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
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 Sutra
Discussed in this episode:
Emptiness & No-Self
- These 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 Emptiness
- Relative 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 Through
- The words
- The sound of the words
- The environment into which it is spoken
How to Approach the Heart Sutra
- Form 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