Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver

Send us Fan Mail Which one are you in right now? In this episode, I explore the six realms of Buddhist cosmology which can be understood as both literal places of rebirth and psychological states we all experience. I also mention how this might help us contextualize the chaos and cruelty of our current political situation in the US. The realms include: The God Realm - A place of complete abundance...

Send us Fan Mail 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 des...

Send us Fan Mail 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 abo...

Send us Fan Mail 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 –...

Send us Fan Mail 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 you...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 o...

Send us Fan Mail 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,...

Send us Fan Mail 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....

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 meditati...

Send us Fan Mail 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 compassi...

Send us Fan Mail 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...