Open Heart Project

In this podcast, Susan discusses some of the most basic points about the Buddhist path: the Four Noble Truths, the three yanas (or teaching cycles), the ceremony by which one becomes a Buddhist, the main types of meditation practiced in the West, and more.

How is it that two people can stand up in front of the same room and say the same thing–but only one person gets heard? What creates magnetizing speech? Join Buddhist teacher and author Susan Piver for this discussion of Right Speech.

Hello and welcome to the first Open Heart Project podcast! Personally, I’m very psyched. The first topic is: “The Dharma of Love.” To listen and subscribe on iTunes, click here. This podcast is about falling in love, being in a relationship, and breaking up—from a Buddhist point of view. As a student of Buddhism and someone who has fallen in love, lost love, and is now in a long-term relationship, I have often wondered:  If the spiritual path is about non-grasping, how are you supposed to fall in love? If non-attachment is counseled, how does one make a commitment to a person and a relationship? And if ego-clinging is seen as a problem, what does it mean when your heart is broken and all you can think about is how awful, shameful, and unworthy (all forms of ego-clinging) you are? Of course, this is an enormous topic, one on which books should be written. Surprisingly, there are not a ton of such books, which in itself is curious. If I was to write something, what would I say? I asked myself. This talk is a result of my exploration of this question. I hope it will be of benefit. In the podcast, the following points are covered. I hope you will be inspired to contemplate them on your own or discuss with others. The single most important attitude in making a relationship work. The one thing we most avoid when it comes to love that is also the only thing that makes love possible. The “Four Noble Truths” of love. The three phases of making a relationship work. When a relationship is new, the most important determination to make. How to remain powerful in love relationships. The importance of meditation. Obviously, no 30-minute podcast can cover any of this in depth but hopefully this talk will offer some clarity on the topic and introduce you to notions that further open your heart. Next month’s podcast is “The Dharma of Communication: How to Say It and Be Heard.” Here’s to love! Susan *For those who have purchased a membership in the Open Heart Project, this podcast comes with a discussion guide, access to our online community for further dialog with each other and with me, and suggestions for discussing this important and confounding topic with those you care about.