Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver

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 here.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through our form — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Building a Mindful New Year 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 here.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 here 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 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 info@susanpiver.com Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

As we close out a year many of us are ready to leave behind, this episode reflects on what we might want to carry forward—and what we can gently let go of. I explore the Buddhist teaching of the brahmavihāras, or Four Immeasurables, as a way of giving our hearts a place to live that is honest, resilient, and humane.The Four Immeasurables—loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity—are called “immeasurable” because they are not limited resources. They don’t require perfection or self-improvement. They begin with noticing what is actually happening.In this episode, we explore:Loving-kindnessBegins with softening toward ourselves, not being “nice” or agreeableExtends outward to loved ones, strangers, and even enemies without requiring forgiveness or approvalFar enemy: hatredNear enemy: conditional or performative kindnessCompassionFeeling another’s pain as our own, grounded in shared humanityDistinct from sympathy or pityFar enemy: crueltyNear enemy: pitySympathetic joyFeeling another person’s happiness as our ownA remedy for isolation and scarcity thinkingFar enemy: envyNear enemy: shallow or distracting pleasureEquanimityStaying present with joy and sorrow without grasping or pushing awayFully engaged, not numb or indifferentFar enemy: graspingNear enemy: indifference or “good vibes only” detachmentThroughout the episode, I emphasize that the practice is not about trying to embody these qualities, but about noticing our real relationship to them. That noticing itself is the practice.Music SegmentWe close with a podcast after party featuring “Jump Around” by House of Pain, along with a story from my time working at Tommy Boy Records in the early ’90s and a brief exploration of the mysterious opening sample. A link to The Best Sample in History video is included here.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is here.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through our form — I’d love to include them in future episodes.Building a Mindful New Year is a free, six-day online program exploring how Buddhist pIf 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 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 info@susanpiver.com Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

In today’s episode, I’m doing something a little different. Lately I’ve been ending each show with what I called the Podcast After-Party—I share a song I love, along with a few words about why it matters to me. I never meant it to be anything formal. It was simply a delight, a way of sharing the music that has struck some essential chord in my life (no pun intended).I’m not a scholar of music, nor a musician, nor anything close. But I’ve been lucky. My early years in Austin, I worked at a little blues bar called Antone’s—where I landed only because my car broke down—and it opened my ears in a way I could never have planned. I learned to hear. That hearing became a kind of companion to my practice: a way of sensing spaciousness, precision, longing, and joy in another language.As this year comes to an end, I wanted to gather all those after-parties into one place. Today’s episode is simply that: the songs I’ve shared with you, with my original commentary, offered again for your listening pleasure.The songs featured in this compilation are:Episode 28“Christine Leroy” by the Johnson Mountain BoysAn early American  ballad that moved me deeply and launched the after-party itself, reminding me how music carries both sound and devotion.Episode 29“Tribal Dance” and “Albatross” by Peter GreenTwo pieces from a singular musician whose playing embodies spaciousness, warmth, and directness. His work is a study in attunement rather than control.Episode 30“My One and Only Love” by John Coltrane and Johnny HartmanA tender, refined expression of what I call “undone”—an invitation to let the heart be unguarded.Episode 31“Blue Sky” by The Allman Brothers BandA song about presence, joy, and the beauty of two instrumental voices finding harmony without forcing it.Episode 32“Swim Away” by Toni PriceA haunting a cappella piece about longing for home; spare and full of ache.Episode 33“Double Trouble” by Otis RushA dark, piercing blues performance that shows how restraint can reveal more than virtuosity.Episode 34“Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell (written by Jimmy Webb)A spacious, aching ballad often called one of the greatest songs ever written. A portrait of quiet yearning that still feels timeless.Episode 35“Zungguzungguguzungguzeng” by YellowmanA cornerstone of reggae’s remix tradition, built on the famous “Diseases riddim.” A reminder of presence, rhythm, and vitality.Thank you for listening, for sharing this practice and this music with me, and for making space for a little after-party each time we meet.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions about meditation, spirituality, or anything you like  via Instagram DM or through 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 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 info@susanpiver.com Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

In this episode, I speak directly to a question I’m often asked: what can we do when anxiety or panic takes over? While many people associate Buddhism with calming the mind, the path is far more layered than stress reduction. Sometimes the most skillful response is not meditation but something far more ordinary and tender.I share my own experience with severe panic attacks—episodes triggered whenever I felt trapped, especially on airplanes. These attacks arrived suddenly and with enormous force, and none of my usual tools helped. Not meditation. Not breath practice. Not even medication or, memorably, tequila. What ultimately made a difference was human connection: one person’s kindness interrupting the spiral of fear.The turning point came from a United Airlines pilot, Captain Denny, whose simple presence and reassurance steadied me. Later, I learned to ask seatmates for brief conversation during takeoff. Every single time, someone responded with kindness. That small act—letting myself be seen—became my true mantra. Sometimes the most effective practice is to ask another human being to care, even for a moment.Meditation, I learned, can actually intensify panic, and it’s important to acknowledge that. In moments of terror, the dharma may show up not as a technique but as connection, vulnerability, and shared humanity.HighlightsWhy Buddhist practice offers more than stress reliefMy experience with claustrophobia-related panic attacksThe flights where panic overwhelmed every coping strategyHow Captain Denny’s kindness changed everythingThe healing power of vulnerability for both giver and receiverWhy meditation can sometimes intensify fearThe “mantras” that truly helped: someone sees me, someone cares, we’re in this togetherAfter-party: Yellowman, “Zungguzungguguzungguzeng” and a brief history of the “Diseases” riddimThank you for listening, for sharing the podcast with anyone who might benefit, and for being part of this exploration of the dharma. I’ll see you next week.Music Segment “Zungguzungguguzungguzeng,” performed by Yellowman, built on the legendary “Diseases” riddim—an essential thread in reggae’s remix lineage and a showcase of Yellowman’s remarkable presence.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is available here.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through our form — 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 mIf 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 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 info@susanpiver.com Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

Explore the urgent teaching of Right Speech and its significance in today's chaotic world. Susan shares a chaotic morning story involving a confrontation at the pool that serves as a lens to understand effective communication. Discover the four characteristics of wrong speech and five important questions to ask before you speak. Reflect on how our intentions and words influence our connections with others. Wrapping up with a beautiful song, this discussion delves into living with more compassion and courage.

In this episode of Buddhism Beyond Belief, I explore how we can keep our meditation practice genuinely spiritual without making it complicated, performative, or “weird.” After more than thirty years of practice, I’ve learned that depth comes from sincerity, not technique. The simplest form of meditation—just sitting—can open profound dimensions of patience, clarity, confusion, authenticity, and genuine confidence.I share a story from a long retreat in the Colorado Rockies, where I unexpectedly found myself helping to produce a classical music recording inside a sacred building called the Great Stupa. Unsure how to preserve the serenity of the space, I asked my teacher for guidance. He offered three simple instructions that continue to shape my practice today: make offerings, request blessings, and dedicate the merit.In this episode, I talk about what each step means, how it can frame a daily practice, and why ritual helps us sustain a spiritual view without needing anything elaborate. I also reflect on how the effects of meditation show themselves–not during the practice, but in the rest of our lives.I close this episode with music I love. This time, I share “Double Trouble” by the incomparable Otis Rush—one of the most haunting, emotionally searing blues artists of all time. I talk about his unusual left-handed, upside-down guitar style, the mystery of the track’s opening lyric, and my own early encounters with Otis Rush that left an indelible mark on me.Highlights:Why approaching meditation as a ritual can deepen the spiritual dimension of practiceA story from a Colorado retreat and making a recording inside the Great StupaThe three steps my teacher offered for keeping practice sacred:Make offerings: Enter practice with generosity by offering your present-moment heartRequest blessings: Turn toward the sources of wisdom you hold in the highest regardDedicate the merit: Offer whatever goodness arises to benefit all beingsHow simplicity in meditation can lead to profound effects in daily lifeReflections on Otis Rush’s unique sound and the emotional power of “Double Trouble”Memories of encountering his music and how it shaped my understanding of depth and authenticityMusic SegmentThe episode ends with “Double Trouble” by Otis Rush—a dark, piercing, beautifully restrained blues performance that reveals how much can be said with very few notes.Watch this episode on videoIf you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is available here.Ask me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through 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 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 info@susanpiver.com Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

Discover the essence of true practice through simple awareness and presence. Explore the seven characteristics of a Dharmic person, including passionlessness, which helps tolerate life’s irritations, and contentment, encouraging appreciation of everyday life. Learn about creating space by easing the grip of constant activity, practicing good conduct as a form of warriorship through grief, and recognizing the wisdom in teachers. Wrap up with a soulful tribute, highlighting the beauty of navigating life's messiness with clarity and an open heart.

Explore a meditation practice that encourages letting go of striving and embracing receptivity. Discover how love, insight, and creativity naturally flow from this state of awareness. Learn that thoughts don’t need to be stopped but can become part of our greater awareness. Susan elaborates on the importance of placing attention on the breath and practicing mindfulness with body and mind. Enjoy a beautiful reflection tied to the song "Blue Sky" by The Allman Brothers Band, which captures the essence of spontaneous harmony.

In this episode, I explore the sixth and final pāramitā—prajna, or wisdom—the one beyond words and concepts. True wisdom isn’t about knowledge but about recognizing the interdependence of all things and walking the Middle Way between eternalism (“something lasts forever”) and nihilism (“nothing matters”).We revisit the first five pāramitās—generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, and meditative absorption—and see how they lead us to the spacious awareness that meditation reveals. Mindfulness is only half the path; the other half, awareness, brings love, creativity, and compassion.We also look at the three forms of wisdom—worldly, beyond worldliness, and beyond even dharma—and the essence of the Heart Sutra: “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.”I close with a piece of music I love, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman’s “My One and Only Love,” a perfect expression of what I call undone and refined.Highlights:Prajna as direct, wordless knowingThe Middle Way between extremesEmptiness as fullness and interconnectionMindfulness vs. awareness in meditationThe three forms of wisdomThe Heart Sutra’s simple truthClosing reflection: Coltrane and Hartman’s timeless duetWatch this episode on video If you’d like to see me share my reflections, the video version is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdpt80EJvOcAsk me a questionYou can send your questions via Instagram DM or through our form — 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 here 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 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 info@susanpiver.com Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

Meditation is often misrepresented as just a tool for stress relief, missing its deeper purpose of connecting us to others and the world. The conversation dives into the nature of mind and the importance of compassion as an active engagement rather than mere niceness. It introduces the Enneagram as a guide to understanding ourselves and others, exploring instinctual drives and responses to pain. Lastly, music ties into the practice, highlighting the artistry of Peter Green and its relevance in fostering spaciousness in our lives.