Sunday Dharma Talk

Moving Beyond Fear

As we make effort to take action out of love, for ourselves and others, we often come up against fear.  As dharma students, we  develop certain skills that enable us to move beyond fear and make the most of our lives.  In this talk, Peter Doobinin explains how we learn to work skillfully with fear.  The dharma talk was given at the Downtown Meditation Community Sunday night class in September 2017.

Being A Non-Conformist

A talk from New Year's Eve in 2013.  As Peter Doobinin explains, in following the path of the dharma, we're going against the grain.  Instead of following the ways of the world, we're seeking to know a greater happiness:  the happiness of the heart, the happiness that comes when we take action that is an expression of love for ourselves and others.  The talk was given at Downtown Meditation Community in New York City.

Your Responsibility

This dharma talk was given on New Year's Eve in 2017 at Downtown Meditation Community in New York City.  As Peter Doobinin explains, as dharma students we don't rely on the things of "the world" for our happiness; our happiness is our responsibility.  As we learn to train the mind and heart, we come to know the happiness that is everpresent, the happiness inside, the happiness of the heart.

May all beings find ease of being, peace, and true happiness in this life.

How Insight Happens

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes how insight occurs:  through paying attention, over a period of time.  Peter explains the skills and qualities of mind we cultivate in the service of developing insight that will allow us to experience freedom from suffering and true happiness in this life.  The talk was given at a Downtown Meditation Community daylong retreat in 2017.

Karma of Thinking

Practicing heedfulness of thinking is one of the most important aspects of the Buddha's path.  In doing so, we learn to pay attention to the karma of our thinking.  What are the consequences of the thinking we engage in from day to day, moment to moment?  When we're able to gain insight into the karma of our thinking, we're able to abandon thinking that brings suffering and blocks us from our heart.  The talk was given at a Downtown Meditation Community daylong retreat in 2016.

Key of Compassion

As we make an effort to find greater happiness in life, we meet with many obstacles, we often make mistakes, at times we struggle.  When we meet our difficulties with compassion, we're able to move forward toward true happiness.  In this dharma talk, Peter discusses the key of compassion, how it opens the door to the path.  The talk was given in August 2017 in New York City.

Enjoyment

When there's enjoyment in meditation, our practice flourishes.  While we may not be inclined to find meditation enjoyable, it's something we can learn.  We can learn to find enjoyment in meditation, and as Peter Doobinin explains in doing so we learn to find enjoyment in life.  This dharma talk was given in New York City in July 2017.

Pleasure

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin discusses the integral role that skillful pleasure plays in the development of the Buddha's path.  In the talk, Peter describes how we cultivate skillful pleasure and why we should learn to do this.  The talk was given at an eight-day silent retreat in April 2017.

The Middle Path

The dharma talk "The Middle Path" was given at a Downtown Meditation Community daylong retreat in February 2018.  The middle path is one of the most misunderstood subjects in the Buddha's teachings.  As Peter Doobinin explains, the middle path is the path of skillful pleasure.  When we learn to develop skillful pleasure, we're able to maintain ourselves in the present moment, cultivate wisdom, and live from the heart.  In the talk, Peter describes the path of skillful pleasure and how we develop it.

Training the Mind

It's through training the mind that we come to know true happiness in life.  Knowing this, the dharma students makes it a priority to train the mind, to abandon aversion and desire, and, in turn, to cultivate the qualities of the heart.  This dharma talk by Peter Doobinin was given in May 2012 at the Downtown Meditation Community Sunday Night Meditation class.