Susan Piver's Blog, page 20
July 24, 2022
Working with Painful Emotions: Attachment
Audio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 9:51.
Dear Open Heart Project,
I hope you are well and finding hidden pockets of good fortune wherever you look.
Last week, we began a series of conversations on working with difficult emotions and how meditation can help. We started with anger and this week we move on to attachment.
In spiritual circles, there is often talk of the folly of attachment. Sure! Got it! But how does one detach from painful feelings, hopes, fears, the love (and hatred) we may feel for others? In this video, I try to offer some suggestions.
Note: This video also includes a wildly embarrassing story about a time I lost any possibility of being non-attached and what I learned from it (hopefully).
What do you think? I always love to hear from you.
With love, Susan
The post Working with Painful Emotions: Attachment appeared first on The Open Heart Project.
July 17, 2022
Working with painful emotions and how our meditation practice can help
Audio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 10:09.
Dear Open Heart Project,
I hope you are well and finding your way through this time!
Before today’s sit, I wanted to offer a few words on working with painful emotions and how our meditation practice can help.
In the Buddhist view, there are three possibilities for meeting our “negative” emotions. I outline them briefly in this talk, with a focus on anger (perhaps the most difficult of difficult emotions).
Next week, I’ll be back to you with some thoughts on working with grasping and, the following week, on the urge to hide from everything. And more on difficult emotions to follow!
I feel inspired to do this because I just completed my latest book, The Buddhist Enneagram, out September, 2022. The enneagram is a system that outlines nine kinds of people (yes, only nine!) and each type’s emotional trap. Anger is the first trap But you don’t have to be interested in the enneagram to learn from each trap. So stay tuned.
And if you are interested in the enneagram, my upcoming book can be pre-ordered here, but Kindle version only for the meantime. Print and audiobooks to come!
I truly hope you find this talk useful. If you have any reflections or questions, please share in comments.
With love, Susan
The post Working with painful emotions and how our meditation practice can help appeared first on The Open Heart Project.
July 10, 2022
What is the difference between spirituality and self-help?
Audio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 11:59.
Dear Open Heart Project,
I hope you enjoyed my recent series on the noble eightfold path. And if you missed it, no worries! You can just jump in right here.
I know that meditation is counseled as a way to de-stress, develop greater powers of concentration, and get a better night’s sleep. All true! However, it is also a path to true, lasting joy. All we have to do is, at least from time to time, jump off the self-improvement treadmill to instead rest with ourselves exactly as we are. It turns out that this is the most expeditions route to freedom from suffering.
In this video, I share with you three very important (and simple) steps you can take to keep your meditation practice in the realm of true transformation rather than yet another self-improvement hack designed to make you feel inadequate.
As always, I love to hear your thoughts! Please let me know what you think in comments.
With appreciation and love, Susan
P.S. Interested in How to Find Your Enneagram Type?
Click here for a free PDF.
P.P.S. The Kindle version of my new book The Buddhist Enneagram: Nine Paths to Warriorship is available for pre-order now on Amazon. You can find out more here.
The post What is the difference between spirituality and self-help? appeared first on The Open Heart Project.
July 3, 2022
The Noble Eightfold Path: Part 8
Audio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 9:07.
Dear Open Heart Project,
Welcome to the 8th video in our 8 video series! In this series, we have already discussed Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort and Right Concentration. Let me say right up front that I messed up the sequence. Right Concentration is actually the 8th step but it was covered last time. This week, I offer some insights into step seven, Right Mindfulness. Apologies for reversing the order of the last two!
I have so enjoyed being in this exploration with you. I hope you have found it beneficial. What is next?! I have a few ideas so if you’ve been enjoying these communications, hang tight and I’ll be back at you next week with some new material to consider.
I’d love to hear how this all landed with you. Please feel free to leave thoughts, feedback, ideas, insights in chat. It would be most appreciated.
Love, Susan
The post The Noble Eightfold Path: Part 8 appeared first on The Open Heart Project.
June 19, 2022
The Noble Eightfold Path: Part 7
Audio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 22:17.
Dear Open Heart Project,
Hello, I hope you are well and finding some more space and calm in your life.
Today, I share some thoughts on the 7th step on the noble eightfold path, Right Concentration. I find this has much more to do with flow than anything else. Please have a listen and let me know what you think.
In this series, we have already discussed Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood and Right Effort. In two weeks, we come to step eight, Right Mindfulness. What will happen after that? I have some ideas! Please let me know in comments if there are any particular topics you’d like to see covered. I’ve so enjoyed connecting with you on these wonderful topics and look forward to continuing.
Love, Susan
The post The Noble Eightfold Path: Part 7 appeared first on The Open Heart Project.
June 5, 2022
The Noble Eightfold Path: Part 6
Audio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 16:02.
Dear Open Heart Project,
I’m so happy to send you the sixth video in our eight video series on the noble eightfold path of Buddhism. We have already discussed Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood.
Right View and Right Intention comprise true wisdom. Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood describe how to live an ethical life. Now we turn to Right Effort which, together with Right Mindfulness (coming June 20) and Right Concentration (coming July 4) explain how to work with our minds. After all, no matter how elegant our conceptual understanding, without a way of working with our thoughts and emotions, we remain unable to bring that understanding into experience.
Right Effort is not about working harder. I’m sure you’re already working as hard as you can. Rather, it has more to do with diligence and never giving up on yourself. Please have a listen to this short talk (followed by a guided 10-minute meditation) and let me know what you think! I always love to hear from you.
Sending much love, Susan
The post The Noble Eightfold Path: Part 6 appeared first on The Open Heart Project.
May 25, 2022
Tonglen Practice
What happened in Uvalde yesterday was beyond shattering.
There is nothing I or anyone can say to make this bearable.
It is normal (and understandable) to go in one of three directions with our shock and heartbreak. We could fall into despair, We could become enraged. We could turn away because it is too much to bear.
Each of these responses, while understandable and maybe even useful, have limited utility.
Another option is to walk directly into our pain. Open to it. Offer to hold the pain of others. Let pain become the path.
The Buddhist practice of tonglen is just this. In this video, I guide us in this meditation.
It is my fervent hope that our practice together will give you a sane way to face insanity. I’ll be trying my best right alongside you. Love, S
The post Tonglen Practice appeared first on The Open Heart Project.
May 22, 2022
The Noble Eightfold Path: Part 5
Audio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 17:40.
Dear Open Heart Project,
I’m so happy to send you the fifth video in our eight video series on the noble eightfold path of Buddhism. We have already discussed Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech and Right Action. Today we look at Right Livelihood.
What does it mean to do your work in the world in accord with your personal dharma? Please have a look at this week’s video to learn more. And no worries if you are jumping in right now. Though you’re welcome to watch the earlier videos in the series, it is not necessary.
Traditionally, Right Livelihood is often about what you don’t do for a living: don’t kill beings, craft weaponry, enslave others. All of which makes complete sense—but what comes after this? How can we ensure that our work in the world is more than non-harming (which is essential, of course) but also creates more sanity, connection, and parity? How can our work be part of our spiritual journey rather than a distraction from it?
Somehow, the answers begin with our willingness to care about our experience, our relationships with those we work with, and the details of the work itself. Please have a listen to learn more and, as always, I love to hear what you think. What are your thoughts on Right Livelihood? How are you finding this series in general? Please leave reactions, questions, reflections in comments.
Look for the sixth video in this series (Right Effort) on June 6th.
Sending much love, Susan
The post The Noble Eightfold Path: Part 5 appeared first on The Open Heart Project.
