In this conversation, Emeline Lambert shares her profound spiritual journey, beginning with her childhood experiences of feeling extremely out of place in a world that seemed illusionary and pointless. “Who am I?” was the question that was always too terrifying to answer. She purposefully tried to cover up the truth of her deepest Self through the limitations of ego and performance art; leading to years of depression, anxiety and PTSD. A turning point in her life occurred during a retreat that invited a significant shift in consciousness and a deeper understanding of her true nature. Emeline discusses the impact of meditation and presence on her life, the changes in her relationships “post-shift”, and the necessity of acceptance, self-observation and compassion. She emphasizes the role of nature as part of any spiritual practice and the ongoing, endless unfolding that is self-discovery. In this conversation, Emeline and Rick explore profound themes surrounding awakening to our true nature, love, and the gift that suffering becomes in the process of awakening. They discuss the differences between knowledge and experience, emphasizing that awakening is a collective impulse rather than an individual desire. The dialogue touches on the importance of surrendering to the essence of “what is”, the impact of the mind’s commentary on suffering, and the significance of service in spiritual practice. Emeline shares her insights on the flow state in practical applications and the understanding of the shadow self, ultimately highlighting that awakening is an ongoing phenomenon that occurs beyond the architecture of the man-made sense of separate self.
Emeline volunteers with the New York–based non-profit City Voices, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about mental illness and addiction recovery through peer-led support programs, spiritual groups, and self-awareness activities. She co-facilitates their Saturday Spirituality Group and leads regular meditations.
- Email: CityVoices1995@gmail.com
- Website: cityvoicesonline.org
Emeline’s personal email: emwlambert@gmail.com
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group
Interview recorded October 12, 2025
YouTube Video Chapters:
- 00:00:00 – Breaking News: You Are It
- 00:01:43 – Introducing Emmeline Lambert
- 00:02:46 – Childhood: “I’m Not Your Child, I Come From Mars”
- 00:05:31 – The Quest for Identity: Ballet and Acting
- 00:07:34 – The Moment of Collapse: “We Can Hear You in the Tape”
- 00:08:48 – Giving Up the 30-Year Run from the Self
- 00:10:47 – The Spontaneous 10-Day Vipassana Retreat
- 00:11:54 – The “From Mars” Coincidence
- 00:13:08 – The Shock of Incarnation
- 00:14:49 – What Snapped You Out of Your “Depressing Twenties”?
- 00:17:18 – Peeking Behind the Curtain: The Retreat Experience
- 00:19:55 – A State vs. A Trait: The Shift Didn’t Go Away
- 00:20:40 – How Friends and Family Reacted
- 00:27:29 – The State of Pure Acceptance
- 00:28:26 – A Monastic Lifestyle and Redefining Meditation
- 00:30:54 – No Nostalgia for the Old Life
- 00:31:14 – Living as a Recluse and Paying the Bills
- 00:33:23 – The Power of “Not Knowing” What’s Next
- 00:35:38 – Our Inner Purpose is to Awaken
- 00:38:32 – We Don’t Awaken in the Comfort Zone
- 00:38:47 – The “Thinking Machine” and Going Hours Without Thoughts
- 00:41:20 – Thoughts are Impersonal Data
- 00:43:15 – The Conditioning Cycle (Action, Impression, Desire)
- 00:44:54 – The Illusion of the “Self”
- 00:46:40 – Experiencing Pure Silence in Moments of Trauma
- 00:49:00 – How to Deal with Unwanted Thoughts: Say “Yes”
- 00:53:03 – Relationships, Connection, and Quality Over Quantity
- 00:56:40 – Dealing with Difficult People: Love and Compassion
- 01:01:00 – Recognizing the Inner Aliveness in Everyone
- 01:02:52 – Why We Love Animals and Babies
- 01:05:02 – Buddhist vs. Hindu Views on Reincarnation
- 01:06:57 – All Paths Point to the Same Ineffable Truth
- 01:08:12 – Q&A: Why Awaken If We Were Already Awake?
- 01:12:00 – Q&A: What is Your Sense of the Word “Love”?
- 01:13:30 – Has Work Become More Skillful Post-Awakening?
- 01:17:33 – Being in a State of Flow at a Quicker Pace
- 01:19:13 – Can Acting be Conducive to Spiritual Evolution?
- 01:22:30 – Would She Ever Return to Acting?
- 01:24:46 – Q&A: How to Deal with the “Shadow Self”
- 01:31:23 – A Prescription: The 5-Minute Practice
- 01:37:32 – The Importance of Repetition and Practice
- 01:39:31 – “You Are the Destination”
- 01:43:25 – Q&A: Do You Still Have Outbursts of Anger or Depression?
- 01:45:18 – Working with City Voices
- 01:48:21 – “90% of Progress is Invisible”
- 01:51:14 – Q&A: Will You Become a Spiritual Teacher?
- 01:54:11 – Collective Awakening and the Sangha
- 02:00:13 – The Role of Surrender & How Many Need to Awaken?
- 02:01:46 – Q&A: Advice to Her Past Self & Suffering’s Role
- 02:05:02 – Conclusion
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