Choosing the Buddhist Path: How and Why

Choosing the Buddhist Path: How and Why

Author: Susan Piver July 25, 2025 Duration: 27:24

Send us Fan Mail

In this new episode, I explore what it actually means to become a Buddhist through the Refuge Vow. Potentially misunderstood as a formality or an unnecessary label, I discuss the spiritual and practical significance of the vow.

Refuge is taken in the Three Jewels—Buddha (awakening), Dharma (wisdom/path), and Sangha (community). What do they mean? I also share about my own journey in taking the vow in 1993, how I was trained and given permission to offer the vow myself, and the internal changes that often follow taking the vow.

Taking refuge isn't about labeling yourself—it's about recognizing a path you're already on.

Highlights:

  • What the Refuge Vow actually is—and isn’t

  • The meaning and power of the Three Jewels

  • When (and if) you know you're ready to take the vow

  • Personal stories of transformation, doubt, and commitment

  • How taking the vow changes your relationship with life


“The best time to take the Refuge Vow is when it simply feels like a recognition of something that has already happened.”


Resources & Links:

  • Visit Susan’s Substack & continue the conversation: Susan Piver on Substack

  • Learn more or join her community: The Open Heart Project

  • Mentioned in podcast: Episode 8: Who Can You Trust in the Spiritual World?

If you enjoyed this episode:

Please rate, review, and share it with a friend who’s curious about mindfulness, spiritual commitment, or the Buddhist path.

For more on Buddhist teachings and how our humanity isn’t necessarily in our way, sign up for my free weekly newsletter or join the Open Heart Project sangha for more connection with community and with me.

If this podcast has been meaningful to you, it would be great if you would subscribe, give it a five star rating and share it with a friend. To join or learn more about The Open Heart Project please visit openheartproject.com.

Thoughts? Email us at info@susanpiver.com

Produced by Citizens of Sound

Music by: Derek O'Brien

©Open Heart Project 


In Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver, ancient wisdom meets the messy reality of modern living. Susan Piver, drawing from three decades as a student of Tibetan Buddhism and her experience guiding the nearly 20,000-member Open Heart Project meditation community, acts as a thoughtful companion rather than a distant teacher. This isn't about scholarly lectures; it's a conversation. You'll hear explorations of foundational concepts-the four noble truths, the six paramitas, and more-but always through the lens of direct, personal application. The focus is on how these teachings can resonate in the middle of a busy workday, within complex relationships, or during moments of quiet doubt. Each episode of this podcast feels like a genuine discussion about integrating contemplative practice into all aspects of life, from physical health and spiritual curiosity to navigating everyday stress. The aim is to move past doctrine and into direct experience, offering practical insights for cultivating resilience, compassion, and a sense of groundedness. Whether you're well-versed in Buddhist thought or simply curious about a more mindful approach to fitness, health, and personal growth, Susan's guidance is both accessible and deeply authentic. Tune in for a perspective that values lived understanding over belief, creating space for clarity and an open heart amid the noise.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 52

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver
Podcast Episodes
Transcending Insanity, Part Six: True Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:30
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I explore the sixth and final pāramitā—prajna, or wisdom—the one beyond words and concepts. True wisdom isn’t about knowledge but about recognizing the interdependence of all things and w…
Meditation is for Mystics (it’s not a life hack) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:00
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I talk about something that’s been making me a little grumpy: how meditation is often reduced to stress relief. While that’s a real benefit, it misses the deeper purpose — waking up to re…
Buddhism and the Enneagram (with a musical aside) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:20
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I share why I wrote The Buddhist Enneagram and how two life-changing systems—the Buddha Dharma and the Enneagram—can support your journey toward wisdom, compassion, and self-understanding…
The Antidote to Anxiety: A Buddhist View (With Drugs) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:18
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I share something very personal and deeply resonant for the times we’re living in: how we vacillate between hope and fear, and how the Buddhist path invites us to wake up beyond either on…
How to Choose a Meditation Teacher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:24
Send us Fan MailThinking about working with a meditation teacher? It’s a powerful step—but how do you choose the right one?In this episode, I offer a framework based on the three Yanas (vehicles) of Buddhist practice. Ea…
Transcending Insanity, Part Five: Meditative Absorption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:18
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I explore the fifth of the six paramitas, or transcendent actions of the bodhisattva path: Meditative Absorption—sometimes just called meditation.But this isn’t your typical “sit on the c…
Transcending Insanity, Part Four: Exertion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:32
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I dive into the fourth of the six paramitas, or transcendent actions, from the classical Buddhist teachings: exertion. If you’ve been following along with our exploration of the first thr…
Transcending Insanity, Part Three: Patience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:01
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I move on in our exploration of the Six Paramitas (“transcendent actions”) to the third paramita: patience.There is a common misconception that patience means tolerating bad behavior or r…
Transcending Insanity Part Two: Discipline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:56
Send us Fan MailThis week we continue our exploration of the Six Paramitas (or Transcendent Actions)—the Buddhist teachings on how to go beyond suffering and confusion into wakefulness, compassion, and liberation. I talk…