Kimberley Theresa Lafferty is a seasoned teacher-practitioner specializing in constructive adult developmental psychology and Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. She completed over 12 years of intensive Indo Tibetan study including the required retreats. She leads both open and advanced adult educational cohorts aligning developmental psychology and Buddhist theory. Kimberley co-leads, with Terri O’Fallon, the penultimate Minds I year-long developmental course of Stages International. She is an active Board member for the Association for Spiritual Integrity. Kimberley is also a householder as a wife and mother, living in a remote valley of the North Cascades of North America which deeply impacts her worldview and practice.

Website: The Confluence Experience | Making sense of what doesn't make sense

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded February 10, 2024

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome00:03:33 - Finding Peace in the Forest00:06:27 - A Blissful Awakening00:11:15 - Deep Inner Resources and Spiritual Experiences00:15:10 - Connecting with our Ultimate Selves00:18:26 - The Wave and Ocean Metaphor00:23:24 - Diving into Indo-Tibetan Buddhism00:27:59 - Tantric Retreats and Solitary Meditation00:32:26 - Experiences on the Retreats with Vajrayogini00:35:33 - The Red Lady and the Retreat00:40:01 - The Lesson of Treating Practice Seriously00:44:18 - The Precious Gift of Tibetan Buddhism00:47:58 - Spirituality and Integration00:51:02 - Understanding the Intersection of Waking Up and Identity Change00:55:31 - The Evolution of Perception and Consciousness01:00:08 - Supporting Spiritual Teachers01:03:59 - Shadow Work and Holistic Development01:07:16 - The Integration of Wisdom and Compassion01:10:57 - Waves of Human Becoming and Non-Duality in Daily Life01:14:06 - Anomalous Experiences: Exploring the Extraordinary01:18:57 - Anomalous Experiences and Meaning Making01:23:49 - Anomalous Experiences and the Search for Answers01:28:03 - The Cautionary Use of Psychedelics and the Self01:32:01 - The Need for Spiritual Integrity among Teachers01:35:58 - The Preciousness of a Spiritual Life01:39:58 - Realizing Inner Bliss01:43:44 - Experiencing Fulfillment in Tantra01:47:41 - Finding Your Path in Spiritual Practice01:52:16 - The Role of Spiritual Psychotherapists01:56:28 - Strengthening Ourselves Psychologically and Spiritually02:00:00 - Continuing the Conversation with Kimberly