Sunday Dharma Talk

Remembering Our Wish To Be Happy

As dharma students, following the Buddha's path, we seek to know true happiness.  As human beings, we all have this basic wish for true happiness.  But we're often out of touch with it.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin explains why it's essential that we remember our wish to be happy and how we do just that.  The talk was given in the autumn of 2022.

The Action of Compassion

Compassion, in the teachngs of the Buddha, is one of the two primary intentions, along with lovingkindness, that imbue skillful action.  We learn as dharma students to take action, toward ourselves and others, that is in the service of compassion.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes how we do this and the benefit in it.  The talk was given on the morning of December 25, 2022.

Finding Silence

Do we understand the importance of tranquility?  The importance of silence?  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin how we cultivate silence in a noisy world.  Silence without, and silence within.  The talk was given in December 2021.

The Skill of Thinking

In this dharma talk, Peter describes elements of the "skill of thinking."  In the talk, he explains how, by practicing heedfulness, we're able to abandon unskillful thinking.  The talk was given in May 2022.

Skillful Relationship To Emotions

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin discusses elements of the practice of mindfulness of emotions.  As he explains, our purpose, in practicing this mindfulness, is to develop a skillful relationship to emotions.  When we have this kind of skillful relationship, we're able to cultivate insight and find freedom from afflictive emotions.  The talk was given in September 2022.

A Spiritual Life

What is our commitment to living a spiritual life?  What is required of us in making an effort to live a spiritual life?  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin discusses these questions and others that the dharma student is asked to ask.  The talk was given in December 2022.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

This dharma talk was offered on New Year's Day 2023.  In the talk, Peter explains why it's important to remember the past.  If we engage skillfully in this process of remembering, it will enable us to live fully in the present moment ... and it will enable us, in looking forward, to establish skillful resolve. 

Wishing all beings happiness of heart in the new year! 

The Most Favorable State

In practicing meditation, developing concentration, according to the Buddha's instructions, we seek to cultivate an easeful, pleasurable abiding in the body.  As Peter Doobinin explains, when we're able to establish this pleasant abiding in meditation and maintain it to some extent in the course of our lives, we're able to live most effectively.  We're able to make the most of our lives.  This dharma talk, in which Peter describes why and how this pleasant abiding is the most favorable state, was given in March 2022.

Looking In the Right Places

As human beings, we have an extraordinary capacity for compassion.  But this potential of the heart must be cultivated.  As Peter explains, this is our task as dharma students.  To develop in compassion, we learn to put an effort toward practicing the certain skills that the Buddha teaches.  The talk was given in November 2022.

 

Being True to the Heart

In dharma practice, we learn to be true to the heart.  As Peter Doobinin explains, this means seeing to it that the way we live is true to the wish in the heart for happiness: happiness of heart: true happiness.  It means developing understanding, including the understanding that we have the capacity for true happiness.  The talk was given in October 2022.