by Susan Piver
Buddhism Beyond Belief is a podcast from Susan Piver, a 30 year student of Tibetan Buddhism and founder of the Open Heart Project, an online meditation community with close to 20000 members.
With Susan as a friend and guide, we will look at traditional teachings like the four noble truths and the six paramitas–but not from an academic standpoint. Rather, we will talk about how to make it all personal and relevant in everyday life.
This podcast is not about Buddhist doctrine. It’s about how anyone can bring the profound wisdom of the dharma into their real life: at home, at work, and in love. The foundation for it all is meditation as a spiritual practice, not the latest life hack. Let’s go beyond the science and celebrity testimonials to discover the true power of meditation which is not based in self-improvement but in self-discovery.
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>What does "emptiness" actually mean in Buddhism? It is one of the most misunderstood teachings, often taken to mean nothingness or the absence of meaning. In this episode, I discuss emptiness through the Zen koan "Mu," a personal story of heartbreak, and the Buddhist understanding that we are not separate from one another. Rather than pointing to a void, emptiness shows the fullness of all phenomena and the compassion that comes from recognizing it.Highlights:The Zen teaching of "Mu" A story of my own broken heart that pointed out the nature of emptinessWhy emptiness does not mean meaninglessnessMind as relationalThe link between emptiness and compassionWhy meditation is about more than improving your thoughtsListener QuestionHow do you work with someone who pushes your buttons? I share Pema Chödrön's advice “to feel the feelings and drop the story,” and why staying with the felt experience can change how we relate to difficult situations.Send me your questions:You can keep the conversation going or send your reflections via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/">Instagram DM</a> or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.MusicThis week's song is Along Comes Mary by The Association, a pop classic with astonishing lyrics, unforgettable harmonies, and what may be the greatest handclaps ever recorded.Mentioned in this episode:My book <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-wisdom-of-a-broken-heart-how-to-turn-the-pain-of-a-breakup-into-healing-insight-and-new-love-susan-piver/e9703b22d7a17f68?ean=9781416593164&">The Wisdom of a Broken Heart: How to Turn the Pain of a Breakup into Healing, Insight, and New Love</a>Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is coming soon.New course: 30 Days of DharmaFor 30 days, beginning September 13th, I’m offering a chance to practice all of this together with a small group of people who want to take the dharma off the cushion and into ordinary life. We'll create a personalized daily routine, meditate, study the teachings, and look at how wisdom, compassion, and power actually show up at home, at work, and in our relationships. Every participant will have one-on-one time to consult with me and my co-teacher, Crystal Gandrud, about your practice before, during, and following the program. You don't need to be a Buddhist. You only need a willingness to begin where you are and be yourself. Space is limited. <a href="https://openheartproject.com/30-days-of-dharma/">Learn more here</a>.Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat Let’s practice together in person at Drala Mountain Center, up in the Colorado Rockies, for a retreat on the bodhisattva path: what it takes to live with real courage and an open heart in the middle of our ordinary, chaotic, beautiful lives. We'll talk honestly about how to recognize and rouse basic sanity right where we already are. Everyone's welcome, and you don't need any prior meditation experience.<a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pbs826-proclaiming-basic-sanity-living-the-bodhisattva-path/"> Learn more and register</a>.My new book is now availableInexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics, is available for purchase. Explore the spiritual path through 7 principles which run counter to conventional wisdom on mindfulness. Learn more and buy your copy <a href="https://openheartproject.com/inexplicable-magic-meditation-for-mystics/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>This week I share one of the central teachings in Tibetan Buddhist practice: the Four Reminders that turn the mind toward the dharma. I had a recent conversation with Lama Sonam Rinpoche who said to me multiple times in the course of a few hour conversation: there is no more important teaching than this. In this episode, I try to offer some insights into why a great Lama might say such a thing. Highlights:How the Four Reminders create a trustworthy foundation for spiritual practiceWhy your life really, really mattersHow impermanence brings clarity to everyday livingA practical way to understand karma The weird way that acknowledging suffering actually helpsHow these contemplations can deepen any meditative or contemplative practiceListener QuestionCan we get so focused on spirituality that we lose touch with the “real world”? I talk about the difference between real practice and spiritual bypassing, and why the path is never separate from ordinary life.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a>.MusicThis week's track is "Okie Dokie Stomp" by the musical miracle known as Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.Mentioned in this podcast: Episode 12, <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/episodes/17171767">Buddhist Cosmology: The Six Realms of Being</a>Also mentioned: great contemporary blues artist <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqhSQUxSoZw&list=RDuqhSQUxSoZw&start_radio=1">Sue Foley’s live version of Okie Dokie Stomp</a>My new book is now availableInexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics, is available for purchase. Explore the spiritual path through 7 principles which run counter to conventional wisdom on mindfulness. Learn more and buy your copy <a href="https://openheartproject.com/inexplicable-magic-meditation-for-mystics/">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/3j6D0Q70L70">here</a>.New course: 30 Days of DharmaFor 30 days, beginning September 13th, I’m offering a chance to practice all of this together with a small group of people who want to take the dharma off the cushion and into ordinary life. We'll create a personalized daily routine, meditate, study the teachings, and look at how wisdom, compassion, and power actually show up at home, at work, and in our relationships. Every participant will have one-on-one time to consult with me and my co-teacher, Crystal Gandrud, about your practice before, during, and following the program. You don't need to be a Buddhist. You only need a willingness to begin where you are and be yourself. Space is limited. <a href="https://openheartproject.com/30-days-of-dharma/">Learn more here</a>.Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat Let’s practice together in person at Drala Mountain Center, up in the Colorado Rockies, for a retreat on the bodhisattva path: what it takes to live with real courage and an open heart in the middle of our ordinary, chaotic, beautiful lives. We'll talk honestly about how to recognize and rouse basic sanity right where we already are. Everyone's welcome, and you don't need any prior meditation experience.<a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pbs826-proclaiming-basic-sanity-living-the-bodhisattva-path/"> Learn more and register</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>It’s episode 60! A perfect place to reach a summation of my new book, <a href="https://openheartproject.com/inexplicable-magic-meditation-for-mystics/">Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics</a> which posits that meditation is not about becoming a better version of yourself. It is a spiritual practice that opens you to the three qualities of the awakened mind: wisdom, compassion, and power. How do these qualities arise from sitting there, doing “nothing”? All I know is that millions of practitioners over thousands of years have reported that it is so. In this episode, we look at the seven principles of living as a mystic, hiding in plain sight. In this episode:Why meditation is a spiritual path, not a self-help projectA common misconception about meditation and how it keeps people from practicingHow your everyday life provides the perfect gateway to magicAn introduction to a Buddhist teaching, the three kāyas, and how it all relates to the magic of meditationSensing what is under the surface is just as “real” as whatever is on the surfaceHow meditation helps us relate to ourselves, others, and the worldMusicThis episode closes with "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" by Blind Willie Johnson, a recording that seems to come from somewhere else. Send your questions or reflections via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/">Instagram DM</a> or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.My new book is now availableInexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics, is available for purchase. Explore the spiritual path through 7 principles which run counter to conventional wisdom on mindfulness. Learn more and buy your copy <a href="https://openheartproject.com/inexplicable-magic-meditation-for-mystics/">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/oajEMsvPJHw">here</a>.New course: 30 Days of DharmaFor 30 days, beginning September 13th, I’m offering a chance to practice all of this together with a small group of people who want to take the dharma off the cushion and into ordinary life. We'll create a personalized daily routine, meditate, study the teachings, and look at how wisdom, compassion, and power actually show up at home, at work, and in our relationships. Every participant will have one-on-one time to consult with me and my co-teacher, Crystal Gandrud, about your practice before, during, and following the program. You don't need to be a Buddhist. You only need a willingness to begin where you are and be yourself. Space is limited. <a href="https://openheartproject.com/30-days-of-dharma/">Learn more here</a>.Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat Let’s practice together in person at Drala Mountain Center, up in the Colorado Rockies, for a retreat on the bodhisattva path: what it takes to live with real courage and an open heart in the middle of our ordinary, chaotic, beautiful lives. We'll talk honestly about how to recognize and rouse basic sanity right where we already are. Everyone's welcome, and you don't need any prior meditation experience. <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pbs826-proclaiming-basic-sanity-living-the-bodhisattva-path/">Learn more and register</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>This episode picks up on the sixth principle of spiritual practice from my new book, <a href="https://openheartproject.com/inexplicable-magic-meditation-for-mystics/">Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics</a>: We Dream on Behalf of Others. Meditation protects our minds from the incessant barrage of those who seek our attention, whether for good or, most probably, for ill. Great forces are vying for agency over your thoughts right now. I hope that doesn’t sound conspiracy theory-y! It just seems obvious that a lot of money is being spent to capture attention spans as so much consumerist fodder. What could possibly go wrong?! Besides everything! In this episode, I talk about the importance of maintaining sovereignty over your inner world, in no small part because it enables you to keep dreaming…visioning…imagining…remaining connected to what is possible–not as a means of escaping reality but of laying the ground for creating a new reality, one that includes decency, sanity, and care for others. There are many who simply cannot dream right now, and for very understandable reasons. Many are under siege. Homeless. Hungry. Living in a fire of rage. Right now, we are able to dream. This may not always be so, but while it is, we could dream on everyone’s behalf. Because what we cannot imagine, we cannot build. Highlights:In the Heart Sutra, the Buddha's meditative absorption stirs a student, Sariputra, to ask an important question.Because none of us is truly separate, your practice affects everyone around you.Plenty of beings cannot dream right now because they are besieged, hungry, sick, or without a home, so the rest of us can hold dreams for them.If we cannot dream something, we cannot build it, and there are forces that would rather their dreams of money and power become ours. Don’t do it!!Meditation is how I keep my own mind: I notice a thought, call it a thought, and come back to the the present.Listener questionFrom Kim, a parent who wants to stay informed for the sake of conversation with her children, but is deeply disturbed by all the things happening in 2026 America..Send your questions or reflections via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/">Instagram DM</a> or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Music "A Girl Like You" by Edwyn Collins, a mid-90s hit I love for its weird, fuzzy guitar tone. Idiosyncratic guitar playing FTW.My new book is now availableInexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics, is available for purchase. Explore the spiritual path through 7 principles which run counter to conventional wisdom. Learn more and buy your copy <a href="https://openheartproject.com/inexplicable-magic-meditation-for-mystics/">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/yDyPmZ7Oha0">here</a>.Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat Come practice with me at Drala Mountain Center, up in the Colorado Rockies, for a retreat on the bodhisattva path: what it takes to live with real courage and an open heart in the middle of our ordinary, chaotic, beautiful lives. We'll talk honestly about how to recognize and rouse basic sanity right where we already are. Everyone's welcome, and you don't need any prior meditation experience.<a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pbs826-proclaiming-basic-sanity-living-the-bodhisattva-path/"> Learn more and register</a>.If this one meant something to you Please subscribe, leave a rating or review, and/or send it to someone who's curious about meditation, spiritual practice, or the Buddhist path. Or just feeling better, really.Free meditations: my<a href="https://openheartproject.com/"> free weekly newsletter</a> Come be in community: the<a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/"> Open Heart Project sangha</a> More about all of it:<a href="http://openheartproject.com"> openheartproject.com</a>If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>“The first rule of magic is containment,” said the great Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way and many other books. This points to the idea that the world we live in changes the way our minds and hearts work. The more uplifted our world, beginning with our actual home, the more potency we have in our spiritual quest. Why? It’s magic? In this episode, I explore the fifth principle from <a href="https://openheartproject.com/inexplicable-magic-meditation-for-mystics/">Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics</a>: We Clean Up After Ourselves. I also answer a listener's question about why the Buddha described friendship, not as helpful along the way, but as the way. And for the podcast after party, we check in with the great Ini Kamoze. HighlightsWhy caring for your environment is a spiritual practiceHow the "container principle" shapes meditation and daily lifeWhat it means to clean up after yourself — in your space and in your relationshipsRepairing small moments of disconnectionWhy the Buddha taught that spiritual friendship is the whole of the pathThe role of sangha in practiceMusicListen to "Here Comes the Hotstepper" by Ini Kamoze and tell me you somehow remained seated. Mentioned in this podcast: <a href="https://fakebuddhaquotes.com/">Fake Buddha Quotes</a>My new book is now availableInexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics, is available for purchase. Explore the spiritual path through 7 principles which run counter to conventional wisdom. Learn more and buy your copy <a href="https://openheartproject.com/inexplicable-magic-meditation-for-mystics/">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/T6usGoPLTJ4?si=33aSW0GwW5HnQGbU">here</a>.Send me your questions:You can keep the conversation going or send your reflections via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/">Instagram DM</a> or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.New 7-Day Program Starts June 14th<a href="https://openheartproject.com/event/seven-days-of-inexplicable-magic/">Seven Days of Inexplicable Magic</a> is a chance to immerse yourself in post-meditation practice, aka the rest of your life. What happens when practice follows you into your relationships, home life, bill-paying, creative pursuits? Together, we will find out.. The program follows the arc of my new book, and I'm co-leading it with my friend, Crystal Gandrud.<a href="https://openheartproject.com/event/seven-days-of-inexplicable-magic/"> Come find out more</a>.Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat Come practice with me at Drala Mountain Center, up in the Colorado Rockies, for a retreat on the bodhisattva path: what it takes to live with real courage and an open heart in the middle of our ordinary, chaotic, beautiful lives. We'll talk honestly about how to recognize and rouse basic sanity right where we already are. Everyone's welcome, and you don't need any prior meditation experience.<a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pbs826-proclaiming-basic-sanity-living-the-bodhisattva-path/"> Learn more and register</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>The spiritual path asks you to open up, and the more you do so, the more you feel everything: your tenderness, things you’ve been avoiding, your deepest longings. It’s important to stay open to all of this but being open takes judgment. I know people say you shouldn’t judge but I say, hell yes, you’ve got to judge. The deepening vulnerability of the journey requires discernment and self-protection.In this episode, I explore the fourth principle from my new book, <a href="https://openheartproject.com/inexplicable-magic-meditation-for-mystics/">Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics</a>: We Are Boundaried. I discuss healthy boundaries, the importance of relying on teachers who can introduce you to your own wisdom (not theirs alone), and a traditional teaching called the Seven Treasures that help us establish protection, agency, and trust in our knowing.Highlights• Why boundaries matter• Meditation as ground, path, and fruition• The three qualities cultivated through practice: compassion, clarity, and courage• Three teachers: outer, inner, and secret• The line between a community that supports you and one that seeks to take you over• The Seven Treasures as a framework for protection and self-trust• A listener's question about progress in meditation, and where to actually look for signs your practice is workingMusicFor the after party I'm playing "Who Do You Love" by Bo Diddley. It's deep and full of swagger, from one of the true original rockers.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iLcqaIS-48&list=RD0iLcqaIS-48&start_radio=1">Have a listen</a>.My new book is now availableInexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics, is available for purchase. Explore the spiritual path through 7 principles which go counter to conventional wisdom. Learn more and buy your copy <a href="https://openheartproject.com/inexplicable-magic-meditation-for-mystics/">here</a>.Watch this episode on video If you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/ERjsZPy_u0k?si=pDEqLWD4DKvCjyIa">here</a>.Send me your questions: You can keep the conversation going or send your reflections via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/">Instagram DM</a> or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.New 7-Day ProgramA new 7-day program<a href="https://openheartproject.com/event/seven-days-of-inexplicable-magic/">Seven Days of Inexplicable Magic</a> is an immersion into what happens when practice gets off the cushion and into the rest of your life. It follows the arc of the new book, and I'm co-leading it with my friend, Crystal Gandrud.<a href="https://openheartproject.com/event/seven-days-of-inexplicable-magic/">Come find out more</a>.Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat Come practice with me at Drala Mountain Center, up in the Colorado Rockies, for a retreat on the bodhisattva path: what it takes to live with real courage and an open heart in the middle of our ordinary, chaotic, beautiful lives. We'll talk honestly about how to recognize and rouse basic sanity right where we already are. Everyone's welcome, and you don't need any experience to come.<a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pbs826-proclaiming-basic-sanity-living-the-bodhisattva-path/">Learn more and register</a>.Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pbs826-proclaiming-basic-sanity-living-the-bodhisattva-path/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, I explore one of the most persistent misunderstandings about meditation: that it is supposed to make you feel better. From my experience, meditation does not numb heartbreak or smooth out emotional life. It opens us more fully to our experience. I talk about why vulnerability is not a failure of practice, but a sign that something real is happening. I also share thoughts on heartbreak as a path of awakening, the connection between heartbreak and compassion, and why meditation with eyes open benefits everyday life.Highlights:• Why meditation makes you feel more, not less• The connection between heartbreak and awakening• Softening toward yourself as the root of compassion• Why vulnerability is part of the spiritual path• Reestablishing agency when the mind runs wild• The difference between looking to receive love and looking to offer it• How awareness “cuts through” during meditation• Why I teach meditation with eyes openMusic After PartyI talk about the song “Dark End of the Street” by James Carr and why it remains one of the most heartbreaking songs about longing and love ever recorded.Also from me on Buddhism and heartbreak: <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-wisdom-of-a-broken-heart-how-to-turn-the-pain-of-a-breakup-into-healing-insight-and-new-love-susan-piver/e9703b22d7a17f68?ean=9781416593164&next=t&">The Wisdom of a Broken Heart</a>Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/fkNeTVmi7Qw?si=kTbm7Fo7S2XZdi9r">here</a>.Send me your questions:You can keep the conversation going or send your reflections via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/">Instagram DM</a> or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.New Book & New ProgramFor more on the topic of meditation and heartbreak, please look for my new book, Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics, out June 1. It explores meditation not as self-improvement, but as a spiritual path rooted in ritual, heartbreak, creativity, vulnerability, and awakening in everyday life.You’re also invited to join <a href="https://openheartproject.com/event/seven-days-of-inexplicable-magic/">Seven Days of Inexplicable Magic</a>, an immersive program exploring how meditation practice can move beyond the cushion and into every aspect of your life. Learn more <a href="https://openheartproject.com/event/seven-days-of-inexplicable-magic/">here</a>.Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for a meditation retreat exploring the bodhisattva path and what it means to live with courage, compassion, and clarity in everyday life. Through guided meditation, teachings, and conversation, we’ll reflect on how to recognize and express basic sanity in the midst of our actual lives. All are welcome, and no prior meditation experience is required.Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pbs826-proclaiming-basic-sanity-living-the-bodhisattva-path/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, I reflect on a recent meditation and writing retreat where participants explored grief, heartbreak, violence, loss, and the experiences that shape us most deeply. I talk about why the personal is not an obstacle to spiritual practice but the very material of the path itself. I explore how teachings on egolessness can become distorted into self-erasure, and why real transformation begins by turning toward our experience with curiosity, courage, and love. I also answer a listener question about non-duality, discuss why it may be impossible to “understand” intellectually, and share thoughts on how wisdom comes to us through openness rather than effort.HighlightsWhy difficult personal experiences are often the doorway into creativity, insight, and connectionThe transformative power of being witnessed and deeply heardHow teachings on egolessness can become confused with shame or self-rejectionWhy your suffering, brilliance, confusion, and history are part of the spiritual path“What you seek does not come from you. It comes to you.”How ritual creates receptivity in meditation practiceWhy spiritual practice does not remove heartbreak, but changes our relationship to itNon-duality and why it may be experienced rather than understoodMusic After PartyI share my love of 1980s reggae and dancehall through Wayne Smith’s “Under Mi Sleng Teng,” a track that helped transform reggae music through its groundbreaking digital riddim.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/nPjUa_CEKyM?si=zYsvcc11OfnTbv0W">here</a>.Send me your questions:You can keep the conversation going or send your reflections via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/">Instagram DM</a> or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for a meditation retreat exploring the bodhisattva path and what it means to live with courage, compassion, and clarity in everyday life. Through guided meditation, teachings, and conversation, we’ll reflect on how to recognize and express basic sanity in the midst of our actual lives. All are welcome, and no prior meditation experience is required.Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pbs826-proclaiming-basic-sanity-living-the-bodhisattva-path/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, I explore why spiritual practice becomes sustainable through ritual, not force. I share the story of a month-long meditation retreat where I discovered an unexpected sense of ease in both meditation and writing, and how that experience led me to begin teaching meditation and writing retreats myself. I also introduce the first principle from my new book, Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics: We engage in daily ritual. Through the Buddhist teaching of the three jewels, Buddha, dharma, and sangha, I explore how wakefulness, contemplation, and community create the conditions for practice to truly take root.HighlightsWhy meditation retreats can unlock creativity, focus, and flowHow structure and repetition create a container for spiritual practiceThe first principle of Inexplicable Magic: we engage in daily ritualBuddha as wakefulness itself, not just a historical figureDharma as reflection, contemplation, and connection to wisdomWhy community, or sangha, is essential for sustaining practiceWhat really happens when meditation becomes difficult or boringSimple ways to bring the three jewels into daily lifeMusic After PartyI share “Uncloudy Day” by The Staple Singers, featuring the extraordinary guitar playing of Pops Staples and the unforgettable voice of Mavis Staples. Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/GXH840Pqi-8?si=9M4hB6f2IcT4HkLv">here</a>.Send me your questions:You can keep the conversation going or send your reflections via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/">Instagram DM</a> or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for a meditation retreat exploring the bodhisattva path and what it means to live with courage, compassion, and clarity in everyday life. Through guided meditation, teachings, and conversation, we’ll reflect on how to recognize and express basic sanity in the midst of our actual lives. All are welcome, and no prior meditation experience is required.Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pbs826-proclaiming-basic-sanity-living-the-bodhisattva-path/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, I reflect on a recent conversation in the Open Heart Project sangha about scientific research on meditation. Yes, meditation can improve brain function and mood. But if we stop there, we may miss the point.There’s a much older, deeper body of “research” drawn from lived experience over thousands of years. Meditation is not just about feeling better. It’s about waking up, opening fully to life, and discovering a freedom that goes far beyond conventional thought.I share seven core principles from my upcoming book <a href="https://openheartproject.com/documents/IM_info.png">Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics</a> that challenge the self-improvement framing of practice.Highlights:Meditation is not a tool to fix what’s broken. We begin from wholeness, not deficiency.Practice is rooted in ritualThe personal is not the problemTurning toward sorrow opens the door to real compassionBoundaries are part of spiritual lifeCleaning up your environment strengthens your inner lifeWe practice for others, not just ourselvesLive as a mystic in everyday lifeThe middle way is not a compromise but a lived reality beyond rigid frameworks and extremesThis episode is an invitation to look at meditation’s deeper proposition. Mentioned in this episode: The Middle Way: To learn more, please check out our <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/buddhism-beyond-belief-with-susan-piver/id1798818779?i=1000701200394">episode #5</a>.Send me your questions:You can keep the conversation going or send your reflections via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/">Instagram DM</a> or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for a meditation retreat exploring the bodhisattva path and what it means to live with courage, compassion, and clarity in everyday life. Through guided meditation, teachings, and conversation, we’ll reflect on how to recognize and express basic sanity in the midst of our actual lives. All are welcome, and no prior meditation experience is required.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>Here is a new episode after an unexpected pause. I’m moving to a new house and that has stirred disorientation, emotional complexity, and a break from familiar patterns. The truth is, I just didn’t know if I had anything of use to say. Also, I was in a bad mood? Needy! It happens! It turns out that this unsettled place provided a good context to consider a question raised in our Open Heart Project sangha: do Buddhists pray? If so, to whom?In a non-theistic tradition, rather than being directed toward an external deity, prayer becomes a way of relating to awareness itself. The images, rituals, and expressions of devotion are not about reaching for something outside us, but about connecting to the wisdom, compassion, and courage already present.In this episode, I explore prayer as communion rather than asking, and how everyday acts of attention, care, and listening can deepen our relationship with the divine.HighlightsWhat it means that Buddhism is non-theisticWhy you can practice meditation without adopting a belief systemBuddhist deities as reflections of your own wisdom mindPrayer as communion rather than petitionEveryday life as an expression of prayerListening, presence, and awareness as the heart of practiceSend me your questions:You can keep the conversation going or send your reflections via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susan.piver/">Instagram DM</a> or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/ZZpxNuNniP8">here</a>.Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for a meditation retreat exploring the bodhisattva path and what it means to live with courage, compassion, and clarity in everyday life. Through guided meditation, teachings, and conversation, we’ll reflect on how to recognize and express basic sanity in the midst of our actual lives. All are welcome, and no prior meditation experience is required.Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/pbs826-proclaiming-basic-sanity-living-the-bodhisattva-path/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, I bring all eight steps of the Noble Eightfold Path together. This teaching is a way of living, not a project of self-improvement. This is about how we relate to experience and how that shapes suffering or freedom.HighlightsRight ViewSeeing clearly begins in the present moment.Meditation helps us loosen our grip on thoughts and recognize we don’t truly know.What we seek arises when there is space, not through more thinking.Right IntentionIntention matters more than outcome.Pause and examine what is driving your actions.Let care for others be part of every decision.Right SpeechPractice real listening rather than simply reacting.Avoid harming self and others through your words.Ask: Is it true, beneficial, clear, and timely?Right ActionNo fixed rules, but the five precepts offer guidance.Act with care, compassion, and awareness.Letting go reduces the tendency to create more suffering.Right LivelihoodYour work is part of the path.Avoid harm and consider how you relate to others in the work you do.Integrity at work supports the spiritual journey.Right EffortRather than pushing harder, Right Effort means not giving up.Build daily patterns that supports what matters most.Include yourself and others in that commitment.Right MindfulnessNot a tool for optimization.Practice presence with precision and openness.Be with experience as it is.Right ConcentrationTrain attention by returning to a single focus.Over time, attention becomes steady and connected.Offering full attention is not separate from enlightenment.ConclusionThis path isn’t linear or something to complete. It’s something to live.Test it for yourself. Bring your own intelligence to what you hear.Thoughts?You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required. Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/fc526-fearless-creativity/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>This week we arrive at the final step of the Noble Eightfold Path: Right Samadhi, often translated as concentration or absorption. If the earlier steps help us see clearly and act with intention, this final step gathers the mind into a unified experience.Right Samadhi is not about forcing the mind to focus. It begins with learning to place attention on one thing and come back when it wanders. From there, it deepens into the ability to give your attention fully to another person. And eventually, it points beyond both of those, toward a loosening of the sense that there is a separate “you” paying attention to something else.In this episode, I explore Right Samadhi through three lenses: foundational, relational, and transformational.HighlightsWhat Right Samadhi actually means beyond “concentration”Why the ability to focus is becoming rare and why it mattersMeditation as training attentionAttention as the basis of loveWhat it means to truly listen to another personThe challenge of stepping outside self-focused attentionThe possibility of awareness without a subject or objectRight Samadhi as the culmination of the Noble Eightfold PathMusic After PartyThis week I share “Steep Hills of Vicodin Tears” by A Winged Victory for the Sullen.You can also listen here.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is coming soon.Thoughts?You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Get your copy of The Buddhist Enneagram From March 10 – April 10, you can receive 30% off the new physical edition of <a href="https://www.shambhala.com/the-buddhist-enneagram.html?srsltid=AfmBOooGQr3z4RXvghiNncoS-J0DGc-TzHJ1mByyfI9qvxOQs7hPITyX">The Buddhist Enneagram</a> when you order directly from Shambhala Publications. Use code ENNEAGRAM30 at checkout. If this book has been on your reading list, or if you know someone who might benefit from this perspective on the Enneagram, this is a great time to pick up a copy. Buy yours <a href="https://www.shambhala.com/the-buddhist-enneagram.html?srsltid=AfmBOooGQr3z4RXvghiNncoS-J0DGc-TzHJ1mByyfI9qvxOQs7hPITyX">here</a>.If you’d like a free chapter, sign up for my weekly meditation newsletter <a href="https://openheartproject.com/get-a-free-chapter-of-the-buddhist-enneagram/">here</a>.Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required. Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/fc526-fearless-creativity/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>This week we explore Right Mindfulness, the seventh step of the Noble Eightfold Path. While the earlier steps shape how we see and act in the world, this step turns us inward again, toward our direct experience.Right Mindfulness is not about self-improvement or optimization. It is a way of relating to the mind as it is. Through meditation, we begin to see that thoughts are not a problem to solve, but something to notice, release, and return from, again and again.In this episode, I explore Right Mindfulness through three qualities that arise in practice: precision, openness, and spaciousness.HighlightsWhy mindfulness is not a tool for fixing yourselfThe simple meditation formula: notice, let go, come back, begin againWhy thoughts are not the problemPrecision as the foundation of practiceOpenness to allowing experience to be as it isSpaciousness for the true nature of mindThe shift from identifying with thoughts to recognizing awareness itselfMusic After PartyThis week I share “I Won’t Cry” by Doug Sahm, a true Texas legend. You can also listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTWke14Y2QM">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is coming soon.Thoughts?You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Get your copy of The Buddhist Enneagram From March 10 – April 10, you can receive 30% off the new physical edition of <a href="https://www.shambhala.com/the-buddhist-enneagram.html?srsltid=AfmBOooGQr3z4RXvghiNncoS-J0DGc-TzHJ1mByyfI9qvxOQs7hPITyX">The Buddhist Enneagram</a> when you order directly from Shambhala Publications. Use code ENNEAGRAM30 at checkout. If this book has been on your reading list, or if you know someone who might benefit from this perspective on the Enneagram, this is a great time to pick up a copy. Buy yours <a href="https://www.shambhala.com/the-buddhist-enneagram.html?srsltid=AfmBOooGQr3z4RXvghiNncoS-J0DGc-TzHJ1mByyfI9qvxOQs7hPITyX">here</a>.If you’d like a free chapter, sign up for my weekly meditation newsletter <a href="https://openheartproject.com/get-a-free-chapter-of-the-buddhist-enneagram/">here</a>.Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required. Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/fc526-fearless-creativity/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>This week we explore Right Effort, the sixth step of the Noble Eightfold Path. While the earlier steps guide how we understand reality and how we act in the world, Right Effort begins to turn inward. It concerns how we work with our own mind and inner life.Right Effort does not mean pushing harder or forcing yourself to improve. It begins with a commitment not to give up on yourself. From there, it becomes a practice of directing your energy wisely, caring for your inner world, and recognizing that even difficult states of mind can contain seeds of wisdom.In this episode, I explore Right Effort through three lenses: foundational, relational, and transformational.HighlightsWhy Right Effort is not about striving or pushing yourselfA personal story about learning not to give up on myselfThe role of daily structure in supporting what truly mattersHow meditation helps us reclaim agency over our attentionThe effort required to remember our shared humanityWhat it means to “look deeply” at difficult emotionsHow anger, desire, anxiety, and spaciness can contain seeds of wisdomMusic After PartyFor the after party, I share a short song called Regular Rabbit by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_stephenspencer/">Stephen Spencer</a>. He writes songs based on stories told by his young daughter, and they capture something simple and reassuring about being human. This one brings me joy every time I hear it.You can also listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B4dv0sZlpU">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/pcAlLrSuoBQ">here</a>.Thoughts?You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Get your copy of The Buddhist Enneagram From March 10 – April 10, you can receive 30% off the new physical edition of <a href="https://www.shambhala.com/the-buddhist-enneagram.html?srsltid=AfmBOooGQr3z4RXvghiNncoS-J0DGc-TzHJ1mByyfI9qvxOQs7hPITyX">The Buddhist Enneagram</a> when you order directly from Shambhala Publications. Use code ENNEAGRAM30 at checkout. If this book has been on your reading list, or if you know someone who might benefit from this perspective on the Enneagram, this is a great time to pick up a copy. Buy yours <a href="https://www.shambhala.com/the-buddhist-enneagram.html?srsltid=AfmBOooGQr3z4RXvghiNncoS-J0DGc-TzHJ1mByyfI9qvxOQs7hPITyX">here</a>.If you’d like a free chapter, sign up for my weekly meditation newsletter <a href="https://openheartproject.com/get-a-free-chapter-of-the-buddhist-enneagram/">here</a>.Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required. Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/fc526-fearless-creativity/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>This episode, we pause our exploration of the Noble Eightfold Path before returning next week with Right Effort.This week, Shambhala Publications (my favorite publisher) is reissuing my book, <a href="https://www.shambhala.com/the-buddhist-enneagram.html?srsltid=AfmBOooGQr3z4RXvghiNncoS-J0DGc-TzHJ1mByyfI9qvxOQs7hPITyX">The Buddhist Enneagram</a>. I’m so proud this is happening and I wanted to take this chance to share thoughts on the two wisdom streams that have shaped my life for more than three decades: the Buddhadharma and the Enneagram.Highlights:Why compassion is central to Buddhist teaching and why it can be most difficult in our intimate relationshipsNine patterns of attention through which we experience the same worldHow understanding these patterns can transform conflict with partners, family, and colleaguesA personal example of how different Enneagram types notice different things in the same situationThe three centers of intelligence in the Enneagram: instinctual, emotional, and mentalHow each center responds differently when life does not go our wayThe three instinctual drives that shape each type: self-preservation, social, and intimate connectionWhy these combinations create 27 nuanced ways of beingHow each type carries both an idealization and an avoidanceUsing the Enneagram not to label people but to understand them and remain connectedHow the system can support genuine compassion in everyday lifeMusic selection:I share a recording of “Black Night,” most famously associated with musician Charles Brown. The version we listen to features Willie Nelson and Dr. John from the album Milk Cow Blues. I talk about the extraordinary musicians on the track, including producer and guitarist Derek O’Brien, who created the theme music for this podcast. You can also listen to it <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=aCVxqCRF754">here</a>.Get your copy of The Buddhist Enneagram From March 10 – April 10, you can receive 30% off the new physical edition of <a href="https://www.shambhala.com/the-buddhist-enneagram.html?srsltid=AfmBOooGQr3z4RXvghiNncoS-J0DGc-TzHJ1mByyfI9qvxOQs7hPITyX">The Buddhist Enneagram</a> when you order directly from Shambhala Publications. Use code ENNEAGRAM30 at checkout. If this book has been on your reading list, or if you know someone who might benefit from this perspective on the Enneagram, this is a great time to pick up a copy. Buy yours <a href="https://www.shambhala.com/the-buddhist-enneagram.html?srsltid=AfmBOooGQr3z4RXvghiNncoS-J0DGc-TzHJ1mByyfI9qvxOQs7hPITyX">here</a>.If you’d like a free chapter, sign up for my weekly meditation newsletter <a href="https://openheartproject.com/get-a-free-chapter-of-the-buddhist-enneagram/">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/1FfPWWVW2Yo">here</a>.Thoughts?You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required. Learn more aIf you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, I explore Right Livelihood, the fifth step on the Noble Eightfold Path. We began with Right View and Right Intention, then moved into speech and action. Now we turn to how we earn a living. It may sound ordinary, but the way we work, relate, and exchange value in the world can either bind us more tightly or support liberation. I share three lenses from the Buddhist tradition to investigate what Right Livelihood might mean for us now.HighlightsWhy your job belongs on a path aimed at awakeningThe foundational teaching: avoid professions that cause harmWork as relational practice, the workplace as a practice communityRight Livelihood as Bodhisattva activity in daily lifeProtection, money, and the spiritual function of financial stabilityWhen Buddhism meets consumer culture How business and interdependence might inform one anotherMusic After PartyIn our after-party, I share “Le Bien, Le Mal” from Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 by Guru, featuring MC Solaar.Their collaboration feels like a true exchange. Two artists building something together, each sharpening the other. You can hear the mutual respect. You can also listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWDhSZGZUA0&list=RDHWDhSZGZUA0&start_radio=1">here</a>.Thoughts?You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required. Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/fc526-fearless-creativity/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, I explore Right Action, the fourth step on the Noble Eightfold Path. We begin with Right View and Right Intention, then move outward into speech. Now we take those steps into how we live and act in the world. Right Action is not a fixed rulebook. It is nuanced, relational, and always evolving. I share three lenses from the Buddhist tradition that help us investigate what right action might mean in our lives right now.HighlightsWhy Right View is about seeing beyond our education, insights, and intelligenceHow Right Intention arises from recognizing interconnectednessWhy there is no universal playbook for Right ActionThe Five Precepts as a foundational guide: no killing, no stealing, no lying, no intoxicant abuse, no sexual misconductRight Action through the Mahayana lens: loving kindness, compassion, and taking joy in others’ happinessThe Vajrayana perspective: karma, karmic seeds, and the possibility of planting none at allLetting go as a radical form of actionHow meditation reveals the mind noticing itself“Mind resting in mind” and the end of karmic momentumMusic After PartyIn our after party, I share “Feel Like Going Home” from the album Folk Singer by Muddy Waters, produced by Willie Dixon and featuring Buddy Guy. It is spare, intimate, and timeless.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/iq6HLyGayAg">here</a>.Thoughts?You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required. Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/fc526-fearless-creativity/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, I explore the third step of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Speech, and why it might more accurately be called Right Listening. I begin with a story about the so-called “Marcus Syndrome”, the habit of using someone else’s speaking time to prepare your reply. From there, I revisit Right View and Right Intention, and how the way we hold our inner world naturally shapes the words we send out into the world.We look at the classical categories of unskillful speech and then discuss four questions you can ask yourself before you speak. At the heart of it all is the rare and vulnerable skill of listening. I also reflect briefly on a teaching from the Heart Sutra about how one’s capacity to listen can create deeper insight in others.HighlightsThe “Marcus Syndrome” and the illusion that we are listening when we are really rehearsingHow Right View and Right Intention give rise to Right SpeechWhy listening may be the highest communication skillThe four forms of unskillful speechLying, including half truths and things we repeat without certaintyAbusive speech, and the difference between harm and skillful angerDivisive speech that separates people from one anotherIdle speech that fills space without purposeFour questions to ask before speakingIs it trueIs it beneficialIs it clearIs it timelyThe power of presence and how good listening is contagiousMusic After PartyA Change Is Gonna Come by Sam CookeI share why this song feels like a masterwork of sorrow and strength. It is a statement of grief and hope held in the same breath.You can also listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPr3yvkHYsE&list=RDfPr3yvkHYsE&start_radio=1">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/LhbhwEW5XnE">here</a>.Thoughts?You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required. Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/fc526-fearless-creativity/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>When I first started my own business years ago, I was full of doubt, excitement, fear, and hope, often all at the same time. Out of nowhere, a major opportunity landed in my lap that could have launched everything forward. There was just one problem. I did not respect the work of the person offering it. In this episode, I reflect on that moment and how a single sentence from my meditation teacher changed the way I understand right intention, karma, and the mysterious consequences of our actions.This conversation explores right intention through personal experience and Buddhist teachings, moving from practical self examination to a much larger, more mysterious view of how our actions ripple through the world. I also share a personal story about illness, healing, and what it means to work with karma without knowing how or when it will resolve.HighlightsThe early days of my business and an opportunity that forced a difficult ethical decisionA Tibetan Buddhist teaching that reframed how I think about success and failureWhat right intention really means beyond good outcomesRight view and the radical idea of interconnectednessThe three cycles of Buddhist teaching and how each understands intentionHow our actions move into the world like wave forms, not straight linesA personal story about injury, illness, and how it impacted my view of karmaThree ways to understand right intention in daily lifeLetting go of expectations while still acting with care and responsibilityMusic After PartyI share one of my all time favorites, Bobby Blue Bland’s recording from 1961, Two Steps from the Blues. I talk about why this album is such a turning point in blues and R & B history, and why Bland’s voice remains unforgettable to me. I also reflect on hearing him live while working at Antone’s in Austin, the reverence he inspired, and the joy of recently meeting his son, Rodd Bland, who continues the legacy in his own powerful way.You can also listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrlsVJl4aYw&list=RDLrlsVJl4aYw&start_radio=1">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/Dbn22I1CO94">here</a>.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required. Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/fc526-fearless-creativity/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, I begin a conversation about the Fourth Noble Truth, the Noble Eightfold Path, and its first step, Right View. I review the first three Noble Truths and reflect on how Buddhism is often misunderstood as a tool for stress reduction, when it is actually a profound path of liberation from suffering. I explore how suffering arises not simply from loss or disappointment, but from grasping. I share why Right View is the essential foundation that allows the rest of the path to unfold with coherence and meaning.HighlightsWhy Buddhism is more than mindfulness or stress reductionThe Four Noble Truths and suffering as dissatisfaction rooted in graspingRight View as the foundation of the Noble Eightfold PathRelative and absolute perspectives on loving kindness and non-dualityMeditation as letting go, presence, and opennessMentions<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/buddhism-beyond-belief-with-susan-piver/id1798818779?i=1000701200394">The Four Noble Truths and The Middle Way: Foundations of the Journey</a>, episode 5 of Buddhism Beyond Belief<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-four-noble-truths-of-love-buddhist-wisdom-for-modern-relationships-susan-piver/5f59102b2d43ac5f?ean=9781732277601&next=t">The Four Noble Truths of Love: Buddhist Wisdom for Modern Relationships</a> by Susan Piver<a href="https://www.shambhala.com/the-heart-of-unconditional-love-3327.html">The Heart of Unconditional Love: A Powerful New Approach to Loving-Kindness Meditation</a> by Tulku Thondup<a href="https://bodhicharya-kent.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Dudjom-Rinpoche-The-Play-of-Thought.pdf">The Play Of Thought</a> by Kyabje Dudjom RinpocheMusicI share a personal story about how Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” changed my life, and I offer the song as this episode’s after party music.You can also listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cNS_Mecbw8&list=RD8cNS_Mecbw8&start_radio=1">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/AJMLTtxM-2Q">here</a>.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required. Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/fc526-fearless-creativity/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please subscribe, rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.Get free meditations: Sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> Join our community: The <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a>Learn more about the Open Heart Project: Visit<a href="https://openheartproject.com/"> openheartproject.com</a>If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>This morning, the Open Heart Project Sangha gathered as we do every day to meditate and reflect together. The group was larger than usual, a clear sign of how shaken many of us are by what is happening in the United States right now.I began by saying there is nothing I can offer that makes this moment acceptable or less horrifying. There is no teaching that explains it away. What we can do is see and feel the suffering clearly, without denial or false comfort.We talked about the exposure of cruelty and hypocrisy, while also remembering that this country has held real goodness alongside real harm. I explored the three poisons that distort our response to crisis: grasping, delusion, and aggression. Although we must act and resist, aggression only breeds more aggression. Now what?Drawing on Buddhist teachings about the realms of existence, I focused on the human realm as the place where we can wake up and respond with sanity. During times that I cannot defeat my enemies, I can still strengthen my friends. That shift restores strength and energy.I closed by underscoring the importance of continuing to imagine a sane and compassionate world, no matter how far off it may feel. Without the ability to envision what is possible, we lose the ability to create it. We dream on behalf of others.Highlights:Why this moment calls for community rather than answersThe danger of responding from grasping, delusion, or aggressionRemembering both the harm and the goodness in our collective historyThe human realm as a source of strength and responsibilityStrengthening friends when you cannot defeat enemiesWhy imagining a better world is crucialMixing sanity into situations of profound crueltyMusicFor the after party, I share “Say It’s Not So” by Angela Strehli, my favorite female blues singer. The track features Derek O’Brien, who also composed the music for this podcast. This song is deeply personal to me, and it cuts straight to the heart every time.You can also listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOF8aOtJxmc&list=RDlOF8aOtJxmc&start_radio=1">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/YJKmhT4tY-A">here</a>.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required. Learn more and register <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/fc526-fearless-creativity/">here</a>.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and living from a place of personal authenticity, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a>, my online community of smart, kind, independent thinkers. Like you. Please subscribe, rate and share the podcast with a friend.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>In this episode, I introduce the Four Karmas—pacifying, enriching, magnetizing, and destroying—as practical actions for meeting chaos, conflict, and confusion without losing clarity or heart. In this Buddhist framework, karma means action, not fate. These are not strategies for getting your way, but ways to protect the mind, deepen compassion, and interrupt ignorance in real time.I also explore the “ Māras ,” the obstacles that can distort each karma, and why wisdom sometimes needs to be gentle—and sometimes fierce. Drawing on the story of the Buddha under the Bodhi tree, I reflect on how distraction, shame, and aggression show up in our own lives, and how these four actions help us meet them skillfully.HighlightsKarma as action, not reward or punishmentThe Four Karmas as tools for clarity and compassionHow wisdom can be peaceful or wrathfulKnowing when to add, wait, attract, or let goThe Four Karmas (Briefly)Pacifying: Settling down to see clearly, often through deep listening rather than fixing. Obstacle: Spiritual bypassing.Enriching: Adding what genuinely increases vitality and connection, based on what’s actually needed. Obstacle: Accumulating without applying.Magnetizing: Receptivity—allowing insight, creativity, and help to come toward you. Obstacle: Emotional reactivity that obscures perception.Destroying: Ending or pruning what no longer serves, without aggression. Obstacle: Total shutdown instead of skillful cutting.Closing MusicI end the episode with “Waloyo Yamoni (We Overcome the Wind)” by Christopher Tin—a piece that feels vast, direct, and deeply human.If you found this episode meaningful, please share it or leave a review. It truly helps.During this episode, I mentioned my upcoming retreat on meditation and writing, Fearless Creativity. You can learn more <a href="https://www.dralamountain.org/program/fc526-fearless-creativity/">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/xPut2Hz-zzs">here</a>.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Learn to Teach MeditationThe Open Heart Project Meditation Teacher Training returns this January.We begin January 17th, 2026. I teach every session. It’s intimate, rigorous, supportive—and it’s for anyone who wants to help others work with their own minds and hearts.Click <a href="https://openheartproject.com/meditation-teacher-training-2026/">here</a> to learn more & sign up.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>As we move into a new year, how do we deepen our understanding: of ourselves, our relationships, and our spiritual practice? In this episode, we explore the three essential steps of learning in the Buddhist tradition: hearing, contemplating, and meditating.Highlights:Why the first step, hearing, is more than listening: it’s opening to what’s being offered without judgment or projection.How contemplating allows teachings to be tested, weighed, and integrated through experience rather than accepted blindly.What it means to meditate in the deepest sense: living a teaching, letting it shape your being.A story from a meditation student learning to let go of constant vigilance and just breathe.Reflections on <a href="https://www.namsebangdzo.com/Progressive-Stages-of-Meditation-on-Emptiness-p/5774.htm?srsltid=AfmBOooOzjLazExHRadZ9eemwU8FYcdi7VoY6EGHch_RHCRKTjECxUpj&__s=xxxxxxx">Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness</a> and integrating wisdom into daily life.If you want to learn something deeply—whether meditation, spiritual practice, or life itself—these three steps are your path.Podcast After Party – Song Feature:We celebrate music as a form of transmission and joy with a performance by the legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum (also spelled Oum Kalsoum, Om Kalsoum, Umm Kalsoum, Om Kulthoum, Oum Kulthoum, and Umm Kolthoum). Her song Lelat Hob (Night of Love) showcases the power of live music, devotion, and cultural adoration. For the full version of this song, you can listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hETOm73chLk">here</a>.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/KwbqnwYVuWU">here</a>.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Learn to Teach MeditationThe Open Heart Project Meditation Teacher Training returns this January.We begin January 17th, 2026. I teach every session. It’s intimate, rigorous, supportive—and it’s for anyone who wants to help others work with their own minds and hearts.Click <a href="https://openheartproject.com/meditation-teacher-training-2026/">here</a> to learn more & sign up.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
<a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456053/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>For the final episode of the year, I am sharing a short excerpt from a book I am writing called Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics. This work grows directly out of the heart of this podcast and its focus on how we actually live–not as monastic meditators, but as householders.In this excerpt, I reflect on the Buddha’s awakening and on meditation as it was originally understood, not as self-improvement or stress reduction, but as a path of waking up from delusion and helping others do the same.I explore the connection between mindfulness and awareness. Mindfulness is essential, but it is the ground, not the fruition. Awareness cannot be cultivated through effort. It can only be allowed, and it is where insight, opening, and real transformation arise organically.This episode looks at meditation as a way of relating rather than fixing. A practice that breaks the heart open and reveals wisdom, compassion, and bravery. It’s not a transaction, but a way of living, and, ultimately, a way of dying.To close out the year, I share one of my most beloved pieces of music, Sentimental Walk from the film Diva, a piece that brings spaciousness and calm and accompanies me often when I write.Thank you for listening and practicing with me this year. I look forward to continuing the conversation in 2026.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is <a href="https://youtu.be/guT5Mpl6Hx4">here</a>.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through <a href="https://openheartproject.com/send-your-question-to-susan-piver-host-of-buddhism-beyond-belief/">our form</a> — I’d love to include them in future episodes.<a href="https://openheartproject.com/event/building-a-mindful-new-year-2025/">Building a Mindful New Year</a> is a free, six-day online program exploring how Buddhist practice can help us stay present, steady, and values-aligned in uncertain times. Through daily teachings, meditation, and community practice, we focus on supporting ourselves first—so we can more honestly meet our lives and care for others as the new year begins. You can jump in anytime between 26–31 December to gain access to all 6 talks. Sign up <a href="https://openheartproject.com/event/building-a-mindful-new-year-2025/">here</a>.Learn to Teach MeditationThe Open Heart Project Meditation Teacher Training returns this January.We begin January 17th, 2026. I teach every session. It’s intimate, rigorous, supportive—and it’s for anyone who wants to help others work with their own minds and hearts.Click <a href="https://openheartproject.com/meditation-teacher-training-2026/">here</a> to learn more & sign up.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">free weekly newsletter</a> or join the <a href="https://openheartproject.com/open-heart-project/">Open Heart Project sangha</a> for more connection with community and with me.If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit <a href="https://openheartproject.com/">openheartproject.com</a>.Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.comProduced by <a href="https://www.citizensofsound.com/">Citizens of Sound</a>Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project
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