Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver

• A Rebroadcast of Our First Episode – “On Meditation: An Uncommon View”

  I'm away this week, so we're revisiting the very first episode of the podcast. Originally titled “On Meditation: An Uncommon View,” it now becomes episode 25.Meditation is often framed as a self-help tool—to reduce stress, manage pain, improve sleep, or boost performance. And yes, science supports all of that. But the original intention, as taught by the Buddha, was something much deeper: a path to wake up from suffering, discover wisdom, cultivate compassion, and live with courage.This episode explores meditation as a spiritual practice—a way to move beyond conventional thinking and connect with your natural clarity, without relying on religious belief or cultural appropriation.Topics discussed:Meditation as Self-Inquiry: In many wisdom traditions, the core aim is to understand the nature of mind. In Buddhism, this process is meditation.How Meditation Went Mainstream: Once seen as fringe, meditation is now widely accepted for its health benefits—though its deeper spiritual dimensions often get lost.Three Yanas (Vehicles) in Buddhism and Three Views of Meditation:Hinayana (Foundational Vehicle): Focuses on personal liberation, calming the mind, and cultivating simplicity and discipline.Mahayana (Great Vehicle): Emphasizes compassion, the bodhisattva path, and using meditation to benefit others.Vajrayana (Indestructible Vehicle): A mystical path where meditation serves as a direct means to awakening and transformation.Instead of approaching meditation only for outcomes like stress relief, what happens if we let it reveal something deeper?As always, Buddhism Beyond Belief invites you to explore for yourself—don’t take my word for it.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my free weekly newsletter or join the Open Heart Project sangha 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 openheartproject.com. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected] Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

  --------  

  24:04

  --------

  24:04
• Transcending Insanity, Part Four: Exertion

  In this episode, I dive into the fourth of the six paramitas, or transcendent actions, from the classical Buddhist teachings: exertion. If you’ve been following along with our exploration of the first three—generosity, discipline, and patience—you’ll know these aren’t lofty ideals but practical ways to bring dharma off the cushion and into real life.Here, we go deep into what exertion really means. Spoiler: it’s not about trying harder. I talk about what makes exertion so powerful, what gets in its way, and how to reconnect with your own life force—especially when you feel disheartened or overwhelmed.This episode is personal, honest, and yes, maybe a little long. But I hope it offers something of use to you as we navigate life with as much wisdom, courage, and compassion as we can muster.Highlights:Exertion ≠ Trying Harder:Most of us are already trying as hard as we can. Buddhist exertion is not about pushing more—it’s about opening more.What Exertion Is: A continual willingness to engage with reality, to stay with your life and your heart—even when you don’t know where it’s all going.The Three Forms of Laziness:Procrastination or Avoidance: Often rooted in hopelessness or shame.Being Too Busy: When the essential things—like you—fall to the bottom of the list.Losing Heart: When the state of the world or your own limits make you forget your innate goodness.The Three Forms of Exertion:Suit of Armor: Not armor as in closing off, but as in showing up with commitment and presence, no matter what.Action: You keep going. You don’t give up. You come back.Never Being Satisfied: Staying curious. You haven’t reached the bottom of your own wisdom yet.A Different View on Motivation:Exertion is fueled by generosity, discipline, and patience. These are things we receive through openness, not willpower.How Beliefs Can Block Exertion:Our belief systems—especially those we don't even realize we have—can narrow our perception and prevent us from experiencing what's real.Restoring Exertion Through Humor: When we lose our sense of humor, it can be a red flag. Humor often signals a return of energy and perspective.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my free weekly newsletter or join the Open Heart Project sangha 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 openheartproject.com. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected] Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

  --------  

  26:32

  --------

  26:32
• Transcending Insanity, Part Three: Patience

  In this episode, I move on in our exploration of the Six Paramitas (“transcendent actions”) to the third paramita: patience.There is a common misconception that patience means tolerating bad behavior or remaining silent in the face of harm. Instead, patience is a profound and active spiritual practice that can help us transcend aggression and stay present with reality as it unfolds.Drawing on classical Buddhist teachings and a personal story about losing my  temper in traffic, I talk about how we can remain connected to our own and others’ humanity—even in difficult moments—and why doing so is essential for a compassionate life.Highlights:What Patience Is (and Isn't):Not about tolerating wrongdoing or suppressing anger.True patience is the opposite of aggression—it’s about staying present and not shrinking the world to your anger.A personal story of losing patienceTwo Keys to Patience:Staying connected to humanity—even when angry.Letting go of expectations.Three Forms of Patience (from the Buddhist tradition):Overcoming Others’ Destructiveness – Meeting aggression without adding more.Realizing the Nature of Aggression – Seeing the pain behind harmful actions (in others and ourselves).Individual Examination – Resisting assumptions and prejudice; seeing each situation and person freshly.War has never led to peace, and hatred has never resolved anything. We must learn to fight injustice without aggression.Cultivating patience begins with how we relate to our own inner experiences.What would happen if you responded to frustration or criticism without expectations—and stayed open to the humanity behind every interaction?For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my free weekly newsletter or join the Open Heart Project sangha 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 openheartproject.com. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected] Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

  --------  

  18:01

  --------

  18:01
• Transcending Insanity Part Two: Discipline

  This week we continue our exploration of the Six Paramitas (or Transcendent Actions)—the Buddhist teachings on how to go beyond suffering and confusion into wakefulness, compassion, and liberation. I talked about the first paramita, Generosity, in a previous episode. Now we look at the second: Discipline.This isn’t the harsh, rigid discipline of making yourself do things you don’t want to do. Here, discipline is a joyful, courageous return to presence—a practice of continuously coming back to your intentions, your inner world, your experience, and your humanity.Highlights:Why discipline must be paired with generosity to avoid self-aggression.The Buddhist definition of discipline as “coming back” over and over, especially in meditation.How thinking for yourself and not outsourcing wisdom is a powerful form of discipline.The three forms of discipline:Binding Yourself – Committing to opening up, even when it's uncomfortable.Gathering Virtuous Dharmas – Continuing to deepen your understanding through study, reflection, and practice.Benefiting Sentient Beings – Shifting focus from self alone to bringing care for others into your experienceThe three-step method of learning in Buddhist tradition: Hearing, Contemplating, and Meditating. (We usually stop at hearing, regurgitating, and then forgetting.)How including others in your awareness brings joy, strength, and clarity, even in chaotic times.“Discipline is synonymous with joy. Not yippy joy—but the joy of not hiding from your life.”For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my free weekly newsletter or join the Open Heart Project sangha 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 openheartproject.com. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected] Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

  --------  

  22:56

  --------

  22:56
• Seven Sources of True Wealth

  In this episode, I explore a little-known yet profoundly practical Buddhist teaching: The Seven Riches of the Universal Monarch. I warmly invite you to look beyond the modern view of mindfulness as merely a stress-relief tool; rather, consider your practice as a transformative lens on how to live fully, wisely, and with meaning.Drawing from classical Buddhist teachings, my own seminary training, and over 30 years of personal practice, I share how these "seven riches" can serve as guiding principles for cultivating intimacy, purpose, vitality, and inner wisdom in daily life. I even share a story about lying on a couch mid-conversation and realizing my ideal form of social interaction.Highlights:Why mindfulness is more than just stress relief – It’s a path to living with depth, presence, and authenticity.Introduction to the obscure yet profound teaching of the Seven Riches of the Universal Monarch, possibly rooted in the indigenous Bön tradition of Tibet.The 7 Riches unpacked:Consort – The value of intimate connection (romantic or platonic) rooted in trust and love.Minister – Having a trusted source of wisdom or guidance (a person, study, or tradition).General – A sense of protection, whether from people, community, or even financial stability.Horse – The wellspring of vitality and momentum, from energy to inspiration.Elephant – Living with purpose and steady, grounded intention.Wish-Fulfilling Jewel – Deep self-knowledge and compassion as the truest wealth.The Wheel – Integration of all six riches into a cohesive, supportive whole.For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my free weekly newsletter or join the Open Heart Project sangha 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 openheartproject.com. Thoughts? Email us at [email protected] Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

  --------  

  17:30

  --------

  17:30

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver