meditation Archives - The Open Heart Project

SUSAN’S
Blog

Viewing Posts in meditation

The connection between meditation and creativity

March 18, 2024   |   1 Comment

Audio only version is here
Meditation begins at 9:53

Dear, wonderful Open Heart Project, Before today’s meditation, I offer a few thoughts about the connection between creativity and meditation. I find that one is very difficult without the other! If you want to explore this topic further, please think about joining me in Austin, TX May 22-26 for a meditation and writing retreat. We’ll spend 4 full days practicing... READ MORE

Love After Heartbreak

March 4, 2024   |   Leave a reply

Hello Open Heart Project, Since The Wisdom of a Broken Heart came out, I’ve had the honor of speaking with many people who are meeting this incredibly difficult life passage with courage and tenderness. We talk about the endless waves of grief, fear, and rage and how one could possibly weather them. We talk about the valuable, hard-won heart opening that can... READ MORE

How our practice can help with a broken heart (Part 3)

February 26, 2024   |   5 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation begins at 12:47

Dear, wonderful Open Heart Project, I have three basic suggestions for how Buddhist wisdom can help with heartbreak. Two weeks ago, we talked about the first step which involves figuring out how to work with your racing or clouded mind. Last week, I made suggestions for working with the overwhelming energy of the heart. This week, I share some thoughts... READ MORE

How our practice can help with a broken heart (Part 2)

February 19, 2024   |   5 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation begins at 16:10

Dear, wonderful Open Heart Project, I have three basic suggestions for how Buddhist wisdom can help with heartbreak. Last week we talked about the first step which involves figuring out how to work with your racing or clouded mind. This week, I make suggestions for working with the overwhelming energy of the heart which, when shattered or upset, overflows with... READ MORE

How our practice can help with a broken heart (Part 1)

February 12, 2024   |   6 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation begins at 14:36

Dear, wonderful Open Heart Project, Many years ago, I wrote a book called The Wisdom of a Broken Heart about how Buddhist wisdom helped me with my own broken heart. I get emails and messages about the impact of this book more than anything I have ever written. I am gratified to know it is useful. (Last year, I updated... READ MORE

Four ways to react to the situations we encounter

February 5, 2024   |   8 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation begins at 7:40

Dear, wonderful Open Heart Project, Hello, I hope you are well and finding sources of peace within yourself and around yourself. Did you know that within the OHP there is something called the Open Heart Project Sangha? We explore a different theme each month and recently that theme was something called the Four Karmas which describe four different ways to... READ MORE

Am I still a spiritual person even if I feel anger, irritation, and even hatred? 3 ways to work with “negative” emotions.

January 15, 2024   |   9 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation begins at 12:00

Dear wonderful Open Heart Project, I hope your year is off to a wonderful start and you are able to find peace within and around yourself.  It’s possible you thought, as did I, that meditation would help you feel…less. Less rage. Less sorrow. I’d have even settled for less crankiness. No such luck–I’m still a human being. I made this... READ MORE

How to cultivate a consistent meditation practice

August 28, 2023   |   1 Comment

Audio only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 10:32 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

Meditation Practice: 3 Steps into the Sacred

August 21, 2023   |   5 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 11:59. Dear Open Heart Project, I know that meditation is counseled as a way to de-stress, develop greater powers of concentration, and get a better night’s sleep. All true! However, it is also a path to true, lasting joy. All we have to do, at least from time to time, is jump... READ MORE

Traits of the Awakened Mind, Part 3: Power

August 14, 2023   |   Leave a reply

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

Traits of the Awakened Mind, Part 2: Wisdom

August 7, 2023   |   Leave a reply

Hello Open Heart Project, According to Buddhist thought, the awakened mind has three qualities. The first is compassion. The second quality, wisdom, is the topic of today’s post. When it comes to what it really means to be wise, it’s easy to posit all sorts of definitions from really, really smart to deeply insightful to maybe simply being old and... READ MORE

Traits of the Awakened Mind, Part 1: Compassion

July 31, 2023   |   Leave a reply

Hello Open Heart Project, According to Buddhist thought, the awakened mind has three qualities. Although I’ve said many times that having goals for your practice is a bad idea, I’m now going to suggest that there actually are goals and they are to realize these three qualities. However, the path is not accomplished by conventional means. Interestingly, these qualities arise... READ MORE

We have so much to share with you

Get a new meditation from me every Monday morning