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PODCAST

Buddhism Beyond Belief with 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

religion & spirituality buddhism

All Episodes

12:16

Meditation, Rage, and Other Strong Emotions

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/05/09

Why do we turn to meditation when things fall apart—and what are we really supposed to do with all these overwhelming emotions? In this short episode, we explore three powerful ways to relate to difficult feelings like anger, fear, and anxiety: as afflictive; as bridges to compassion; and as hidden forms of wisdom. All three ways are accurate, though usually only the first is described in Buddhist writings. In this episode, you’ll hear about how to work skillfully with emotional intensi...

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28:11

Why You’re Not Meditating Consistently (and What to...

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/05/02

In this episode, Susan reflects on one of the most common meditation struggles: staying consistent. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why can’t I just do the thing I know is good for me?”—this episode is for you. The surprising truth? It’s not a discipline problem. It’s a misunderstanding of what meditation really is. Main Topics Covered: The Real Reason Consistency is Hard It’s not about willpower. Most people approach meditation as self-improvement—but it’s actually a spiritual practice. ...

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20:27

True Compassion or Idiot Compassion?

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/04/25

In Buddhism (as in most wisdom traditions), compassion is central—but it’s often misunderstood. It’s not about being nice, it’s about being awake. True compassion is wise, fierce, and rooted in awareness. “Idiot compassion” is a term coined by Chögyam Trungpa to describe misguided kindness that stems from the three poisons: Grasping – trying to feel good or be liked. Aggression – trying to control or make something (or someone) disappear. Delusion – trying to avoid seeing what is really goi...

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25:32

Who Can You Trust in the Spiritual World?

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/04/18

Trusting a spiritual teacher is one of the most important—and complex—decisions on the path. This talk explores three personal experiences: one with a brilliant but inscrutable and controversial teacher, another with a teacher whose misconduct led to a break, and a third with a humble, quietly extraordinary master who became the true source of guidance. The central lesson? Let your practice—not personality—be the guide. Ask yourself: Does this deepen my path? Do I respect the community? A...

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25:02

Inexplicable Joy: Emptiness, Compassion, and the...

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/04/11

In the previous episode, we discuss a teaching that is central throughout the Buddhist world: the Prajnaparamita sutra, also known as The Heart Sutra. While being utterly confounding, at the same time it is a perfect primer on the true meaning of emptiness and ultimate compassion. Turns out, these are the same thing. Who knew?! If you missed it, just go back one episode. In this episode, we go through the Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Knowledge line by line and looks at the vario...

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23:08

Inexplicable Joy: Emptiness, Compassion, and the...

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/04/04

In this episode, we discuss a teaching that is central throughout the Buddhist world: the Prajnaparamita sutra, also known as The Heart Sutra. While being utterly confounding, at the same time it is a perfect primer on the true meaning of emptiness and ultimate compassion. Turns out, these are the same thing. Who knew?! There are many translations of this important teaching. The one discussed in this episode is here. In part one of this two-part episode, Susan talks a bit about the hist...

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18:56

The Four Noble Truths and the Middle Way: Foundations...

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/03/28

The Buddha’s Early Life & Awakening Siddhartha was a protected prince, shielded from suffering by his father. He encountered old age, sickness, and death for the first time during a trip outside the palace. This led him to renounce his privileged life and seek liberation from suffering. He meditated under the Bodhi tree, seeking truth beyond suffering. Achieved enlightenment, saw through the nature of suffering, and articulated the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths (Overview): L...

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14:14

The Broken Hearted Meditator

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/03/21

Perhaps contrary to popular belief, meditation does not make us feel all zen. Rather, it actually makes us feel more deeply. Discussed in this episode: Meditation Heightens Emotions – It doesn’t numb feelings but makes them more vivid. Trauma-Sensitivity is Important – Meditation can help with grief and sorrow but may amplify trauma. The practice should be handled with great care. Options for Working with Strong Emotions in Meditation: Stop meditating if it’s overwhelming. Label emotions as “...

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9:30

On Road Rage and Compassion

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/03/14

In this (embarrassing) episode, long-time Buddhist practitioner Susan Piver describes an episode of road rage (her own) and the moment her rage turned into compassion. Spoiler: it has nothing to do with remembering Buddhist principles and everything to do with simply being human. Discussed in this episode: What are the Four Immeasurables? Loving-kindness – Recognizing our shared humanity. Compassion – Feeling others’ sorrow as our own. Sympathetic Joy – Sharing in others’ happiness. Equ...

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29:55

How to Meditate (and Avoid the Biggest Misconceptions)

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/03/07

This episode provides a deep and practical exploration of meditation, defines meditation as something more than mindfulness, it also includes awareness. Common misconceptions are enumerated. The key takeaway is that meditation is not about achieving a specific state but about learning to be with yourself as you are, with openness and curiosity. Includes a 10-minute guided meditation. Introduction to Meditation & Mindfulness Many wisdom traditions emphasize examining one’s own mind as the ...

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24:04

On Meditation: An Uncommon View

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/02/28

Meditation is most often described as a self-help technique that will support you to improve performance, reduce stress, manage pain, and sleep better. All of this is true. Thank you, science! However, as first transmitted by the Buddha, the practice was not described in any such terms. Rather, it was offered as a way to wake up from suffering, realize true wisdom, extend compassion, and live with bravery. We in the West can still expect such outcomes without relying in any way on cultural ap...

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1:39

Teaser: Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver ·

2025/02/26

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 abou...

en

32 results

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