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
Conversation with Samuel Bercholz, founder of Shambhala Publications and my meditation teacher, Part Two
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In this episode, I continue my conversation with Sam Bercholz. We talk about bringing the dharma into the modern West without reducing it to either cultural imitation or scientific validation. We discuss the three yanas, emptiness and fullness, egolessness, and devotion. Sam shares a way to understand devotion as appreciation for wakefulness and a willingness to be guided by someone who embodies it.
Stay tuned for Part Three next week.
Highlights:
- Why dharma does not require scientific validation
- The three yanas
- Emptiness as fullness, not nihilism
- What egolessness actually means
- Devotion as appreciation, trust, and openness to guidance
- How a teacher-student relationship forms through investigation and experience
- How Sam met Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
- Why he named his business Shambhala Publications
Mentioned in this episode
Rude Awakenings: An Unconventional Guide to the Buddhist Path by Samuel Bercholz
Inexplicable Joy: On the Heart Sutra by Susan Piver
Meditation in Action by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Watch this episode on video
If you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is here.
My new book is now available - in print, e-book, and in audio formats
Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics, is available for purchase. Explore the spiritual path through 7 principles which run counter to conventional wisdom on mindfulness.
Learn more and buy your copy here.
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Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.com
Produced by Citizens of Sound
Music by: Derek O'Brien
©Open Heart Project