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:
Discussion of this interview in the Batgap Community Facebook Group.
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
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