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
True Compassion or Idiot Compassion?
In Buddhism (as in most wisdom traditions), compassion is central—but it’s often misunderstood. It’s not about being nice, it’s about being awake. True compassion is wise, fierce, and rooted in awareness.
“Idiot compassion” is a term coined by Chögyam Trungpa to describe misguided kindness that stems from the three poisons:
- Grasping – trying to feel good or be liked.
- Aggression – trying to control or make something (or someone) disappear.
- Delusion – trying to avoid seeing what is really going on.
True compassion requires discernment, not people-pleasing. It might mean being sweet, but it could also mean getting angry or saying nothing. The only way to know is by paying attention.
In activism, the same principle applies: if our actions come from hate, they’ll echo hate. If they come from a broken heart longing to ease suffering, different gates will open.
There are two kinds of compassion to consider:
- Relative compassion helps others through kindness and care.
- Absolute compassion is dwelling in perfect recognition of interdependence. (To learn more about this, see previous episodes on the Heart Sutra.)
The spiritual path is just as much about courage as it is about kindness. It asks us to meet suffering not with spiritual bypassing, but with a heart shattered open and ready to serve.
Not all compassion is created equal.
In Buddhism, compassion isn’t about being nice. It’s about being awake.
Sometimes it’s soft. Sometimes it’s fierce. But it’s never about avoiding discomfort.
Chögyam Trungpa called it “idiot compassion” when our desire to help is rooted in:
• Craving (to be liked)
• Aggression (to control or avoid conflict)
• Delusion (pretending everything’s fine)
Real compassion comes from clarity.
It doesn’t always look “spiritual.” Sometimes it sets boundaries. Sometimes it says no. And when rooted in heartbreak for the suffering of the world, it becomes powerful.
Let’s remember that true love can also be fierce. 🔥
#compassion #buddhism #idiotcompassion #fiercelove #spiritualpath #openheart #wakeup #chogyamtrungpa #realcompassion #awareness
Produced by Citizens of Sound
Music by: Derek O'Brien
©Open Heart Project