SUSAN’S
Blog

Discipline: The Paramita of Steadiness and Joy

December 1, 2025   |   1 Comment

Audio only version is here
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

Secret Magic: Seeing the Sacred in Everything

October 27, 2025   |   Leave a reply

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Meditation practice begins at 11:55

Dear Open Heart Project. Over the past 2 weeks, we’ve been revisiting a series I recorded a few years ago about outer, inner, and secret magic. It still feels relevant in these complicated times. In that talk, I suggested that magic isn’t something far away or mystical. It arises right here—in the way we care for our surroundings, the gentleness we... READ MORE

For When Your Mind Wanders (It Will and It’s Part of the Practice)

October 20, 2025   |   Leave a reply

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Meditation practice begins at 13:31

 

Hello wonderful Open Heart Project, This is the second video in a series I created a few years back. You can (but you don’t have to) check out what we talked about last week here. I’ve felt the wisdom of this series more deeply lately. In hard times, the invitation in this talk is always relevant. And so that’s why... READ MORE

When life gets hard, what if that’s where the magic begins?

October 13, 2025   |   2 Comments

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Meditation practice begins at 11:45

Dear Open Heart Project, I recorded a short video series a few years ago about how real magic is never separate from our hardest emotions — fear, grief, confusion. Magic doesn’t distract us from pain; it deepens our connection to it, and through that, something mysterious can begin to shift. I’ve been thinking about this ever since, and now I’m offering... READ MORE

Info Session Recording: Inexplicable Magic – An in-person retreat at Kripalu

August 6, 2025   |   4 Comments

Thanks to everyone who registered for this info session on what really happens on a meditation retreat. You can learn more about and sign up for the retreat I’m teaching at Kripalu here. I hope to see you there. Love, Susan

Protect Your Mind

July 14, 2025   |   16 Comments

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Meditation practice begins at 16:30

Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. I hope you are well and I send you my love. A few weeks ago, I shared a few thoughts about the first paramita (transcendent action) which is generosity. This was followed by discipline and patience. Now we move on to paramita #4, exertion, sometimes also known as diligence or life force. It is very easy... READ MORE

Recording: Info Session on the Sunday Sanity Summit

July 2, 2025   |   2 Comments

I’m grateful to everyone who registered for this info session on the Sunday Sanity Summit. I hope the real magic of this practice is of benefit to you. If your heart has been nudging you toward joining us for the Sunday Sanity Summit, please do! It would be great to see you there. We’ll gather on Zoom from 3:00–4:00 PM... READ MORE

When it’s hard to be generous to others…

June 23, 2025   |   17 Comments

Audio only version is here
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

How to make (real) magic with your meditation practice: Part 3

June 16, 2025   |   Leave a reply

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Meditation begins at 12:30

Hello Open Heart Project, I recently read an article about a new meditation app that purports to offer meditation instruction via AI generated content meant to teach Dzogchen and Mahamudra. My friends, I literally could not sleep that night. I was so upset. Dzogchen and Mahamudra are among the highest teachings in all of Buddhism. They are never taught without... READ MORE

How to make (real) magic with your meditation practice: Part 2

June 9, 2025   |   7 Comments

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Meditation begins at 21:16

Hello, I hope you are well! Last week, I mentioned that there were three steps we could take to keep our practice firmly rooted in the realm of the spiritual–the mysterious, the sacred, the deeply personal–rather than the realm of self-help which can turn quite aggressive. Our practice is so powerful, but the real scope is glimpsed only when we... READ MORE

How to make (real) magic with your meditation practice

June 2, 2025   |   12 Comments

Audio only version is here
Meditation begins at 11:24

Hello wonderful Open Heart Project, A long time ago, I was talking to my own meditation teacher (of now more than 30 years) about how to create an environment that invites the magic of transformation. Like most meditation teachers, I want to help you go beyond whatever your current challenges may be. To do so, you have to see something... READ MORE