Sunday Dharma Talk

The Moment Itself

This dharma talk was given by Peter Doobinin at the Eight-Day Retreat at Powell House in April 2023.  In the talk Peter describes the process of developing concentration in meditation practice and how, through that process, we come to the moment itself.  Our practice, as he explains, is a journey to the moment; and in the moment, we find true happiness.

Coming Into Tune

Like a musician tuning her instrument, the student of the dharma learns to bring herself into tune with the dharma.  What does this mean?  How do we do this?  In this talk, given at the April Eight-Day Retreat in the spring of 2023, Peter Doobinin discusses these questions.

The Practice of Awareness

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes the practice of bringing awareness to our experience, how we learn to develop this practice, and why it's elemental to the development of wisdom and knowing a greater happiness in life.  The talk was given at the Eight-Day Retreat at Powell House in April 2023.

Good Enough

We seek, as dharma students, a happiness beyond the happiness offered by the conditioned realm.  At the same time, we learn to cultivate experience in the conditioned realm that is "good enough" for dharma practice, for doing what has to be done in the service of knowing true happiness.  This dharma talk was given by Peter Doobinin on the  Eight-Day Retreat at Powell House in April 2023.

Noble Silence

In dharma practice, we are cultivating a deeper and deeper silence.  An external silence, free from the noise of the world.  And, ultimately, an internal silence, free from the noise in the mind.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin explains how we learn to cultivate this quality of silence.  The talk was given at the Eight-Day Retreat in April 2023.

Strength of Mind

In this dharma talk, given in January 2023, Peter Doobinin describes how, by following the Buddha's path, we develop strength of mind.  As he explains, if we're going to meet the challenges in life, if we're going to make the most of the gift of life, it's essential to develop this strength of mind.

Turn To Your Goodness

Ultimately in life, we must learn to find a refuge within ourselves.  As Peter Doobinin explains, in doing so, as dharma students, we learn to turn to our goodness.  In this talk, Peter describes how we develop and remember our goodness.  And why it's so important.  The talk was given in January 2023.

 "each of you should remain with your self as an island, your self as your refuge...."  (SN 47.13)

The Path & the Goal

In dharma practice, and in life, it's important to have goals.  The path that we follow as dharma students has a goal.  As Peter Doobinin describes, as dharma students, we learn what the goal is and we make a resolve to know it.  And we learn to make an effort to follow the path that brings us to the goal.  The talk was given in February 2023.

What Freedom Is

The path of the dharma is a path of freedom.  But what does this mean...?  What is freedom...?  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin explores this important question.  The talk was given at a Downtown Meditation Community retreat in February 2013.

The Felt Sense of Emotions

Our practice, as students of the dharma, includes learning to develop a skillful relationship to emotions.  In doing so, as Peter Doobinin explains, we learn to cultivate a felt sense of the emotions that we experience.  In this talk, Peter describes what it means to cultivate this felt sense of emotions.  The dharma talk was given in May 2022.