Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver

• Lessons on Right Speech from a Chaotic Morning

  In this episode, I explore what I believe to be one of the most urgent Buddhist teachings for our current moment: Right Speech. Many people associate Buddhism with stress reduction or calming the mind, and while those benefits are real, the path is far more robust. It offers a way to wake up, to see clearly, and to live everyday life with more meaning, compassion, and courage.I also share a story that unfolded early this morning at Austin’s Barton Springs pool—an unexpected confrontation between two dog owners that I somehow stepped right into. It wasn’t pretty. I wasn’t pretty! As I reflected on what happened, I realized it offered a lens for examining Right Speech, what it is, what it isn’t, and how challenging it can be to practice it in real time.Right Speech is the third step on the Noble Eightfold Path, following Right View and Right Intention. It is essential. Speech is our bridge to one another and a central part of the path. In this episode, I walk through the four characteristics of wrong speech, the five questions to ask yourself before speaking, and the ways in which our words—and the intention behind them—shape the world.I close with a song for our podcast after-party: “Wichita Lineman,” written by Jimmy Webb and recorded by Glen Campbell, one of the most beautiful and mournful songs I know.HighlightsWhy Buddhism is more than mindfulness or stress reliefWhy Right Speech may be the most vital teaching for our timeA real-life story about conflict, dogs, and my unplanned interventionThe four kinds of wrong speech: lying, divisive speech, abusive speech, idle speechFive questions to ask before speaking:Is it the right time?Is it truthful?Is it gentle or kind?Is it beneficial?Is it spoken with goodwill?Reflections on whether my own speech this morning met any of these criteriaWhy awareness of speech is a profound spiritual practiceThank you for listening, for sharing the podcast with anyone who might enjoy it, and for being part of this exploration of the dharma. I’ll see you next week.Music Segment“Wichita Lineman,” written by Jimmy Webb and recorded by Glen Campbell in 1968, is a spacious, aching ballad often hailed as one of the greatest songs ever written. Its haunting melody, iconic six-string bass solo, and portrait of quiet longing make it a perfect companion for reflection.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 [email protected] Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

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• Keeping Practice Sacred (Without Getting Weird)

  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 [email protected] Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

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• The Seven Characteristics of a Dharmic Person

  In this episode of Buddhism Beyond Belief, I explore how we truly enter the path—not through esoteric or “advanced” practices, but by grounding ourselves in simple awareness and presence. After more than thirty years of practice and teaching, I’ve come to see that depth in meditation isn’t about complexity. It’s about sincerity—how fully we can find our breath, sit with our mind, and meet life as it is.I share what the Tibetan Buddhist tradition calls the seven characteristics of a Dharmic person—qualities that guide anyone, Buddhist or not, toward wisdom and compassion. Together, they offer a map for living with steadiness, clarity, and an open heart, even when life feels messy or painful.I also tell a story about grief, and how the seemingly simple quality of good conduct can become an act of warriorship—opening to heartbreak instead of turning away.And as always, I close with music I love: this time, “Swim Away” by the late Toni Price—an artist of rare authenticity whose voice carries both ache and freedom.Highlights:Why Buddhism is not just about stress reduction, but about liberation and living fully.Why “advanced” practices mean nothing without the ability to find your breath.The Seven Characteristics of a Dharmic Person:Passionlessness: Tolerating life’s small irritations without chasing perfection.Contentment: Slowing down to appreciate the everydayness of daily life.Fewer Activities: Creating space by loosening the grip of constant doing.Good Conduct: Living with care, attention, and courage to face what is painful.Awareness of the Teacher: Recognizing and honoring the sources of wisdom that awaken you.Propagating Prajna (Wisdom): Bringing what you’ve verified as true into daily life.An Attitude of Goodness: Trusting your inherent wholeness—your Buddha nature.Reflections on grief, love, and the courage to open to heartbreak.A story from Sharon Salzberg and the Dalai Lama on self-esteem and basic goodness.How Buddhist faith is not rooted in belief, but in living what you’ve discovered to be true.Music SegmentThe episode ends with “Swim Away” by Toni Price—a haunting acapella piece about longing to return home.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 [email protected] Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

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• A Guided 10-Minute Meditation Practice (plus music)

  In this episode, I offer a guided meditation and explore what it really means to not be trying—not striving to get somewhere, even in practice. Rather than exerting effort or resisting, meditation invites us to let go again and again and rest in a state of receptivity.We look at how love, insight, and creativity are not things we can get, but things we receive, and how meditation teaches us to rest in that open space. I also clarify common misconceptions about meditation—especially the idea that we must stop thinking—and instead suggest developing awareness of thought rather than control over it.We end with a reflection on attention, presence, and the natural rhythm of the breath, followed by a story about one of my favorite songs, “Blue Sky” by The Allman Brothers Band, and the beauty of two voices joining in spontaneous harmony.Highlights:Letting go of striving and resting in presenceThe art of receiving rather than seekingThoughts as part of awareness, not the enemy of itAttention as placement, not analysisThe connection between meditation, creativity, and loveClosing reflection: “Blue Sky” by The Allman Brothers BandWatch 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 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 [email protected] Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

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• Transcending Insanity, Part Six: True Wisdom

  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 [email protected] Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

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