Sunday Dharma Talk

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.

Knowing Our Goodness

Each of us has an innate goodness.  And many of us have made great effort to develop it.  But we may not be in touch with the truth of our goodness.  As Peter explains, the Buddha asks that we reflect on the truth of our goodness.  This essential reflection bring about joy.  And it leads us toward the development of concentration and insight.  In the talk, Peter describes the skills we learn in an effort to be in touch with our goodness.

Conviction

When we have conviction, we practice.  We put forth effort.  We develop concentration and wisdom.  We move toward a greater happiness.  In this dharma talk, Peter explains what conviction is and how we develop it.  The talk was given at an Eight-Day Retreat in 2017.

Developing Our Goodness

As human beings, we have an essential goodness.  It's our birthright.  The dharma inside.  It's a goodness that we have, and it's a goodness that we're asked to develop.  In this talk, Peter describes ways we learn to cultivate this goodness.  The talk was given at an eight-day silent retreat in April, 2017.

Refuge

In life, it's essential to be able to find refuge.  The dharma student learns to find refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.  Ultimately, though, she learns to find refuge within.  In this talk, Peter describes how we cultivate the skill of refuge.  As he explains, skillful refuge is not an escape, but rather a means by which we're able to maintain ourselves in the present moment and know true happiness.