Trudy Goodman explores devotion as a path to wisdom, and how to approach spiritual practice with pure devotion while still being mindful of impermanence.
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.
The Path of Devotion
In this moving dharma talk, Trudy talks about why devotion is important in practice. She explores devotion as a path to wisdom, and how it’s really what taking refuge means. Ultimately, devotion returns us to our own deep being.
“In Buddhism, we don’t see devotion as a path to somewhere else… but as a path leading here.” – Trudy Goodman
Acts of Loving-Kindness (12:03)
Trudy goes into some of the countless ways we can develop devotion, including through acts of loving-kindness. She tells a story that illustrates where blessings really come from and the power of devotion.
“Sometimes you might think that devotion automatically implies a sense of duality between the devotee and the object of devotion; that’s not the way we’re teaching it, and that’s not what the Buddha taught.” – Trudy Goodman
Gil Fronsdal offers loving-kindness for all on BHNN Guest Podcast Ep. 47
An Awkward Bow (33:51)
Trudy tells the story of how she came to accept not being able to give her mother an ‘awkward bow’ of respect before her passing. It is a powerful reminder to practice with pure devotion and be mindful of impermanence.
“We suffer because we misperceive, taught the Buddha. And then, like teenagers, we rebel against our misperceptions and feel defensive and alone. We want to be free, we want so badly to be free. But the ‘I’ who wants freedom can never have it. This ‘I,’ to be the subject of everything, it has to make an object of experience.” – Trudy Goodman