Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver

• Inexplicable Joy: Emptiness, Compassion, and the Heart Sutra, Part 2

  In the previous episode, we discuss a teaching that is central throughout the Buddhist world: the Prajnaparamita sutra, also known as The Heart Sutra. While being utterly confounding, at the same time it is a perfect primer on the true meaning of emptiness and ultimate compassion. Turns out, these are the same thing. Who knew?! If you missed it, just go back one episode. In this episode, we go through the Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Knowledge line by line and look at the various terms (skandha? dhatu?) as well as the main characters (Avalokiteshvara and Sariputra). There are many translations of this important teaching. The one discussed in this episode is here. To learn more, check out Susan’s new (very short) book, Inexplicable Joy: On the Heart SutraDiscussed in this episode:Introduction to the Heart SutraThe Heart Sutra is the “pith” or essence of transcendent wisdom.Begins with “Thus have I heard,” inviting personal inquiry and interpretation.Narrated by Ananda (known for memory)The SettingThe Buddha is in deep meditative absorption (samadhi) surrounded by a full assembly:Monks (wisdom, foundational teachings)Bodhisattvas (compassion, Mahayana teachings)The Core Teaching: EmptinessAvalokiteshvara realizes the five skandhas (form, feeling, perception, formation, consciousness) are empty of inherent nature.Famous line begins: “Form is emptiness; emptiness is form.”Radical NegationEven foundational teachings like the Four Noble Truths are negated:No suffering, no cause, no cessation, no path.Even wisdom and attainment are negated—nothing to gain or strive for.The Power of EmptinessRealizing emptiness removes mental obscurations and eradicates fear.This leads to full awakening—just like all Buddhas of the past, present, and futureThe Heart Sutra MantraThe mantra:Om gate gate pÄragate pÄrasaṃgate bodhi svÄhÄ(Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone altogether beyond, awakening, so be it.)Described as the mantra that calms all suffering and is to be known as truth.Cosmological ContextGods, jealous gods (asuras), humans, and celestial beings (gandharvas) all rejoice.The human realm is ideal for practice: enough comfort to contemplate, enough suffering to be motivated.Personal ReflectionSusan has chanted the Heart Sutra daily for over 30 years.While her understanding doesn’t always deepen, her love for the sutra does.Encourages others to form their own love affair with the textProduced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

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• Inexplicable Joy: Emptiness, Compassion, and the Heart Sutra, Part 1

  In this episode, we discuss a teaching that is central throughout the Buddhist world: the Prajnaparamita sutra, also known as The Heart Sutra. While being utterly confounding, at the same time it is a perfect primer on the true meaning of emptiness and ultimate compassion. Turns out, these are the same thing. Who knew?!There are many translations of this important teaching. The one discussed in this episode is here. In part one of this two-part episode, Susan talks a bit about the history of the text, what we can learn from it, and how best to approach a teaching that is both supremely powerful and impossible to understand. Good luck! Come back next week for part two where we break it down, line-by-line.To learn more, check out Susan’s new (very short) book, Inexplicable Joy: On the Heart SutraDiscussed in this episode:Emptiness & No-SelfThese aren't nihilistic ideas — they're about interdependence.Nothing exists independently — everything (including “you”) arises from causes and conditions.Emptiness isn’t a void — it's a space of infinite potential.Like a womb: empty, yet full of creative possibility.Compassion Arising from EmptinessRelative compassion: being kind, patient, helpful — depends on awareness.Absolute compassion: rooted in the deep realization that all beings are connected.Real compassion arises from presence, not just being “nice.”Three Ways the Meaning Comes ThroughThe wordsThe sound of the wordsThe environment into which it is spokenHow to Approach the Heart SutraForm a personal relationship with the text.Understanding isn't the goal — connection is.Heart Sutra’s wisdom is felt, not explained.Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

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• The Four Noble Truths and the Middle Way: Foundations of the Journey

  The Buddha’s Early Life & AwakeningSiddhartha was a protected prince, shielded from suffering by his father.He encountered old age, sickness, and death for the first time during a trip outside the palace.This led him to renounce his privileged life and seek liberation from suffering.He meditated under the Bodhi tree, seeking truth beyond suffering.Achieved enlightenment, saw through the nature of suffering, and articulated the Four Noble Truths.The Four Noble Truths (Overview):Life is suffering (Dukkha) – More accurately, life is unsatisfying because everything is impermanent.Cause of suffering – Grasping, clinging, and pretending we can make things unchanging.Cessation of suffering – Let go of grasping, and suffering will cease.Path to cessation – The Noble Eightfold Path (e.g., right view, right speech, right livelihood, etc.).Three Types of Suffering:Suffering of suffering – Painful experiences like illness and death; inevitable.Suffering of change – Joy and success are temporary; fear of loss brings suffering.All-pervasive suffering – A background unease or existential dissatisfaction, even when life is “good.”The Middle Way:Buddhism embraces neither eternalism (belief in eternal divine reward/punishment) nor nihilism (belief in nothing beyond material existence).The Middle Way is not the mid-point between the two. What is it?Direct Experience Over Belief:Don’t take the Buddha’s word for it — verify teachings through your own lived experience.Belief systems, even Buddhist ones, are seen as potential obstacles.Wisdom comes from mixing teachings with direct experience, not from intellectualization.Final Reflection:The true spiritual path is one’s own journey of discovery.All teachings are tools; the real teacher is your own mind, inseparable from wisdom itself.Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

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• The Broken Hearted Meditator

  Perhaps contrary to popular belief, meditation does not make us feel all zen. Rather, it actually makes us feel more deeply.Discussed in this episode:Meditation Heightens Emotions – It doesn’t numb feelings but makes them more vivid.Trauma-Sensitivity is Important – Meditation can help with grief and sorrow but may amplify trauma. The practice should be handled with great care.Options for Working with Strong Emotions in Meditation:Stop meditating if it’s overwhelming.Label emotions as “thinking” and return to the breath.Focus on the physical sensation of the emotion without engaging in its story.Feelings vs. Thoughts – Emotions are real, but the stories we tell about them create suffering. “Feel the feeling, drop the story.” –Pema ChodronPersonal Stories:A heartbreak revealed that suffering was increased by the thoughts added to the reality of loss. The loss (a breakup) was not optional, but the additional thoughts were.A career setback and a chance encounter with an experienced meditator taught that meditation isn’t about avoiding emotions but facing them.Meditation’s Impact – It is rare that anything happens while meditating. It’s actually pretty hard and boring. However! Progress shows up “off the cushion” as increased wisdom, compassion, and resilience.Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

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• On Road Rage and Compassion

  In this (embarrassing) episode, long-time Buddhist practitioner Susan Piver describes an episode of road rage (her own) and the moment her rage turned into compassion. Spoiler: it has nothing to do with remembering Buddhist principles and everything to do with simply being human. Discussed in this episode:What are the Four Immeasurables?Loving-kindness – Recognizing our shared humanity.Compassion – Feeling others’ sorrow as our own.Sympathetic Joy – Sharing in others’ happiness.Equanimity – Maintaining balance amidst emotional ups and downs.How Meditation Cultivates CompassionWhy is meditation so famously associated with compassion? How does sitting there, “doing nothing,” open your heart? Instead of numbing emotions, meditation deepens our ability to feel.It helps us break habitual emotional reactions and respond with awareness.Compassion is OrganicIt is not something we can turn on or off—it is our natural state.On Road Rage and CompassionSusan describes losing her temper in traffic but experiencing an instant shift in a split second when she began to confront the other driver. Compassion is not about excusing bad behavior but about recognizing shared humanity.True compassion arises when we see others not as obstacles, but as people.This reflection highlights how meditation is not passive but an active practice that transforms how we relate to the world.Produced by Citizens of Sound Music by: Derek O'Brien©Open Heart Project

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