Sunday Dharma Talk

Skillful Desire

Contrary to what many think, the Buddha's path asks that we learn to cultivate desire.  Specifically, skillful desire.  The desire to practice, to develop the path.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin explains what skillful desire is and how we cultivate it.  The talk was given at the Sunday Night Meditation class at Downtown Meditation Community in March 2017.

Skillful Pleasure

The Buddha's path, the dharma, is a path of skillful pleasure.  Skillful pleasure is a pleasure that leads us to true happiness.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes the process by which we develop skillful pleasure ... and the benefits in doing so.  The talk was given at a Downtown Meditation Community retreat in 2017.

Working with Anger & Fear

As human beings, we experience anger and fear.  This is basic to the human condition.  The dharma student is not someone who doesn't experience these elemental human motions; rather, the dharma student is someone who develops skills to work effectivley with anger and fear.  By doing so, we're able to live in way in which we're not governed by these emotions.  Instead, we're able, even when life is difficult, to live with ease, wisdom, and compassion; we're able to know happiness of heart.  The dharma talk was given in February 2021.

Working with Uncertainty

Life, by its nature, is uncertain.  For the most part, we don't know what's going to happen from day to day, moment to moment.  The uncertain nature of our existence can be a cause for much suffering.  As dharma students, however, we develop the ability to work skillfully with uncertainty.  In this talk Peter Doobinin, decribes the basics of this skill.  The talk was given in April 2021.

Grace

In developing the qualities of meditation, in practicing the dharma, we learn to go through life gracefully.  Our external grace, the ease with which we move through the world, is an expression of the internal grace to which we remain connected.  In this dharma talk, Peter describes how our practice leads us to embody this quality of grace.  The talk was given in October 2021.

What We Leave Behind

All conditioned things, the Buddha teaches, are impermanent.  They arise, change, pass.  As human beings each of us is subject to illness, aging, and death.  But what doesn't die?  What do we leave behind?  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin discusses the 'happiness that doesn't die,' and how we learn to cultivate it.  The talk was given at New York Insight in December 2017.

What is True Happiness?

Asking questions, the Buddha tells us, is an indication of wisdom.  A good question to ask is:  "what is true happiness?"  The Buddha, of course, is concerned not so much with providing the answer but rather with having us asking the question and seeing for ourselves.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin explains how this question and others guide us along the path.  The talk was given in the spring of 2021.

Keeping the Mind Bright

In this talk, Peter Doobinin explains the skill for cultivating brightness in the mind & heart.  As we go through our days, this quality of brightness, or appreciation, enables us to develop concentration, maintain ourselves in the present moment, and live joyfully.  The dharma talk was given in January 2021.

The Salt Crystal

If we're able to develop mindfulness of the body, the Buddha teaches, we'll find our way to the goal of awakening.  In the simile of the salt crystal, he explains the benefits of developing this mindfulness.  The dharma talk was given by Peter Doobinin on November 29, 2020. 

They awaken, always wide awake:   
          Gotama's disciples
whose mindfulness, both day & night,
is constantly immersed 
          in the body.

(Dhp 299)

Shaping the Future

Life is a process in constant change.  Which means that we can change.  It means that we can shape our lives.  In this talk, Peter Doobinin explains how, using skills we learn as dharma students, we can shape our lives, live meaningfully, and move toward a greater happiness.