Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver

• Inexplicable Joy: Emptiness, Compassion, and the Heart Sutra, Part 1

  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 history of the text, what we can learn from it, and how best to approach a teaching that is both supremely powerful and impossible to understand. Good luck! Come back next week for part two where we break it down, line-by-line.To learn more, check out Susan’s new (very short) book, Inexplicable Joy: On the Heart SutraDiscussed in this episode:Emptiness & No-SelfThese aren't nihilistic ideas — they're about interdependence.Nothing exists independently — everything (including “you”) arises from causes and conditions.Emptiness isn’t a void — it's a space of infinite potential.Like a womb: empty, yet full of creative possibility.Compassion Arising from EmptinessRelative compassion: being kind, patient, helpful — depends on awareness.Absolute compassion: rooted in the deep realization that all beings are connected.Real compassion arises from presence, not just being “nice.”Three Ways the Meaning Comes ThroughThe wordsThe sound of the wordsThe environment into which it is spokenHow to Approach the Heart SutraForm a personal relationship with the text.Understanding isn't the goal — connection is.Heart Sutra’s wisdom is felt, not explained.Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

  --------  

  23:08
• The Four Noble Truths and the Middle Way: Foundations of the Journey

  The Buddha’s Early Life & AwakeningSiddhartha 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):Life is suffering (Dukkha) – More accurately, life is unsatisfying because everything is impermanent.Cause of suffering – Grasping, clinging, and pretending we can make things unchanging.Cessation of suffering – Let go of grasping, and suffering will cease.Path to cessation – The Noble Eightfold Path (e.g., right view, right speech, right livelihood, etc.).Three Types of Suffering:Suffering of suffering – Painful experiences like illness and death; inevitable.Suffering of change – Joy and success are temporary; fear of loss brings suffering.All-pervasive suffering – A background unease or existential dissatisfaction, even when life is “good.”The Middle Way:Buddhism embraces neither eternalism (belief in eternal divine reward/punishment) nor nihilism (belief in nothing beyond material existence).The Middle Way is not the mid-point between the two. What is it?Direct Experience Over Belief:Don’t take the Buddha’s word for it — verify teachings through your own lived experience.Belief systems, even Buddhist ones, are seen as potential obstacles.Wisdom comes from mixing teachings with direct experience, not from intellectualization.Final Reflection:The true spiritual path is one’s own journey of discovery.All teachings are tools; the real teacher is your own mind, inseparable from wisdom itself.Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

  --------  

  18:56
• The Broken Hearted Meditator

  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 “thinking” and return to the breath.Focus on the physical sensation of the emotion without engaging in its story.Feelings vs. Thoughts – Emotions are real, but the stories we tell about them create suffering. “Feel the feeling, drop the story.” –Pema ChodronPersonal Stories:A heartbreak revealed that suffering was increased by the thoughts added to the reality of loss. The loss (a breakup) was not optional, but the additional thoughts were.A career setback and a chance encounter with an experienced meditator taught that meditation isn’t about avoiding emotions but facing them.Meditation’s Impact – It is rare that anything happens while meditating. It’s actually pretty hard and boring. However! Progress shows up “off the cushion” as increased wisdom, compassion, and resilience.Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

  --------  

  14:14
• On Road Rage and Compassion

  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.Equanimity – Maintaining balance amidst emotional ups and downs.How Meditation Cultivates CompassionWhy is meditation so famously associated with compassion? How does sitting there, “doing nothing,” open your heart? Instead of numbing emotions, meditation deepens our ability to feel.It helps us break habitual emotional reactions and respond with awareness.Compassion is OrganicIt is not something we can turn on or off—it is our natural state.On Road Rage and CompassionSusan describes losing her temper in traffic but experiencing an instant shift in a split second when she began to confront the other driver. Compassion is not about excusing bad behavior but about recognizing shared humanity.True compassion arises when we see others not as obstacles, but as people.This reflection highlights how meditation is not passive but an active practice that transforms how we relate to the world.Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

  --------  

  9:30
• How to Meditate (and Avoid the Biggest Misconceptions)

  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 & MindfulnessMany wisdom traditions emphasize examining one’s own mind as the start of a spiritual journey. In the Buddhist tradition, this is done through meditation or mindfulness practice.What is meditation? It involves choosing an object of attention (e.g., breath, an image, or a mantra) to focus on instead of thoughts.Mindfulness and AwarenessMeditation is often described as “mindfulness meditation,” but a more accurate term is mindfulness-awareness meditation.Mindfulness is something that can be actively worked on and developed. Awareness, on the other hand, expands naturally when space is created by allowing thoughts to settle.Misconceptions About MeditationMisconception #1: Meditation Requires Stopping ThoughtsImpossible and unnecessary. Meditation is not about shutting thoughts off but about changing the relationship with them.Misconception #2: Meditation is a form of Self-HelpWhile it may help in many ways, meditation is not about self-improvement—it’s a path of transformation and liberation.It allows one to see beyond the conventional mind rather than just becoming a better version of oneself.Misconception #3: Meditation Will Make You PeacefulIt softens inner defenses, allowing for greater emotional depth and authenticity. Instead of bringing peace, it makes one more genuine and vulnerable.Meditation Instruction & Practice (10 minutes)Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

  --------  

  29:55

More Religion & Spirituality podcasts

Trending Religion & Spirituality podcasts

About Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver