Your practice has never been more important. Here’s how to keep it consistent.
March 10, 2025 | 13 CommentsAudio only version is here
Meditation practice begins at 18:10
Hello, wonderful Open Heart Project. I hope you are well and send you my love.
Before today’s sit, I offer some suggestions for ensuring that your meditation practice is consistent and, even more important, that it provides support for meditation as a spiritual practice (rather than–or in addition to–our self-improvement programs).
There are three supports you need. Please have a listen and let me know what you think. I always love to hear from you.
With love, Susan
PS To sign up for your free month, click here.
categorized in: meditation, open heart project
13 Comments
Sssss! Susan this is all head stuff. Experience sitting without overthinking ! This line of discussion would drive multitudes away. Sitting in sangha is community- we need community. Practice non-knowing. Be curious but don’t feel you have to take it apart and know what and why. If someone asks you why am I not consistent answer – what do you think? Or why do you sit?
sorry, not sure i understand what you’re saying. clarify?
It seemed that the line of response was more than it needed to be and too much intellectualizing why we sit and why it might be difficult to be consistent. I maybe overreacted too because I tend to overthink or intellectualize everything. Now that I have found you I’m finding the experience mystical, healing and building community.- without it being too much in my head. I thank you for that.
Thanks for clarifying, Sarah. Love, Susan
Hi Susan. Thanks for your wonderful meditation teaching. I want to sign up for the free month of Sanga. Do I have to put my credit card number in and have an auto renewal thank you Anna.
glad you’re interested. yes, a cc is required but we will send out multiple emails saying your membership will renew–please cancel if you would like. in other words, we give you ample notice. definitely don’t want you to have to pay for something you don’t want.and if you miss these emails and we charge you, let us know within 10 days so we can refund. love, s
Thank you so much, Susan. I really appreciate that much love Anna.
Feeling so grateful that it’s Monday and I had the good fortune of starting my day with this talk! Confession: I’m feeling greedy and wishing I could hear a fresh talk from you every day!! 🙂
So many nourishing nuggets: the mind being like tofu, your many reminders (and encouragement) that I am in choice and the importance of the third jewel – sangha.
I’m contemplating that perhaps sangha’s the most important because mind is relational.
Thank you Susan for the humility, wisdom and generosity that you show up in life with 🙏🏼
so glad this resonates, Tricia, and so glad we can practice it all together. love, s
What keeps my meditation practice consistent is always doing my practice before I do anything else. (I realize this is a lot easier for a 69-year-old person than for someone with young children or others they care for daily.) I never look at email, text messages, etc. or do other activities until I’ve completed my daily mediation and it really helps me stay consistent.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
This sounds great, Emily! And I know other 69-year-olds for whom it is not easy, so please enjoy your accomplishment! With love, Susan
Ah, the basics, the Three Jewels. I appreciate this reminder particularly right now, since the sangha sands have shifted for me (and a few other OHP stalwarts) who have participated in another online sangha for quite a few years (five for me), but have now gently closed that book. Losing the daily collegiality of a sangha’s participation in meditation and teachings has left a space that feels like a bruise. I am grateful beyond telling that the OHP sangha is steady and present. My Circle group members have been wonderfully supportive, and we have talked about the inherent impermanence of relationships. Here, truly, is refuge.
These changes can be so sorrowful–and so liberating. I could never tell you how much I admire the way you navigate your journey with your practice as the foundation. With love, Susan