Strength of Compassion

We find our greatest strength in the heart.  In this dharma talk, Peter explains how we learn to connect to the sublime abiding of compassion in the course of our days.  The talk was given in January 2022.

Coming Back to Ourselves

Meditation is a practice of coming back to ourselves, to the body, to the heart.  In this talk, given on the first night of the Eight-Day Retreat in April 2022, Peter Doobinin talks about the importance of having a sense of purpose in dharma practice.  And he talks about the importance of seclusion, how it supports us in our efforts to come back to ourselves.  

Learning to be Alone

If we don't learn to "be alone" in a skillful way in this life, we'll be sure to meet difficulty.  Why is this?  Because to be alone is an elemental aspect of the human condition.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin discusses how, by developing certain skills, we learn to be alone.  

Coming to the Heart

We may think that happiness is found when we're able to come into pleasant emotional states.  But the teachings of the Buddha suggest a happiness greater than the happiness that emotional states offer:  the happiness of the heart.  In this talk, Peter Doobinin describes how the dharma student learns to cultivate disenchantment with emotions and, in turn, turns to the the heart.  The talk was given in December 2021.

As a mother would risk her life
to protect her child, her only child,
even so should one cultivate a limitless heart
with regard to all beings.
(Sn 1.8)

Compassion & Patience

Developing self compassion if often a challenge.  It requires developing in skill in dharma practice.  In this talk, Peter Doobinin describes how the cultivation of the paramis - including the parami of patience - supports us in our ability to develop compassion for ourselves.  The talk was given in March 2022.

The Skill of Being Present

What does is mean to be present?  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin discusses the skills we develop in our effort to know the present moment.  The talk was given at the Downtown Meditation Community Sunday class in 2016.

Know Stillness

In meditation practice, we learn to develop in stillness.  And in our practice and in our lives, we learn to incline to this quality of stillness.  We learn to know stillness.  In this dharma talk, Peter discusses how we can maintain stillness not only in meditation, but in the midst of our days and nights.  The talk was given at the Downtown Meditation Community Sunday night class in April 2017.

Finding Your Way

What is our sense of purpose?  What is our guiding principle?  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes how we learn to align ourselves with our purpose.  And how, in turn, we set ourselves on the path to a greater happiness in this life.  The talk was given in March 2022.

The Present Moment

What does it mean to be present?  How do we make our way to the present moment?  What is preventing us from finding the present moment?  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin discusses these questions.  The talk was given at a Downtown Meditation Community retreat in April 2018.

Incline to Equanimity

Equanimity is one of the key qualities that we seek to develop in making our way along the Buddha's path.  Equanimity puts us in position to know true happiness; the happiness that comes when we take action informed by the heart.  As human beings we all have potential for equanimity and, in turn, true happiness.  But this potential must be developed.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin explains how we develop and incline to the pivotal quality of equanimity.  The talk was given in March 2022.