Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver

Susan Piver
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  • BUDDHISM

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 bring the profound wisdom of the dharma into their real life: at home, at work, and in love. The foundation for it all is meditation as a spiritual practice, not the latest life hack. Let’s go beyond the science and celebrity testimonials to discover the true power of meditation which is not based in self-improvement but in self-discovery. 

  1. 2D AGO

    The Noble Eightfold Path: Step Six: Right Effort

    Send us Fan Mail This week we explore Right Effort, the sixth step of the Noble Eightfold Path. While the earlier steps guide how we understand reality and how we act in the world, Right Effort begins to turn inward. It concerns how we work with our own mind and inner life. Right Effort does not mean pushing harder or forcing yourself to improve. It begins with a commitment not to give up on yourself. From there, it becomes a practice of directing your energy wisely, caring for your inner world, and recognizing that even difficult states of mind can contain seeds of wisdom. In this episode, I explore Right Effort through three lenses: foundational, relational, and transformational. Highlights Why Right Effort is not about striving or pushing yourselfA personal story about learning not to give up on myselfThe role of daily structure in supporting what truly mattersHow meditation helps us reclaim agency over our attentionThe effort required to remember our shared humanityWhat it means to “look deeply” at difficult emotionsHow anger, desire, anxiety, and spaciness can contain seeds of wisdom Music After Party For the after party, I share a short song called Regular Rabbit by Stephen Spencer. He writes songs based on stories told by his young daughter, and they capture something simple and reassuring about being human. This one brings me joy every time I hear it. You can also listen here. Watch this episode on video If you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is coming soon. Thoughts? You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through our form — I’d love to include them in future episodes. Get your copy of The Buddhist Enneagram From March 10 – April 10, you can receive 30% off the new physical edition of The Buddhist Enneagram when you order directly from Shambhala Publications. Use code ENNEAGRAM30 at checkout. If this book has been on your reading list, or if you know someone who might benefit from this perspective on the Enneagram, this is a great time to pick up a copy. Buy yours 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

    30 min
  2. A Powerful New Take on the Enneagram (from my new book)

    MAR 13

    A Powerful New Take on the Enneagram (from my new book)

    Send a text This episode, we pause our exploration of the Noble Eightfold Path before returning next week with Right Effort. This week, Shambhala Publications (my favorite publisher) is reissuing my book, The Buddhist Enneagram. I’m so proud this is happening and I wanted to take this chance to share thoughts on the two wisdom streams that have shaped my life for more than three decades: the Buddhadharma and the Enneagram. Highlights: Why compassion is central to Buddhist teaching and why it can be most difficult in our intimate relationshipsNine patterns of attention through which we experience the same worldHow understanding these patterns can transform conflict with partners, family, and colleaguesA personal example of how different Enneagram types notice different things in the same situationThe three centers of intelligence in the Enneagram: instinctual, emotional, and mentalHow each center responds differently when life does not go our wayThe three instinctual drives that shape each type: self-preservation, social, and intimate connectionWhy these combinations create 27 nuanced ways of beingHow each type carries both an idealization and an avoidanceUsing the Enneagram not to label people but to understand them and remain connectedHow the system can support genuine compassion in everyday lifeMusic selection: I share a recording of “Black Night,” most famously associated with musician Charles Brown. The version we listen to features Willie Nelson and Dr. John from the album Milk Cow Blues. I talk about the extraordinary musicians on the track, including producer and guitarist Derek O’Brien, who created the theme music for this podcast. You can also listen to it here. Get your copy of The Buddhist Enneagram From March 10 – April 10, you can receive 30% off the new physical edition of The Buddhist Enneagram when you order directly from Shambhala Publications. Use code ENNEAGRAM30 at checkout. If this book has been on your reading list, or if you know someone who might benefit from this perspective on the Enneagram, this is a great time to pick up a copy. Buy yours 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

    50 min
  3. The Noble Eightfold Path: Step Five: Right Livelihood

    MAR 6

    The Noble Eightfold Path: Step Five: Right Livelihood

    Send a text In this episode, I explore Right Livelihood, the fifth step on the Noble Eightfold Path. We began with Right View and Right Intention, then moved into speech and action. Now we turn to how we earn a living. It may sound ordinary, but the way we work, relate, and exchange value in the world can either bind us more tightly or support liberation. I share three lenses from the Buddhist tradition to investigate what Right Livelihood might mean for us now. Highlights Why your job belongs on a path aimed at awakeningThe foundational teaching: avoid professions that cause harmWork as relational practice, the workplace as a practice communityRight Livelihood as Bodhisattva activity in daily lifeProtection, money, and the spiritual function of financial stabilityWhen Buddhism meets consumer culture How business and interdependence might inform one another Music After Party In our after-party, I share “Le Bien, Le Mal” from Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 by Guru, featuring MC Solaar. Their collaboration feels like a true exchange. Two artists building something together, each sharpening the other. You can hear the mutual respect.  You can also listen here. Thoughts? You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through our form — I’d love to include them in future episodes. Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat  Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required.  Learn more and register here. 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

    27 min
  4. The Noble Eightfold Path: Step Four: Right Action

    FEB 27

    The Noble Eightfold Path: Step Four: Right Action

    Send a text In this episode, I explore Right Action, the fourth step on the Noble Eightfold Path. We begin with Right View and Right Intention, then move outward into speech. Now we take those steps into how we live and act in the world. Right Action is not a fixed rulebook. It is nuanced, relational, and always evolving. I share three lenses from the Buddhist tradition that help us investigate what right action might mean in our lives right now. Highlights Why Right View is about seeing beyond our education, insights, and intelligenceHow Right Intention arises from recognizing interconnectednessWhy there is no universal playbook for Right ActionThe Five Precepts as a foundational guide: no killing, no stealing, no lying, no intoxicant abuse, no sexual misconductRight Action through the Mahayana lens: loving kindness, compassion, and taking joy in others’ happinessThe Vajrayana perspective: karma, karmic seeds, and the possibility of planting none at allLetting go as a radical form of actionHow meditation reveals the mind noticing itself“Mind resting in mind” and the end of karmic momentum Music After Party In our after party, I share “Feel Like Going Home” from the album Folk Singer by Muddy Waters, produced by Willie Dixon and featuring Buddy Guy. It is spare, intimate, and timeless. Watch this episode on video If you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is here. Thoughts? You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through our form — I’d love to include them in future episodes. Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat  Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome, with no prior meditation experience required.  Learn more and register here. 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

    27 min
  5. The Noble Eightfold Path: Step Three: Right Speech

    FEB 20

    The Noble Eightfold Path: Step Three: Right Speech

    Send a text In this episode, I explore the third step of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Speech, and why it might more accurately be called Right Listening. I begin with a story about the so-called “Marcus Syndrome”, the habit of using someone else’s speaking time to prepare your reply. From there, I revisit Right View and Right Intention, and how the way we hold our inner world naturally shapes the words we send out into the world. We look at the classical categories of unskillful speech and then discuss four questions you can ask yourself before you speak. At the heart of it all is the rare and vulnerable skill of listening.  I also reflect briefly on a teaching from the Heart Sutra about how one’s capacity to listen can create deeper insight in others. Highlights The “Marcus Syndrome” and the illusion that we are listening when we are really rehearsingHow Right View and Right Intention give rise to Right SpeechWhy listening may be the highest communication skillThe four forms of unskillful speechLying, including half truths and things we repeat without certaintyAbusive speech, and the difference between harm and skillful angerDivisive speech that separates people from one anotherIdle speech that fills space without purposeFour questions to ask before speakingIs it trueIs it beneficialIs it clearIs it timelyThe power of presence and how good listening is contagious Music After Party A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke I share why this song feels like a masterwork of sorrow and strength. It is a statement of grief and hope held in the same breath. You can also listen here. Watch this episode on video If you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is here. Thoughts? You can send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through our form — I’d love to include them in future episodes. Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat  Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offering dedicated time for creative work alongside guided meditation and conversation. Writers of all genres and levels are welco 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

    26 min
  6. The Noble Eightfold Path: Step Two: The Power of Intention

    FEB 13

    The Noble Eightfold Path: Step Two: The Power of Intention

    Send a text When I first started my own business years ago, I was full of doubt, excitement, fear, and hope, often all at the same time. Out of nowhere, a major opportunity landed in my lap that could have launched everything forward. There was just one problem. I did not respect the work of the person offering it. In this episode, I reflect on that moment and how a single sentence from my meditation teacher changed the way I understand right intention, karma, and the mysterious consequences of our actions. This conversation explores right intention through personal experience and Buddhist teachings, moving from practical self examination to a much larger, more mysterious view of how our actions ripple through the world. I also share a personal story about illness, healing, and what it means to work with karma without knowing how or when it will resolve. Highlights The early days of my business and an opportunity that forced a difficult ethical decisionA Tibetan Buddhist teaching that reframed how I think about success and failureWhat right intention really means beyond good outcomesRight view and the radical idea of interconnectednessThe three cycles of Buddhist teaching and how each understands intentionHow our actions move into the world like wave forms, not straight linesA personal story about injury, illness, and how it impacted my view of karmaThree ways to understand right intention in daily lifeLetting go of expectations while still acting with care and responsibility Music After Party I share one of my all time favorites, Bobby Blue Bland’s recording from 1961, Two Steps from the Blues. I talk about why this album is such a turning point in blues and R & B history, and why Bland’s voice remains unforgettable to me. I also reflect on hearing him live while working at Antone’s in Austin, the reverence he inspired, and the joy of recently meeting his son, Rodd Bland, who continues the legacy in his own powerful way. You can also listen here. Watch this episode on video If you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is here. Ask me a question You can send your questions via Instagram DM or through our form — I’d love to include them in future episodes. Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat  Join me 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

    27 min
  7. The Noble Eightfold Path: Step One: Seeing Clearly

    FEB 6

    The Noble Eightfold Path: Step One: Seeing Clearly

    Send a text In this episode, I begin a conversation about the Fourth Noble Truth, the Noble Eightfold Path, and its first step, Right View. I review the first three Noble Truths and reflect on how Buddhism is often misunderstood as a tool for stress reduction, when it is actually a profound path of liberation from suffering. I explore how suffering arises not simply from loss or disappointment, but from grasping. I share why Right View is the essential foundation that allows the rest of the path to unfold with coherence and meaning. Highlights Why Buddhism is more than mindfulness or stress reductionThe Four Noble Truths and suffering as dissatisfaction rooted in graspingRight View as the foundation of the Noble Eightfold PathRelative and absolute perspectives on loving kindness and non-dualityMeditation as letting go, presence, and opennessMentions The Four Noble Truths and The Middle Way: Foundations of the Journey, episode 5 of Buddhism Beyond Belief The Four Noble Truths of Love: Buddhist Wisdom for Modern Relationships by Susan Piver The Heart of Unconditional Love: A Powerful New Approach to Loving-Kindness Meditation by Tulku Thondup The Play Of Thought by Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche Music I share a personal story about how Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” changed my life, and I offer the song as this episode’s after party music. You can also listen here. Watch this episode on video If you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is here. Ask me a question You can send your questions via Instagram DM or through our form — I’d love to include them in future episodes. Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat  Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity 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

    35 min
  8. Strength in a Time of Crisis: What Helps?

    JAN 30

    Strength in a Time of Crisis: What Helps?

    Send a text This morning, the Open Heart Project Sangha gathered as we do every day to meditate and reflect together. The group was larger than usual, a clear sign of how shaken many of us are by what is happening in the United States right now. I began by saying there is nothing I can offer that makes this moment acceptable or less horrifying. There is no teaching that explains it away. What we can do is see and feel the suffering clearly, without denial or false comfort. We talked about the exposure of cruelty and hypocrisy, while also remembering that this country has held real goodness alongside real harm. I explored the three poisons that distort our response to crisis: grasping, delusion, and aggression. Although we must act and resist, aggression only breeds more aggression. Now what? Drawing on Buddhist teachings about the realms of existence, I focused on the human realm as the place where we can wake up and respond with sanity. During times that I cannot defeat my enemies, I can still strengthen my friends. That shift restores strength and energy. I closed by underscoring the importance of continuing to imagine a sane and compassionate world, no matter how far off it may feel. Without the ability to envision what is possible, we lose the ability to create it.  We dream on behalf of others. Highlights: Why this moment calls for community rather than answersThe danger of responding from grasping, delusion, or aggressionRemembering both the harm and the goodness in our collective historyThe human realm as a source of strength and responsibilityStrengthening friends when you cannot defeat enemiesWhy imagining a better world is crucialMixing sanity into situations of profound cruelty Music For the after party, I share “Say It’s Not So” by Angela Strehli, my favorite female blues singer. The track features Derek O’Brien, who also composed the music for this podcast. This song is deeply personal to me, and it cuts straight to the heart every time. You can also listen here. Watch this episode on video If you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is here. Ask me a question You can send your questions via Instagram DM or through our form — I’d love to include them in future episodes. Fearless Creativity: A Meditation and Writing Retreat  Join me at Drala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies for Fearless Creativity, a meditation and writing retreat offerin 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

    32 min
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About

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 bring the profound wisdom of the dharma into their real life: at home, at work, and in love. The foundation for it all is meditation as a spiritual practice, not the latest life hack. Let’s go beyond the science and celebrity testimonials to discover the true power of meditation which is not based in self-improvement but in self-discovery. 

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