InsightLA's Trudy Goodman loses close friend

Founder Trudy Goodman (insightla.org); Amber Larson, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Mara (the personification of Death in Buddhism) is an angel at the top of the Sensual Sphere

Are we just junk in space? Angel City Zen Center (@angelcityzen • Instagram comics)

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Samsara is terrible because the unenlightened are reborn

On Sunday, during the closing talk of the retreat she was teaching with Anam Thubten and Norman Fischer, Trudy Goodman-Kornfield (founder of Insight LA) had a dear friend die:

Beverly Berg Wry (1956-2021) passed away. She was a gifted therapist, meditator, clay artist, cross-fit athlete, pianist, mom, wife, and hilariously funny friend. She writes about it here:

Once when I was about to do something foolish and short-sighted, I called Beverly who made me laugh until I got the point. She was a real heart sister.

From 2012-2014, Beverly served on our InsightLA.org Board of Directors. I looked forward to the meetings we had at her home; she and her husband Brian loved to feed people. The snacks were memorable.

RIP: Beverly Berg Wry (1956-2021)

In her book, Loving Someone in Recovery, Beverly says: “The only thing harder than getting along with other human beings in the world, is getting along with one human being living under the same roof.”

Therapist to the stars, she also brought her life-long study of Buddhist meditation, the 12-Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, and her expertise with a vast range of therapy modalities to her work in the chemical dependency field.

Beverly was passionate about whatever she did. Her favorite way to spend time was at a pottery wheel. Collaborating with each ball of clay she threw was a way to learn more about herself and her art.

The colors she picked, the designs she chose, the mindfulness required all revealed new dimensions of her own being to share with the world.

I'm not exaggerating. Check out a sampling of her gorgeous clay art: ceramicartsnetwork.org/ican/portfolio/berg-beverly.

When Your Partner is Recovering from Addiction

Then, last Wednesday was my birthday. One life ends, another life continues. Losing my friend is a poignant reminder to cherish everyone I meet and to savor every moment of this precious human life.

Beverly said, “I love the freedom of incorporating the imperfections of finished pieces rather than striving for perfection. I see each imperfection as a transparent exposure of what makes me, me.”

Life is imperfectly perfect! Moment by moment, just as it is. Awareness is transparent. Mindfulness can expose and embrace imperfections with fond awareness, for each one of us is unique and irreplaceable.

Please, don’t hold back! Love yourself and those around you with your own big heart. - Trudy Goodman

COMMENTARY

😭 What is "suffering"? It isn't agony, torture, and endless pain. It's much worse: Endless rebirths of not getting what we want, getting what we don't want, being separated from all we love, being forced to associate with what we don't love, woe, ill, crying, hopeless, depression, confusion, loss of all kinds. What is the end of suffering? It is nirvana arrived at by practice of the Ennobling Eightfold Path that leads to awakening and freedom here and now.