SUSAN’S
Blog

The Path to End Suffering: Step Two

October 29, 2023   |   6 Comments

Audio only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 11:58.

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. I hope you are well and enjoying this series of videos on foundational Buddhist teachings. Today’s talk is about the second step on the noble eightfold path: Right Intention. Next video: Right Speech (my personal favorite) Thoughts? Love to hear them. Much love, Susan

The Path to End Suffering: Step One

October 23, 2023   |   2 Comments

Audio only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 16:29.

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. I hope you are well and enjoying this series of videos on foundational Buddhist teachings. The idea here is not to make you (or anyone) into “Buddhists” but to draw from this extraordinary wisdom what can be applied to your life. In the last few weeks, we talked about: Life is suffering. (uh-oh) The cause... READ MORE

What does Buddhism say about how to stop suffering?

October 16, 2023   |   12 Comments

Audio only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 23:02.

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. I hope you are well and finding joy in your world. In the last few weeks, we began a discussion of the Four Noble Truths, the foundational teachings in all of Buddhism. Life is suffering. (uh-oh) The cause of suffering (grasping) The cessation of suffering (it’s possible!) The Noble 8-Fold Path (steps you can take... READ MORE

Why are we all so afraid? What calms fear?

October 9, 2023   |   4 Comments

Audio only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 16:44.

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. I hope you are well and finding joy in your world. Last week, I launched a series of weekly emails about the foundational Buddhist teachings on the Four Noble Truths. They are: Life is suffering. (uh-oh) The cause of suffering (grasping) The cessation of suffering (it’s possible!) The Noble 8-Fold Path (steps you can take... READ MORE

Where to start in trying to live a mindful, spiritual, joyful life?

October 2, 2023   |   2 Comments

Audio only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 20:04.

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. It is great that we can practice together. I so appreciate your responses to our recent questionnaire about these videos and what might make them more useful to you. Very grateful to all who took the time to respond to these five questions. Please click here to add your voice! One thing I got from... READ MORE

How to infuse your day with courage

September 25, 2023   |   1 Comment

Sometimes I wake up in the morning and the first thing I do is freeze in the face of the world’s ills. Then I think about what’s on my to-do list and wonder if I can actually do any of the things I hope to. Am I capable or just a capable poser? Will there be something in my email... READ MORE

Think you should aspire to non-attachment? Think again.

September 18, 2023   |   15 Comments

Audio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 13:45.

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. I hope you and yours are well and safe. I so appreciate your responses to our recent questionnaire about these videos and what might make them more useful to you. Very grateful to all who took the time to respond to these five questions. Please click here to add your voice! Before this week’s meditation... READ MORE

Author Event with Nikhol Atkins

September 14, 2023   |   1 Comment

Audio only here.

It was a genuine pleasure to hear from author, meditation and yoga guide, activist and all-around amazing human, Nikhol Atkins and to explore her new book, Book of Boobs: A Visual Journey Through Breast Cancer. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. You can learn more about Nikhol’s book and purchase your own copy here. If... READ MORE

Working with strong emotions (plus some questions for you)

September 11, 2023   |   5 Comments

Audio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 14:32.

Hello, Open Heart Project. I hope you are well and finding ways to be joyful and kind (to yourself, others, the planet). This video suggests three ways we can work with so-called negative emotions. There are so many all over the place! It can be very difficult to figure out how to work with rage, fear, and, perhaps most dangerous,... READ MORE

How to take enlightened activity in a crazy world

September 4, 2023   |   3 Comments

I know we are all thinking about what we can do to help the world. I mean, what else could possibly be worth thinking about? The crazier the world gets, the more I feel both ashamed of my personal concerns and also cling to them as particularly meaningful. Because the world is so incomprehensible, I take refuge in what I... READ MORE

How to cultivate a consistent meditation practice

August 28, 2023   |   1 Comment

Audio only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 10:32 Hello, dear meditator. How are you? I hope you are well and feeling happy. Basically everyone I have ever known finds it difficult to be consistent with their practice and, further, basically everyone thinks this is because they lack discipline. I suggest that this is probably not the issue. Before... READ MORE

Meditation Practice: 3 Steps into the Sacred

August 21, 2023   |   5 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 11:59. Dear Open Heart Project, 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, at least from time to time, is jump... READ MORE

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