On Time: Making the most of the time we have with Sebene Selassie
Jul 22, 2024
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Sebene Selassie, a writer and Buddhist teacher living with breast cancer, shares insights on control, surrender, and connection in the face of uncertainty. The podcast explores the balance between manipulating time and accepting its limitations, emphasizing radical presence in meditation for embracing interconnectedness and joy.
Sebene Selassie highlights the significance of surrender and connection throughout life's uncertainties.
Sabineh's evolving meditation practice showcases the shift from structured to fluid techniques, emphasizing sensory presence over time constraints.
Deep dives
Embracing Life's Uncertainties and Time's Limit
The guest, Sabineh Salasi, shares her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer at 34, which ignited a deeper dive into her meditation practice and teaching. Living with cancer for almost two decades, she emphasizes the unpredictability of life and the importance of how we choose to use our time amidst uncertainties.
Shifting Perspectives on Meditation and Time
Sabineh describes her journey from a regimented meditation practice to a more fluid and comprehensive approach. Initially influenced by Eastern philosophy in her early teens and formalized her practice in her 20s, she transitioned to a less structured Zen practice. Over time, embracing the concept of time's illusion and focusing on sensory presence, her meditation practice evolved into a daily routine without time constraints.
Cultivating Radical Presence and Connection
Expanding on the essence of belonging, Sabineh's book 'You Belong' explores the interconnectedness of individuals within cultures. She delves into the challenges of understanding differing cultural norms and perspectives, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and embracing the diversity that shapes our interactions. Sabineh advocates for radical presence and acceptance of the full spectrum of human emotions as integral to fostering genuine connection and joy.
How do we make the most of our time here on this earth? This month we’ve discussed the minutes in our days with Laura Vanderkam, the productivity of our weeks and months with Cal Newport, and the cadence of our years with Natalie Nixon. Today, Sebene Selassie is here to talk with us about time over the course of a full life. Sebene is a writer, teacher, and lifetime student of Buddhism. She’s also a woman living with metastatic breast cancer. She sits down with Jessi to share some of what she has learned in the 20 years since her diagnosis, about control, surrender, and connection.