Sunday Dharma Talk

What is Reliable?

In a world of constant change and uncertainty, what can we rely on?  As Peter Doobinin explains, as dharma students we learn to rely on our ability to meet the moments of our lives with the heart, with wisdom, love, compassion.  This talk was given at a Downtown Meditation Community retreat in July 2015.

Small Things

The practice of the dharma is a practice of small things.  In small things, small moments, we find the dharma, the truth, the qualities of peace, wisdom, and love.  As dharma students our task is to pay attention to small things.  The talk was given by Peter Doobinin in an online class in March 2021.

"Bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu cultivates loving-kindness for as long as a fingersnap, he is called a bhikkhu."
(Iti 1.53)

Two Kinds of Happiness

Where are we looking for happiness?  In the happiness of the world, the happiness we find in sense pleasure, gain, status, and praise?  Or the happiness of the heart?  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes these two kinds of happiness.  The talk was given in 2013 at the Downtown Meditation Community Sunday night class in New York City.

What Is Goodness?

What is goodness...?  This is a question that many of us may ask.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes what goodness is and, importantly, how we learn to develop it.  The talk was given at the Downtown Meditation Community Sunday Night Meditation class in January 2016.

What We Know

Much of what will happen to us in the course of our days is unknowable.  But there are certain truths that we can rely on and that will see us through in this life.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin explains how we can know a reliable and true happiness in life despite the uncertain nature of our day to to day experience.  The talk was given at at daylong retreat in February 2017.

Journey to the Heart

The path leads us inward.  To the body.  To the heart.  In this talk, given at a Downtown Meditation Community daylong retreat in 2015, Peter Doobinin describes how we make the journey to the heart.

Appreciative Joy

Appreciative joy is one of the sublime abidings, qualities of the heart.  We cultivate this sublime abiding by reflecting on our own goodness and the goodness in the world.  In this talk, Peter Doobinin explains this process of taking care of the heart.  The talk was given at Sunday Night Meditation in August 2014.

Change

We can change.  Indeed, as dharma students this is our task, to bring about change in our lives.  As Peter Doobinin explains, we change, in following the Buddha's path, by developing skills.  And it's something we all can do.  The dharma talk was given at a daylong retreat in April 2011. 

Understanding Our Human Experience

To make the most of our lives, we have to come to understand our human experience.  As the Buddha tells us, we awaken to our human experience through the body.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes how we're able to realize our potential by practicing mindfulness of the body.  The talk was given at a Meditation & Yoga daylong retreat in April 2015.

They awaken, always wide awake:
Gotama’s disciples
whose mindfulness, both day & night,
is constantly immersed
in the body.
(Dhp 299)

The Joy of Life

Life is good.  As dharma students, we're asked to see the goodness inherent in this human life.  We're able to comprehend the preciousness of this life.  In reflecting in this manner, we're able to connect to the feeling of gratitude and the joy in the heart.  And we're able to move forward and make the most of our lives.