Do Buddhists Pray?

Do Buddhists Pray?

Author: Susan Piver May 1, 2026 Duration: 17:04
Send us Fan Mail Here is a new episode after an unexpected pause. I’m moving to a new house and that has stirred disorientation, emotional complexity, and a break from familiar patterns. The truth is, I just didn’t know if I had anything of use to say. Also, I was in a bad mood? Needy! It happens! It turns out that this unsettled place provided a good context to consider a question raised in our Open Heart Project sangha: do Buddhists pray? If so, to whom? In a non-theistic tradition, rather ...

In Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver, the ancient wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism meets the messy reality of modern living. Susan Piver, drawing from three decades of personal practice and her role guiding a large online meditation community, acts as a thoughtful companion rather than a distant teacher. Each conversation in this podcast moves beyond theoretical doctrine to explore how core teachings-from the four noble truths to the practice of the paramitas-can be woven into the fabric of daily experience. You’ll hear discussions that feel applicable whether you’re dealing with stress, navigating relationships, or simply seeking a more grounded sense of purpose. The tone is accessible and personal, focusing on direct experience over dogma. This approach makes the podcast a resource for anyone curious about integrating contemplative practice into areas of health, fitness, and personal spirituality, regardless of their background. It’s about finding practical clarity and an open heart amidst life’s constant changes, with Susan offering insights that feel both timeless and immediately useful.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 59

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver
Podcast Episodes
How to Choose a Meditation Teacher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:24
Send us Fan Mail Thinking 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.…
Transcending Insanity, Part Five: Meditative Absorption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:18
Send us Fan Mail In 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…
Transcending Insanity, Part Four: Exertion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:32
Send us Fan Mail In 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 th…
Transcending Insanity, Part Three: Patience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:01
Send us Fan Mail In 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…
Transcending Insanity Part Two: Discipline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:56
Send us Fan Mail This 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 tal…
Seven Sources of True Wealth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:30
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I explore a little-known yet profoundly practical Buddhist teaching: The Seven Riches of the Universal Monarch. I warmly invite you to look beyond the modern view of mindfulness as merel…
Choosing the Buddhist Path: How and Why [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
The 7 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Meditation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:06
Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I take a deep dive into the meditation questions I’ve been asked the most over the past three decades—as a student, as a teacher, and now, as someone who teaches others to teach. We t…