Meditation is for Mystics (it’s not a life hack)

Meditation is for Mystics (it’s not a life hack)

Author: Susan Piver October 24, 2025 Duration: 39:00
Send us Fan Mail In 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 reality itself in order to be of benefit to others. Meditation isn’t a self-improvement plan. It’s a path of presence — one that begins with self-awareness but is meant to open outward, toward others and the world. When practice stops at “me,” it can harden into self-absorption...

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: 53

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver
Podcast Episodes
Strength in a Time of Crisis: What Helps? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:05
Send us Fan Mail This morning, the Open Heart Project Sangha gathered as we do every day to meditate and reflect together. The group was larger than usual, a clear sign of how shaken many of us are by what is happening i…
Four Karmas: Actions That Protect the Mind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:41
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I introduce the Four Karmas—pacifying, enriching, magnetizing, and destroying—as practical actions for meeting chaos, conflict, and confusion without losing clarity or heart. In this Bud…
Three Qualities of Awakening [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:32
Send us Fan Mail As we move into a new year, how do we deepen our understanding: of ourselves, our relationships, and our spiritual practice? In this episode, we explore the three essential steps of learning in the Buddh…
Inexplicable Magic: An Excerpt From My Upcoming Book [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:45
Send us Fan Mail For the final episode of the year, I am sharing a short excerpt from a book I am writing called Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics. This work grows directly out of the heart of this podcast and i…
Buddhism and the Four Immeasurable Qualities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:30
Send us Fan Mail As we close out a year many of us are ready to leave behind, this episode reflects on what we might want to carry forward—and what we can gently let go of. I explore the Buddhist teaching of the brahmavi…
The Way of Listening: Songs That Stayed With Me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:56
Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, I’m doing something a little different. Lately I’ve been ending each show with what I called the Podcast After-Party—I share a song I love, along with a few words about why it matters…
When Practice Isn’t Enough: A Buddhist Look at Panic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:29
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak directly to a question I’m often asked: what can we do when anxiety or panic takes over? While many people associate Buddhism with calming the mind, the path is far more layered…
Lessons on Right Speech from a Chaotic Morning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:26
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I explore what I believe to be one of the most urgent Buddhist teachings for our current moment: Right Speech. Many people associate Buddhism with stress reduction or calming the mind, a…
Keeping Practice Sacred (Without Getting Weird) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:21
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Buddhism Beyond Belief, I explore how we can keep our meditation practice genuinely spiritual without making it complicated, performative, or “weird.” After more than thirty years of p…
The Seven Characteristics of a Dharmic Person [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:58
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Buddhism Beyond Belief, I explore how we truly enter the path—not through esoteric or “advanced” practices, but by grounding ourselves in simple awareness and presence. After more than…