Sunday Dharma Talk

Your Wish to Be Happy

This is the first in a series of talks on Lovingkindness that Peter Doobinin gave in July 2024.  The essence of lovingkindness in found in our wish for happiness, for ourselves and others.  All beings, the Buddha tells us, have this wish.  In this dharma talk, Peter discusses how we develop our wish to be happy.
May all beings be happy of heart!

Sense of Purpose

What is our sense of purpose in this life?  In this talk, Peter Doobinin explains how following the Buddha's path, living along spiritual lines, being a dharma student, give our lives a sense of purpose.  The dharma talk was given on the final night of the April Retreat at Powell House in 2024.

The Resolve to Let Go

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin discusses the art of letting go.  As Peter explains, developing the resolve to let go is essential, if we're going to let go, know freedom from suffering, and find our way to the heart.  The talk was given at the April 2024 Eight Day Retreat.

Understanding the Burdens on the Heart

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin takes an in-depth look at the Buddha's seminal teaching on the Four Noble Truths.  By accomplishing the tasks the Buddha sets forth in this teaching, we're able to rid the heart of its burdens and know true happiness in this life.  The talk was offered in April 2024 at the Eight-Day Retreat at Powell House.

Dharma for Everyone

In following the path of the dharma, we come to know our goodness.  The goodness that each of us, as human beings, has within.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes how we come to know this goodness .... and how this knowledge informs our way forward.  The talk was given at a daylong retreat in Berlin in September 2024.

Surrender to Awareness

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes the simple practice of awareness.  If we can trust in awareness, our innate wisdom will lead us to freedom, the end of suffering, true happiness.  In the talk Peter explains the obstacles to awareness ... and how we learn to develop in awareness.  The talk was given at the April 2024 Eight-Day Retreat.

Being In Tune

The Buddha described the quality of "being in tune with the dharma."  When we're in tune our practice flourishes.  Our life flourishes.  We live in accord with the heart.  In this talk, Peter explains what it means to be in tune ... and how we learn to be in tune.  The dharma talk was given on the third night of the April 2024 Eight-Day Retreat.

Inclination of Awareness

The habits of our minds often lead us to difficulty and pain.  But we can learn to train our awareness.  In this talk, Peter Doobinin describes how by learning to incline our awareness in a skillful way, we move toward a greater happiness in life.  As he explains, the ability to cultivate ease and sukkha (pleasure), to maintain a pleasant abiiding in all our postures, is integral to this process.  The talk was given at the April 2024 Eight-Day Retreat.

Changing the Mind

All that we are, the Buddha tells us, begins with our thoughts.  As dharma students, we learn to cultivate thinking that is skillful:  thinking that will lead us to a true happiness in this life.  We can do this.  We can change our minds.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin, describes the processes for changing the mind.  The talk was given on the first night of the April 2024 Eight-Day Retreat.

Reliable Things

The Buddha's path, the dharma, is a path of knowing a true and reliable happiness.  In making this path, as Peter Doobinin describes, ,we learn to put aside our preoccupation with things that aren't reliable, things, including the pleasures of the world, that can't bring reliable, lasting happiness.  The talk was given at a Downtown Meditation Community Three-Day Retreat in 2016.