This week’s question is from Roxana: “Can you provide meditations on how to obtain tranquility/calmness/serenity in anxious moments.” . If you’d like me to answer your questions about meditation, please email your question to me. xo Susan
Thought you might appreicate a look at what really goes on behind the scenes as I make these videos for you… BLOOPER REEL! Enjoy and may your holidays be full of goodness and light. Love, Susan
Mindfulness is often suggested as a panacea for, well, everything. It is not. It is especially important to be careful about practicing or teaching meditation when trauma is involved. I wanted to make sure you saw this video conversation between trauma expert and author David Treleaven, Jenna, and myself. It’s not short (a little over an hour), but if you... READ MORE
As some of you may know, there is a great deal of trauma being exposed in the world of Shambhala where I have studied and practiced Buddhism for more than 20 years. It centers on the clergy sexual abuse perpetrated by Sakyong Mipham, the lineage-holder. The stories of abuse are captured here in a report from Andrea Winn’s Project Sunshine,... READ MORE
Dear friends, students, and Shambhala Sangha, If you haven’t heard, the head of my Shambhala lineage has been accused of clerical sexual abuse. The community is reeling. Whether you are in the Open Heart Project community or are a fellow Shambhala practitioner, I want to share with you my own thoughts and feelings about what is going on. First, thank... READ MORE
…and I could not be more excited. Can’t wait to share it with you. I hope you will find it inspiring, useful, and real. It is about what it really takes to open your heart in a love relationship. We are self-publishing this, y’all. I wrote this book for us specifically. Every single decision that has gone into creating it... READ MORE
The meditation begins at 10:32 Audio only version is here. 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
The meditation begins at 9:17 Audio only version is here. Hello, dear meditator. How are you? I hope you are well and feeling happy. In the U.S., this is Thanksgiving weekend. For many of us, this means time with family–which can also mean time with people who make you angry/sad/confused/irritated…triggered. We meditate to practice generosity, patience, and equanimity. How do... READ MORE
The meditation begins at 6:13 Audio only version is here. Hello, dear meditator. Without knowing (most of) you, I feel pretty confident in saying that you are working really, really hard to create more happiness for yourself and those you love. In fact, given all of the complexities of your history and your current life (not to mention planet earth),... READ MORE
The meditation begins at 4:58 Audio only version is here. Hello, dear meditator. Before today’s meditation, I offer you a suggestion for working with painful thoughts. It is a short, simple exercise you can do anytime, anywhere, on the spot. I use it constantly. Let me know if you try it! This suggestion comes directly from the work of a... READ MORE
The meditation begins at 7:15 Audio only version is here. Hello dear meditators. It is great to see you! In meditation, we bring mindfulness to three aspects of our existence. First, we are mindful of our bodies in the way we establish the meditation posture. Second, we become mindful of breath by allowing our attention to ride the breath. Finally,... READ MORE
The meditation begins at 7:09 Audio only version can be found here. Hello and welcome to your practice. It is great to practice together! Before today’s 10-minute sit, I offer you a very simple definition of discipline. Though it is not easy to be disciplined, it is predicated on one very simple gesture that you can make within your own mind.... READ MORE