Susan Piver's Blog, page 9

I’m torn by emotions. How can I rid myself of grasping?

Hello, I hope you and your loved ones are well and finding moments of joy. Before today’s 10-minute meditation, I share some thoughts about the second noble truth of Buddhism, the cause of suffering. Suffering is said to be caused by grasping (or craving). 

That means we are out of luck because most of us are riddled with wanting, desire, and passions of all sorts. 

Well, maybe you’re out of luck. Maybe you’re just a human being. Love and rage and sorrow and joy are part of our lives. Now what? Please have a listen to this short talk on what grasping really means and how one might work with it to avoid (or cause) suffering.

Remember that you are warmly invited to join the Open Heart Project sangha, our membership community. The conversations go deeper and we have more time together. If money is an issue, know that we have a scholarship fund so if that is right for you, just hit reply and let us know.

With love, 
Susan

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How (and why) to accept the unacceptable (aka impermanence)

Hello, I hope you and your loved ones are well. Before today’s 10-minute meditation, I share some thoughts about the first noble truth of Buddhism–that life is suffering (or unsatisfying). Thanks a lot, Buddha! Not exactly what I was hoping to hear. Nonetheless…there is power and even joy in abiding in reality. In your life. IRL (in real life). It’s one thing to have an intellectual understanding of a spiritual teaching but another thing entirely to live it out in your own life, today. In this video, I offer a few thoughts about how (and why) to try. 

One of the stories I told took place in a conversation in the Open Heart Project sangha, our membership community. Please think about joining. It’s important–some would say necessary–to journey together with others, to be held, and accompanied. Even though each path is solitary, to tread the path alone together changes…everything. 

With love, 
Susan

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If your meditation is not making you more peaceful…

Hello you wonderful human. How do I know you’re wonderful? Because you are interested in meditation and your spiritual journey. Case closed.

Many of us wonder how we can achieve the inner peace and tranquility of the great teachers we love. This is an excellent quest. However, most of these great teachers (you may notice) are wearing robes. Why? Because they are monastics. We are not, presumably. Yet we seek to follow teachings that emphasize asceticism, non-attachment, and removing emotional afflictions. If we lived in monasteries and wanted to focus exclusively on practice, study, and contemplation, this would make a lot of sense. However, when we try to apply them to the life of a householder (i.e. our lives), we run into trouble. It’s not possible to be an ascetic when we have a full household. We can’t be non-attached in this world of great beauty and sorrow, where our very best is needed to create a better world. Emotional afflictions are simply part of the territory. So…now what?

Please have a listen to this short talk for some ideas. And let me know what you think. I may have rambled a bit as I searched for ways to express what may be inexpressible. You tell me. 

With love, 
Susan

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Buddhism is called the Middle Way. What is it in the middle of?

Hello, I hope you and yours are well.

Before today’s meditation, I offer a few thoughts on the Middle Way, as Buddhism is sometimes referred to. No one has to be a Buddhist to benefit from contemplating this middle way. What is it in the middle of? What does it mean to me and my practice? Have a listen and let me know what you think.

If you want to take a deeper dive, here is a whole book you can download for free, authored by an esteemed teacher, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

With love, 
Susan

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How can I find a (trustworthy) teacher?

Hello, wonderful person,

Before today’s practice, I share a few thoughts in response to a question I hear from you somewhat regularly: how to find a teacher? How do I know who and what to trust? Before today’s sit, I offer a few thoughts. Spoiler: there are no easy answers.

With love, 
Susan

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Are we practicing mindfulness? Yes. And no.

Hello, wonderful person.

Before today’s practice, I share a few thoughts about mindfulness meditation. Is that what we are doing when we sit together? Yes, that is accurate. But it is only 50% accurate. There is another aspect that is equally important. Please have a listen to this short talk to learn more. And let me know what you think because I always love to hear from you.

With love, 
Susan

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Magic is real. Here’s how I know: Part 3

Hello Open Heart Project,

I recently read an article about a new meditation app that purports to offer meditation instruction via AI generated content meant to teach Dzogchen and Mahamudra. My friends, I literally could not sleep that night. I was so upset. Dzogchen and Mahamudra are among the highest teachings in all of Buddhism. They are never taught without arduous preparation and a strong relationship with a true teacher. Those most qualified to teach it actually never talk about it. This is just one more example of how our meditation practice keeps getting pulled out of the realm of the sacred and into a world of vast materialism. When it is, the magic of the practice drains away.

As I was taught, there are three steps we can take to keep the magic intact.. They are extremely simple. No one has to “be a Buddhist” to utilize them.

We talked about the first step, make offerings two weeks ago. Last week, we discussed the second step, request blessings and today we reach the third step, to dedicate the merit.

What do you think? I always love to hear from you.

With love,
Susan

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Magic is real. Here’s how I know: Part 2

Hello, I hope you are well! Last week, I mentioned that there were three steps we could take to keep our practice firmly rooted in the realm of the spiritual–the mysterious, the sacred, the deeply personal–rather than the realm of self-help which can turn quite aggressive. Our practice is so powerful, but the real scope is glimpsed only when we can relax our self-criticism (which self-help is built on), even to some small degree.

The first step, as mentioned, was to make offerings. Today we look at the second step which is to request blessings. From whom or what? That is up to you. The more personal, the better. This is about your lineage. Your ancestors. Your longings. There are beings who have come before who embody what you now seek. To request their blessings (which is actually a very traditional thing to do) is to deepen your connection to them and the magic of true transformation.

Don’t take my word for this! Or anything! Please have a listen to this talk and then make up your own mind. That is of utmost importance.

Thoughts? I always love to hear them.

With love,
Susan

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Magic is real. Here’s how I know.

Hello wonderful sangha,

A long time ago, I was talking to my own meditation teacher (of now more than 30 years) about how to create an environment that invites the magic of transformation. Like most meditation teachers, I want to help you go beyond whatever your current challenges may be. To do so, you have to see something you have been unable to glimpse thus far. Something new has to appear. Like I said, magic.

He said, “oh, it’s simple. All you have to do is make offerings, request blessings, and dedicate the merit.”

These steps actually create magic. Not woo-woo wizard hat magic, but what some Buddhists call “ordinary magic.” When I begin my meditation by making offerings (as described in the video), attempts to use my practice for self-improvement fall away. Instead, I enter into some kind of mysterious dialog with wisdom greater than my own. My practice becomes, not about trying to “fix” myself, but a wish to relate more deeply to the brilliance of what inspires me. I relax. I feel more spacious about who I am and what my life is about. I see a different reality. Like I said, magic.

Three simple steps. Today I share some thoughts about the first one, making offerings. We’ll cover the other two in subsequent videos.

Thoughts? I always love to hear them.

With love,
Susan

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