435. Lesley Skylar

A completely spontaneous, life-altering experience of satori or enlightenment shook Lesley Skylar’s world at about age 9 or 10. Everything, in every facet, shifted unimaginably - nothing was ever the same again. This set her on a life course dedicated to understanding, honoring and living what had been revealed. Lesley has spent years as a renunciate, living in ashrams and working deeply with direct teachings of enlightenment, in both the East and West. She has studied and practiced Zen Buddhism, Dzogchen and the Nonduality teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj. She has a Degree in Psychology, has counseled, and worked in numerous non-profit, peace and human rights endeavors. Lesley is a teacher of spiritual awakening. The approach and teaching she shares comes directly from her extensive experience and was developed and refined through her own realization. It is based on decades of integration and rigorous work with liberation teachings and realized teachers. Her teaching offers individual or small group guidance for awakening, and also focuses specifically on the post-awakening terrain. Many are confused or struggle after awakening as they don’t realize that awakening is a beginning – it is not stabilized and abiding, involves a coming and going of clarity and higher states, a persistent self-sense, and incomplete seeing or depth. She helps people to move beyond the initial phases of awakening, to clarify and resolve sticking points, subtle aspects of identification, shadow, unconscious beliefs and so on. This creates a deepening, integrating and embodying, which allows liberation and enlightened living to unfold. She has traveled extensively and lived in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. She is currently based in Vancouver, Canada. Lesley offers private sessions worldwide, via Skype/ online video or in person. Learn more about Lesley and her work: Website: lesleyskylar.com Facebook: facebook.com/lesley.skylar facebook.com/From.Awakening.To.True.Liberation Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group. Transcript of this interview. Interview recorded December 30, 2017. YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - A Life-Altering Experience at Age 9 00:04:27 - A Deep Homecoming 00:08:02 - Leaving Everything behind 00:11:14 - A Life in Ashrams: Seeking Truth and Learning from Contradictions 00:14:58 - Personal Growth and Shadow Work 00:18:59 - The Magnification of Ego in Spiritual Contexts 00:22:20 - The Journey of Awakening and Deepening 00:25:58 - The Rockets Taking Off into Space 00:29:57 - Deep Purification and Holistic Transformation in Spiritual Practice 00:33:33 - Accessing Deeper States of Consciousness 00:37:40 - Living Outside the Bubble of the Self 00:41:30 - The Importance of Experience and Physiology in Spiritual Practice 00:44:46 - Surrendering to Your True Nature and Rewiring the Being 00:48:23 - The Importance of Coaching and Feedback in Practice 00:52:24 - The Joy of Practice and Self-Inquiry 00:56:10 - The Marvel of the Human Mind and Nervous System 01:00:35 - The Mystery of Being 01:05:22 - The Illusion of Selfhood 01:10:30 - The Illusion of Identity 01:15:01 - The Illusion of Self 01:19:51 - Questions from Tim in Canada 01:24:50 - Sticking around after enlightenment 01:30:00 - Expanding Awareness and Letting Go of Patterns 01:35:12 - Overcoming Boredom and Restlessness 01:39:59 - Resting in the Depth of the Ocean 01:45:04 - Overcoming the Egoic Patterning 01:49:10 - Practical Tips for Meditation  01:53:25 - The Clues in Your Point of View 01:58:27 - Engaging with Cosmic Intelligence 02:03:13 - Anyone Can Do It, Stick with It 02:07:42 - Ongoing Series: Explore the menus on batgap.com