7 Qualities of a Meditator: Part 1

January 30, 2023   |   26 Comments

Audio-only version of talk is here and audio-only version of meditation is here.

Dear Open Heart Project,

I hope you are well! I’m so delighted to offer you the first video in a series called: Seven Qualities of a Meditator.

As you may know (or will discover if you are new to meditation), a consistent practice not only helps manage things like stress and insomnia, it also results in spiritual qualities that may or may not be expected. These qualities have nothing to do with religion or beliefs, rather they create powerful and nuanced shifts in the way we approach our lives. Historically speaking, there are seven such shifts.

The first is called “passionless-ness” which doesn’t mean blasé-ness or lack of caring. Please have a listen to this short talk to learn more. The second video is a 10-minute guided meditation. It is through our practice that the dharmic qualities come to life!

Thoughts? Always love to hear from you!

Love, Susan

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26 Comments

  • Posted by:  Eroca McCready

    So happy to see you today! And you look great in yellow, my fav colour. And thank you for the Dharma talk. I’m working so hard to live my best life and need all the help I can get. Perhaps I’ll join the Open Heart Project.
    I feel in this last year and a bit a lot has changed , and there may be a grand awakening that is opening and breaking our hearts: here in British Columbia over 200 children were found buried on the site of a residential school, and most people in B.C. and Canada were unaware of the horrors these children faced , being ripped from their parents .

    Susan , I remember sitting on the beach on the West Coast of Vancouver Island looking next-door at a residential schools and thinking to myself isn’t that a nice place for school totally unaware of the reason for it.
    Jesus!
    Anyway, thank you so much for helping many of us on our way. xo
    Eroca

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      Eroca, hello I love yellow too! Thanks for noticing.

      I’m shocked and deeply deeply sad to hear about the recent discovering in BC. How devastating. So much grief… So much to practice with… So impossible to do so at the same time…

      Sending so much love and lmk if you have any questions about joining the Sangha. It is a fantastic way to continue the journey together. <3 S

  • Posted by:  Virginia Mitchell

    As always, though it has been a while, I so much appreciate the opportunity to meditate with you, Susan. It brings me comfort and peace.😊
    Virginia

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      Always very happy to practice together, Virginia. With love, Susan

  • I’m looking forward to this sharing of information around the 7 Qualities of the Dharmic Person. “Passionlessness!” What a place to start. You have my attention.

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      Glad to hear it!

  • Posted by:  Betsy Loeb

    Thank you, Susan, for this teaching.
    So relevant for me…”wanting another now”.
    I’ve got many habitual patterns that run me into wanting another now.
    I was fortunate to grow up in a loving family, to gain access to many privileges.
    So I sometimes feel “I deserve”, I’m entitled to what I want.
    So happy to have this teaching from you.
    betsy

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      And I’m so happy, as always, to practice together and hear your reflections, Betsy. With much love, Susan

  • Posted by:  Sue May

    Susan – This is lovely! And just what fits for me right now. In all of the upheaval of having been internet scammed, with the attendant self blame and tossed salad of feelings, sitting without any “fixing” is precious. And you really do look radiant in pale yellow! The color of sunshine. I am looking forward to continuing in this series.

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      I love hearing how your mind and heart meet the circumstances of your life. Here’s to the radiance of yellow and light! With love always, Susan

  • Posted by:  Jane Deakin

    Yes, yellow for optimism! Nurturing hope though I know we ain’t supposed to! Thank you for restoring peace and sanity to a battered soul, much love
    Jane xx

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      Sending much love (and hope!) to you, Jane. <3 xo S

  • Posted by:  James White

    Thank you many thanks, thanks for your presentation on the lack of passion Really loved it.

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      So happy to hear it!

  • Posted by:  Ann Matheson

    Hi Susan,
    I enjoy your meditations and dharma talks. You can explain things in a relaxed and easy to understand way so thank you for that.
    I find it difficult to meditate with my eyes open. Is it acceptable to do your meditations with eyes closed?
    Warm wishes to you.

  • Posted by:  Carlie

    Thank you Susan Piver, I am grateful that you are teaching us and joy to learn from you and to connect with Shambhala teachings valuable. First thing I thought when you said passionate less was eqaunimity, might it be like that? Once on a mindful community I learned about equanimity sinds then I try to remind myself, that that can be a better way. I find knowing and doing is not always in line but takes time but when it works that is such a freeing expierence.
    Thank you. Namasté.
    Carlie

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      Hi Carlie. Yes, equanimity sounds totally right to me. I appreciate that you are working with these very important (and not easy) teachings. Warmly, S

  • Posted by:  Denise Angers

    Très intéressant. Je ne sais pas vraiment comment traduire «passionlessness» en français. Mon dictionnaire me donne «apathie» mais je ne crois pas que ce soit cela que vous voulez dire ni «sans passion». Alors peut-être sérénité ? Merci pour votre présence.

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      Merci!

  • Posted by:  Linda

    Opening to my experience of my practice and discover what is in my practice. Would like to allow myself to keep trying my practice. Thank you for your wisdom dear teacher.

    Passionateless hmmmm

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      I’m with you in these intentions. Wishing you all the best in your explorations, Linda. With love, S

  • Posted by:  Phillip

    This subject, passionless-ness, keeps coming up around me this last few weeks and seems central and important for me … Perhaps coincidence or perhaps I unwittingly search it out?? Anyway, thank you so much for teaching and being here, Susan!

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      Thank you so much for following the bread crumbs as they present themselves, Phillip! With love, Susan

  • Posted by:  Stephanie

    I enjoy your down to earth style Susan. I admit I always chuckle at the many lists of items that Buddhism encompasses. The 4 these, and the 5 those. I do wonder was this by design? Again, I thought, here is another list of 7 things. But I am looking foward to hearing the other 6. Best, Stephanie

    • Posted by:  Susan Piver

      I know, so many lists. Probably made it easier for people to remember and share teachings in the days before printing presses? Enjoy the remaining 6! With love, Susan

  • Posted by:  Cheryl F

    💗Thank you so very much, Susan…for th. OHP and for all that you are, give, teach and live. The gifts of meditation as you share it.. and your DHarma Talks..and more, are beyond measure.🙌🏾💚

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