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
A Guided 10-Minute Meditation Practice (plus music) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:43
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I offer a guided meditation and explore what it really means to not be trying—not striving to get somewhere, even in practice. Rather than exerting effort or resisting, meditation invite…
Transcending Insanity, Part Six: True Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:30
Send us Fan Mail In 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…
Buddhism and the Enneagram (with a musical aside) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:20
Send us Fan Mail In 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-understandin…
The Antidote to Anxiety: A Buddhist View (With Drugs) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:18
Send us Fan Mail In 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 o…
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…