Trudy Goodman discusses cultivating inner-strength, finding inspiration in unity, and selflessly radiating love and awareness like Ram Dass.
Trudy Goodman, Ph.D., is a Vipassana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. She also teaches residential retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA, Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center, and Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, among others. Learn more at trudygoodman.com.
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Inspiration in Unity
In this Memorial Day talk from the Spirit Rock Meditation Center: The Magic of Awareness online retreat, Trudy invites us, despite what we may feel about war or the military, to understand the longing to live for a purpose that’s bigger than just ourselves. Wherever any of us may stand or find ourselves on the political spectrum, Trudy suggests that even with our wildly divergent and passionate beliefs, that we can discover an honorable road to peace. The basis of this peace is our inherent interconnection, and it’s cultivation grows through practice.
“When we practice mindfulness and loving-kindness together, we realize our inextricable unity, we realize all of our diversities; that in our beautiful, magical, heartbreaking, blue planet and life here together, we are not separate. We are definitely interconnected, and as we feel this kind of stunning unity that connects us all, we can get inspired.” – Trudy Goodman
For an elucidating and timely Dharma talk on cultivating a peaceful heart, open yourself Ep. 114 of Heart Wisdom
Cultivating Inner-Strength (6:02)
In these times of great uncertainty, what can we do to best serve others and ourselves? Trudy shares how fortunate we are to have found the Dharma and adopted a spiritual practice in this age, as those are the keys to reinforcing our ability to steady the heart, to quiet the mind, and to be present for others during these unpredictable times.
“It turns out that across the ages, whenever humanity has gone through super hard times, the people who have inner-strength not only survive the best, but help those around them. Especially now in the time of Covid-19, for each of us to contribute whatever we can to the world just feels ever more important.” – Trudy Goodman
Dive into the dangerous opportunity for inner-growth that the coronavirus pandemic presents, on Ep. 343 of Mindrolling
Ram Dass & Selflessness (25:18)
Trudy shares a story of the last retreat Ram Dass hosted, where leading up to it his health was in severely declining condition. Despite this, he had such a deep desire to be there and share with others at the retreat, that he rallied, and selflessly radiated love for the entire duration. He would pass away only a couple weeks later. This exemplifies his capacity for selflessness and his ability to radiate love.
“That ability to radiate that kind of love, it comes from that selflessness, that ability to let go of self-preoccupation and self-consciousness, and make room for something else, make room to receive something else, that mystery of being, that sense of love that can be here in the universe.” – Trudy Goodman
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Art via Gorbash Varvara