Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver
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.
Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver
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 Compassion
Why 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 Organic
It is not something we can turn on or off—it is our natural state.
On Road Rage and Compassion
Susan 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