SUSAN’S
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Working with Painful Emotions: Sadness

September 12, 2022   |   28 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 22:38 Dear Open Heart Project, In July, we began the series: “Working with Painful Emotions.” I thought last week’s video, on despair, was the last in the series–until a member of the community asked why I hadn’t included sadness. That really made me think! In this video, I offer some thoughts on... READ MORE

Working with Painful Emotions: Despair

September 5, 2022   |   30 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 24:53 Dear Open Heart Project, Thank you so much for your interest in this series, “Working with Painful Emotions.” delighted to practice meditation with you. Before we sit, I want to continue our exploration of working with painful emotions and how our meditation practice can help. Nine weeks ago, we started with... READ MORE

Working with Painful Emotions: Hatred

August 29, 2022   |   13 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 14:10 Dear Open Heart Project, I’m so glad to see you and delighted to practice meditation with you. Before we sit, I want to continue our exploration of working with painful emotions and how our meditation practice can help. In this series, we started with anger, moved on to attachment (or grasping),... READ MORE

Working with Painful Emotions: Distrust

August 22, 2022   |   24 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 8:46 Dear Open Heart Project, I’m so glad to see you and delighted to practice meditation with you. Before we sit, I want to continue our exploration of working with painful emotions and how our meditation practice can help. In this series, we started with anger, moved on to attachment (or grasping),... READ MORE

Working with Painful Emotions: Anxiety

August 15, 2022   |   8 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 11:57 Dear Open Heart Project, I hope you are well and finding joy and richness in your world. About a month ago, we began a series of conversations on working with difficult emotions and how meditation can help. We started with anger, moved on to  attachment (or grasping), and then shame. Last... READ MORE

Working with Painful Emotions: Jealousy

August 8, 2022   |   11 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 14:00 Dear Open Heart Project, I hope you are well as we enter this new week on planet earth. May it be a peaceful one for all beings. A few weeks ago, we began a series of conversations on working with difficult emotions and how meditation can help. We started with anger,... READ MORE

Working with Painful Emotions: Shame

August 1, 2022   |   25 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 13:25 Dear Open Heart Project, I hope you are well as we enter this new week on planet earth. May it be a peaceful one for all beings. A few weeks ago, we began a series of conversations on working with difficult emotions and how meditation can help. We started with anger... READ MORE

Working with Painful Emotions: Attachment

July 25, 2022   |   11 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 9:51. Dear Open Heart Project, I hope you are well and finding hidden pockets of good fortune wherever you look. Last week, we began a series of conversations on working with difficult emotions and how meditation can help. We started with anger and this week we move on to attachment. In spiritual... READ MORE

Working with painful emotions and how our meditation practice can help

July 18, 2022   |   15 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 10:09. Dear Open Heart Project, I hope you are well and finding your way through this time! Before today’s sit, I wanted to offer a few words on working with painful emotions and how our meditation practice can help. In the Buddhist view, there are three possibilities for meeting our “negative” emotions.... READ MORE

What is the difference between spirituality and self-help?

July 11, 2022   |   7 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 11:59. Dear Open Heart Project, I hope you enjoyed my recent series on the noble eightfold path. And if you missed it, no worries! You can just jump in right here. I know that meditation is counseled as a way to de-stress, develop greater powers of concentration, and get a better night’s... READ MORE

The Noble Eightfold Path: Part 8

July 4, 2022   |   6 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 9:07. Dear Open Heart Project, Welcome to the 8th video in our 8 video series! In this series, we have already discussed Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort and Right Concentration. Let me say right up front that I messed up the sequence. Right Concentration is... READ MORE

The Noble Eightfold Path: Part 7

June 20, 2022   |   7 Comments

Audio-only version is here. Meditation practice begins at 22:17. Dear Open Heart Project, Hello, I hope you are well and finding some more space and calm in your life. Today, I share some thoughts on the 7th step on the noble eightfold path, Right Concentration. I find this has much more to do with flow than anything else. Please have... READ MORE