587. Sebene Selassie

Sebene Selassie is a teacher, author, and speaker who explores the themes of belonging and identity through meditation, creativity, and spirituality. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Washington DC, she began studying Buddhism 30 years ago as an undergraduate at McGill University where she majored in Comparative Religious Studies. She has an MA from the New School where she focused on race and cultural studies. For over 20 years, she worked with children, youth, and families nationally and internationally for small and large not-for-profits. Now she teaches classes, workshops, and retreats regularly and is one of the most popular teachers on the Ten Percent Happier app. Sebene is a three-time cancer survivor of Stage III and IV breast cancer. Her first book "You Belong: A Call for Connection" is published by HarperOne. Website: sebeneselassie.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Summary and transcript of this interview. Interview recorded February 14, 2021 YouTube Video Chapters: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump 00:03:56 - Belonging and Not Belonging 00:07:43 - The Mystery of Existence and Belonging 00:11:31 - Vyavaharika Satya: The Transactional Reality 00:15:08 - The Delusion of Separation 00:18:51 - The Power of Being a "Weirdo" 00:22:47 - Mainstream Acceptance of Meditation and Contemplative Practices 00:26:44 - Rocks are People 00:30:47 - Epistemocide: The Legacy of Indigenous Spiritual Practices 00:34:39 - Spirituality and Trust in the Present Moment 00:38:36 - Developing Discernment and the Importance of Community 00:42:54 - Fragmentation within Communities 00:46:28 - The Rise of Interest in Meditation 00:49:57 - A New Era of Spiritual Awakening 00:54:03 - The Power of Nature and Mystical Possibilities 00:58:22 - Nature's response to our predicament 01:02:02 - Spirituality in Refugee Camps 01:05:51 - Cultivating Curiosity and Creativity 01:09:39 - Breaking Habits and Reconnecting 01:13:28 - Awakening through Meditation 01:17:14 - Longing for Connection 01:21:20 - Knowing and Loving Yourself 01:25:25 - The Elements Practice: Earth, Water, Fire, Air 01:28:41 - Akasha and Modern Physics 01:32:47 - Wisdom of Living a Long Life 01:36:09 - Healing from Trauma and Supporting Students with Social Emotional Problems 01:39:58 - Embracing Diversity and Learning from Other Cultures 01:43:38 - Broadening Our Understanding 01:47:34 - Moving towards unbounded love 01:51:18 - Connecting with Sebenesellassie.com 01:54:51 - Upcoming Conversations and Thank Yous