SUSAN’S
Blog

The Six Paramitas: Generosity

October 25, 2021   |   18 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 22:12. Dear Open Heart Project, Hello, excellent person. I’m so glad to welcome you to the first video in our new six-video series, The Six Paramitas (or transcendent actions). I’ve been studying and appreciating the Six Paramitas for many years. As is so for many wisdom teachings, with every moment of understanding... READ MORE

Mommysattva: Contemplations for Mothers Who Meditate (or Wish They Could)

September 7, 2021   |   1 Comment

A few years ago, the Open Heart Project began publishing books specifically for YOU. We realized that traditional publishers may not be speaking to you as directly as we could–because we are in direct communication! It only made sense to publish works we knew you would be interested in. The first book we published was my own, The Four Noble... READ MORE

Turning the page into a new year with joy, compassion, and truth

January 4, 2021   |   6 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 9:02 Dear Open Heart Project, Welcome to a new year! To be able to connect with you as 2020 rolled and shook and careened was of great importance to me and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your willingness to sit with your own mind and heart during... READ MORE

If you feel depleted (who doesn’t?!) this is what will replenish you

December 21, 2020   |   15 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 3:57 Dear Open Heart Project, I hope you are well and feeling healthy and strong. Once I had the privilege of interviewing Tara Brach, the respected Vipassana teacher, about compassion. I asked her, “what do you tell your students who come to you with compassion fatigue?” I’m sure you’ve experienced what I... READ MORE

The power of community.

December 14, 2020   |   16 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 7:05. Dear Open Heart Project, I hope you are well. Before today’s sit, I share with you the single most necessary component of a meditation practice, the aspect that actually keeps it all going. I have learned this after teaching (literally) thousands and thousands of people how to meditate. It has nothing... READ MORE

Why are you meditating?

December 7, 2020   |   5 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 7:08 Dear Open Heart Project, Hello and I hope you are well and feeling strong. Apart from all the perfectly good reasons we begin a meditation practice–to reduce stress, to become more patient, to manage health–ancient wisdom tells us there are three transformative qualities that will also arise. They are known as... READ MORE

The only thing you need to accomplish all your aspirations is this.

November 30, 2020   |   14 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 8:50 Dear Open Heart Project, This is a time of year when thoughts naturally turn to change. One year (brutal and unprecedented) is coming to a close. The ground has been shaken by illness, political power grabs, and societal reckonings, long overdue. It has been painful, certainly. So much has been shaken... READ MORE

The warrior’s greatest weapon is this

November 23, 2020   |   25 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 14:23. Dear Open Heart Project, Hello. I hope you are well and feeling strong and safe. Please take good care of yourself! Before this week’s practice, I share with you what I consider the warrior’s greatest weapon: speech. As with any powerful weapon, it can cause great harm or create tremendous protection.... READ MORE

More tools for the spiritual warrior

November 15, 2020   |   9 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 8:23 Dear Open Heart Project, This is a time for warriors to step forward! I’m talking about you. As someone who is willing to work with their mind and expand their connection to stillness, you are automatically qualified. Recent posts have discussed the warrior’s presence and qualities. They are broken-hearted. They are... READ MORE

This is the heart of spiritual warriorship

November 9, 2020   |   2 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 9:20 Dear Open Heart Project, Well, what a week it has been. Whether or not you live in the USA, so much hope and fear has been resting on the election here and all the issues connected to it: healing from a pandemic, restoring justice, mitigating centuries of systemic racism, and helping... READ MORE

How to be a spiritual warrior (spoiler alert: you already know how)

November 2, 2020   |   24 Comments

Audio-only version is here Meditation practice begins at 10:16 Hello there, This email is being sent the day before the elections in the United States. Though many of you don’t live in the US, there is some sense, I imagine, that this day could be momentous for the world. Whether you are connected to this specific election or not, there... READ MORE

Less stress, more joy

May 25, 2020   |   10 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 9:10 Hello Open Heart Project, I hope you are well! I know that for many, this is a stressful time. Before we sit today, I want to share with you three ways to find joy in the everyday. If you try them, let me know how it goes! With love, Susan  ... READ MORE

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