Sunday Dharma Talk

A Learning Experience

Can we meet difficulty skillfully and turn it into a learning experience?  As dharma students, we develop this ability; it's an important attribute for us to cultivate as we make the journey toward a greater happiness.  In this dharma talk, Peter describes some of the ways that we turn our challenges and difficulties into learning experiences.  The talk was given in April 2021.

Subjects for Reflection

It's important, in this life, that we take time to reflect on this life.  What this life is, where we are, where we're heading.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin speaks to some of the most important reflections we can make, what the Buddha called "Subjects for Frequent Contemplation."  By reflecting, in the manner described, we support ourselves in our efforts to know a greater happiness in this life.

The Skill of Equanimity

Developed in equanimity, we're able to meet the experiences of life - the agreeable and disagreeable experiences - with ease, poise, balance, space, and acceptance.  But it requires that we develop a certain set of skills.  In this talk, Peter Doobinin describes how we cultivate the skill of equanimity and why it's so important to do so.

Goodwill

We learn, in practicing the dharma, to express ourselves in the world with goodwill.  As Peter Doobinin explains, the cultivation of goodwill begins with conscious intention.  Goodwill requires an act of will.  In the talk Peter describes how we develop this skill of goodwill.  The talk was given on September 12, 2021.

May all beings live in peace.

An Expression of Happiness

Meditation, when practiced skillfully, is an expression of happiness.  In fact, we learn to cultivate the heart - and happiness of heart - in our meditation.  We learn, then, in meditation to know happiness in our lives.  The talk was given in 2016 at the Downtown Meditation Community Sunday night class.

"May all beings take care of themselves happily."

Sensitive to Goodness

The journey we take as dharma students leads us to the dharma inside us.  In this talk, Peter Doobinin explains how we develop and come to understand the truth of our goodness.  He describes how we come to know the dharma inside.  The talk was given in 2016 at a Downtown Meditation Community daylong retreat.

The Goodness Within

Each of us has a goodness within.  It's our task, as dharma students, to connect to this goodness, develop it, and put it to good use.  In this talk, given in May 2021, Peter describes the skills we practice in an effort to cultivate our goodness and and, in turn, make the most of this life.

Grief & Compassion

In dharma practice, we learn to develop certain skills.  In this talk, Peter Doobinin describes the skills we practice in relating to grief and cultivating compassion.  In order to know happiness in life we need to learn to work skillfully with human emotions such as grief.  This is something we can do.  And we can learn, through the application of skill, to develop compassion for ourselves and all beings.  The dharma talk was given online on March 14, 2021.

The Moment

The only place where we can find happiness is in the very moment we're in.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes how we're able to find happiness in the moment, regardless of the circumstances of our lives.  The talk was given at Sunday Night Meditation in New York City in 2016.
May all beings be happy of heart.

Purity of Heart

We seek, as dharma students following the Buddha's path, to develp purity of heart.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes the gradual process by which we establish and deepen into our connection to the heart.  The talk was given in February 2021.