SUSAN’S
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Buddhism Beyond Belief: Info Session on 10 January 2025 at 6PM ET

January 13, 2025   |   Leave a reply

Thank you to all who registered to learn more about this new course, Buddhism Beyond Belief. It was a joy to talk with you about the Buddhist path. I hope you found it illuminating, inspiring, and useful. To continue the conversation, please consider signing up for Buddhism Beyond Belief. Here is the curriculum: Curriculum (some topics subject to change to... READ MORE

How to keep difficult feelings from taking over

January 13, 2025   |   4 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

Buddhism Beyond Belief: Info Session on 10 January 2025 at 10AM ET

January 10, 2025   |   1 Comment

Thank you to all who registered to learn more about this new course, Buddhism Beyond Belief. It was a joy to talk with you about the Buddhist path. I hope you found it illuminating, inspiring, and useful. To continue the conversation, please consider signing up for Buddhism Beyond Belief. Here is the curriculum: Curriculum (some topics subject to change to... READ MORE

2024 sangha review and where we’re headed in 2025

January 9, 2025   |   22 Comments

Hello and I hope you’re starting the new year in a place of love and safety. May 2025 be a year of joyful connection, deepening, understanding, and sanity. Every year, I write a recap of what happened in the OHP sangha and where we are headed. Please have a look at your leisure and let me know what you think.... READ MORE

3 Paths to Enlightenment

January 6, 2025   |   3 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation practice begins at 06:42

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. Happy new year! May all beings become sane. Before we sit today, I describe 3 different ways of viewing the spiritual journey to enlightenment, according to the Buddhist view (while recovering from hip replacement surgery, which is why my leg is sticking out). You are on one of these paths, I promise! Please have a... READ MORE

Let’s enter 2025 with a strong meditation practice + a 21-day meditation challenge

December 23, 2024   |   6 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation practice begins at 15:21

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. Happy new year! May all beings become sane.  Before today’s sit, I thought it would be good to go over the biggest misconceptions about meditation practice. After all, many of you may be wanting to reinvigorate your practice in the new year and reviewing these potential stumbling blocks may help. That is the intention! To... READ MORE

6 ways to create more sanity and balance (for real)

December 15, 2024   |   4 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation practice begins at 10:14

Dear wonderful Open Heart Project, I know it’s crazy out there. Whatever your beliefs or politics, it is not easy to feel certain about the future and how we are going to bridge the many divides in our countries, our neighborhoods, even our homes. It can seem impossible, I understand. However, according to Buddhist thought, it is definitely possible. All... READ MORE

How to become fully consistent in your meditation practice. I promise.

December 9, 2024   |   10 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation practice begins at 9:18

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. I hope you are well and finding sources of love and support in your world and in your heart. Before today’s sit, I share with you the reason (IMO) 99% of people who wish to meditate have difficulty with consistency. It simply cannot be so that 99% of people lack self-discipline! It must be something... READ MORE

Meeting difficult moments with wisdom: 3 suggestions

December 2, 2024   |   14 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation practice begins at 11:22

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. I hope you are finding sources of love and support during these unprecedented times. According to Buddhist wisdom, when we suffer sorrows and anger, we may reflexively react in three ways that actually increase our suffering. They are called the 3 poisons. Bad news: they’re poisonous! Good news: They’re optional! Please have a listen and... READ MORE

Election Day Loving Kindness Meditation

November 5, 2024   |   9 Comments

Today, close to 200 people gathered together to work with the energy of their hearts to bring benefit to this world. The practice of Loving Kindness is tailor-made for bringing everything we feel–love, fear, rage, sorrow, hope, hopelessness–to our meditation. There is no need to get rid of negative thoughts and have only so-called positive thoughts. Doesn’t matter! All are... READ MORE

Only non-aggression defeats aggression

November 4, 2024   |   2 Comments

Hello, excellent Open Heart Project practitioners. As we approach what may be an extremely tumultuous week here in the US and elsewhere, I wanted to share again something I posted a few months ago in the hope that it will support and strengthen you. I’m reflecting on a time I posted this message to social media: “What if we never... READ MORE

Finding power and confidence during an insane time: 4 suggestions

October 28, 2024   |   15 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation begins at 15:30

It seems we are in a time of heightened anxiety and fear–and for very understandable reasons. Most suggestions and techniques for calming yourself focus on altering your inner state by various means. Makes sense! But this is often not enough. In this week’s video, I make some suggestions from my Buddhist training about creating an environment from which you can... READ MORE

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