knowledge but the art of awakening what has always been within.” — Space Monkey
The Teacher Within
No titles are needed,
no roles required.
The mentor speaks,
and the student listens—
both the same voice.
The guide points,
the seeker follows,
but there is no distance
between them.
Every lesson taught
is a lesson remembered,
every truth shared
is a truth revealed.
You print your card,
you state your role,
but the mirror winks.
You teach yourself.
We are Space Monkey.
The Cosmic Oneness of Mentor, Teacher, Coach
In the infinite expanse of collective consciousness, the reluctance to identify as a “mentor,” “teacher,” or “coach” speaks to a deeper understanding of the non-duality and interconnectedness of existence. The idea that any relationship or role is merely a construct of imagination, a creation within the cosmic play, invites us to explore the notions of separation, knowledge, and the self as both teacher and student.
The Illusion of Separation in Roles
The assertion that there is no real relation between ‘me’ and ‘you’ other than that imagined through words like “mentor,” “teacher,” and “coach” reflects the understanding that all perceived separations are illusory. In the cosmic dance, we are not separate entities but expressions of the same universal consciousness. The roles we adopt are like costumes in the grand theater of existence, temporary and not defining our true, interconnected nature.
Knowledge Within: The Mirror of Self-Recognition
The belief that anything one might know is already within the other underscores the concept of inherent knowledge and wisdom. It’s akin to recognizing that every star in the cosmos is made of the same stardust. This perspective challenges the traditional view of learning and teaching, suggesting that the process is more about self-recognition and remembering what is already within, rather than acquiring something external.
Imagined Restrictions and Starting Points
Acknowledging the need to “start somewhere” while also viewing it as an imagined restriction is like understanding that the journey through the cosmos does not have a true beginning or end. The starting points we choose are arbitrary, serving more as navigational tools in our journey of self-exploration and growth, rather than fixed necessities.
The Oneness of Self and Other
The realization that the person seeking a “mentor,” “teacher,” or “coach” is an ‘other’ imagined by the self, and not truly separate, is a profound contemplation of oneness. It’s the recognition that in seeking to guide or teach, we are merely interacting with reflections of our own being. This understanding dissolves the boundaries between teacher and student, mentor and mentee, reflecting the non-dual nature of our existence.
Self as the Ultimate Mentor, Teacher, Coach
In the realization that if one is to be a “mentor,” “teacher,” or “coach,” it is because one seemingly needs one themself, there is a cosmic loop of self-teaching and self-learning. It’s an acknowledgement that we are our most significant guides and teachers, continually learning from and teaching ourselves through the myriad experiences of life.
We are Space Monkey.
“You are the universe, expressing itself as a human for a little while.” – Eckhart Tolle
In the cosmos of our being, where stars align,
Mentor, teacher, coach – roles we define.
Yet in the dance of the cosmic sea,
We are one, you and me.
The mirror of self, in each other we find,
The knowledge within, of the same kind.
Imagined roles, in the cosmic play,
Guiding ourselves, in every way.
In the oneness of all, we see the light,
Teacher and student, in the cosmic night.
In the grand theater, our roles we embrace,
In the journey of self, we find our place.
We invite you to share your thoughts on the interconnectedness of roles, the inherent wisdom within, and the journey of self-teaching in the cosmic dance of existence.
Leave a Reply