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A Steady Mind in an Unsteady World

December 22, 2025   |   Leave a reply

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Meditation practice begins at 9:37

Hello Open Heart Project, As we begin a new year, many of us are doing so in the midst of profound heartbreak. Recent violent events alongside the ongoing turmoil and uncertainty within the U.S. government and across the world, can leave us feeling shaken, overwhelmed, and unsure how to hold it all. Feeling deeply is not a personal failure—it is... READ MORE

How to Protect Your Mind and Your Vitality

December 15, 2025   |   4 Comments

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Meditation practice begins at 16:30

Hello, dear friends, As we move toward the start of Building a Mindful New Year, I want to offer a short preview of one of the teachings we’ll explore together: the fourth paramita, exertion. We’ve spent recent weeks looking at generosity, discipline, and patience—three qualities that can bring tremendous clarity and kindness into our lives. But without exertion, their energy... READ MORE

The Strength of Patience When Everything Feels Uncertain

December 8, 2025   |   4 Comments

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Meditation practice begins at 21:26

Hello Open Heart Project, As we look ahead to Building a Mindful New Year, I’ve been reflecting on the qualities that genuinely support meaningful change. In recent weeks, we’ve explored generosity and discipline as part of the paramita teachings—capacities that help us relate to our lives with steadiness and clarity. This week, our attention turns to the third paramita, patience.... READ MORE

Discipline: The Paramita of Steadiness and Joy

December 1, 2025   |   1 Comment

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Meditation practice begins at 15:24

Hello wonderful Open Heart Project, I’m writing to share something I believe deeply: the second of the transcendent actions — the paramita of discipline — isn’t a matter of rigid self-control. It is a source of clarity, spaciousness, and genuine joy. Practiced well, discipline becomes the structure that supports our freedom. It’s also a perfect preparation for the new year.... READ MORE

Preparing for 2026: Starting with Generosity

November 24, 2025   |   Leave a reply

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Meditation practice begins at 17:18

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. This week, we’re revisiting the first of the six paramitas — generosity. I originally recorded this teaching some time ago, but it feels especially relevant now, as we move toward the end of the year. Generosity is not only about giving material things; it’s about offering our attention, our patience, and our willingness to show... READ MORE

Is this the most important Buddhist teaching for our time?

November 17, 2025   |   6 Comments

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Meditation begins at 9:30

Hello Open Heart Project. I hope you are well and finding sources of joy, big, small, in-between. In this week’s video, I share some thoughts about what may be the most important spiritual teaching for our time. I’m pretty sure I’m not exaggerating. Have a listen and see what you think! Love, Susan

What meditation is really for

November 3, 2025   |   4 Comments

I hope this finds you well, or at least finding your way. This week, I have a new kind of video for you to check out. It’s the latest episode of my new-ish podcast, Buddhism Beyond Belief where I talk about the real-life meaning of being a meditator. For example! Lately, I’ve been feeling a little grumpy (yes, truly) about... READ MORE

Four reminders that restore sanity

September 15, 2025   |   19 Comments

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Meditation begins at 16:13

I hope you are well during this difficult time. Before our meditation this week, I share with you a Buddhist teaching called the Four Reminders. They have a way of immediately restoring clarity, balance, and lovingkindness. Don’t take my word for it! Have a listen and see how they land for you. In other news, I cry during this talk!... READ MORE

How to remain strong in this time of turmoil?

August 25, 2025   |   9 Comments

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Meditation begins at 14:27

Hello wonderful Open Heart Project, I hope you are well during this difficult time. Before our meditation this week, I offer some thoughts on a Buddhist teaching that I have found helpful in knowing how to direct my energy and strength to create more sanity and decency in the world—not so easy in this particular moment.  Please have a listen... READ MORE

7 Sources of Richness

August 18, 2025   |   9 Comments

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Meditation begins at 16:45

Hello, practitioner and seeker! I hope you are well. In this video, I share a short talk on a semi-obscure teaching called the Seven Riches of the Universal Monarch. If that doesn’t sound obscure, I don’t know what does. In any case! I find this teaching incredibly useful and practical. It lists the 7 things you and I need to... READ MORE

When it’s hard to be generous to others…

June 23, 2025   |   17 Comments

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Meditation practice begins at 17:18

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. I hope you are well and I send you my love. Before today’s sit, I share a few thoughts about the first paramita (transcendent action) which is generosity. The remaining transcendent actions–discipline, patience, exertion, meditative absorption, and wisdom–would not be possible without some sense of your own richness and indestructible kindness. But when times are... READ MORE

3 Qualities of Awakening, Part 3: Power

May 26, 2025   |   4 Comments Traits of an Awakened Mind | Buddhist Wisdom

Hello wonderful Open Heart Project, We’ve discussed two of the three aspects of the awakened mind—compassion and wisdom. Today I’d like to offer just a few thoughts on the third quality—power. When we think about the quality of power, I’m sure many things come to mind. Some are positive—the certainty of a strong ruler or the beneficence of a saint.... READ MORE

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