Sunday Dharma Talk

Useful Emotions

Some emotions can be very useful to us as we make our way along the Buddha's path.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin talks about three useful emotions and how to cultivate them.  The talk was given in 2019 at the Downtown Meditation Wednesday night class.

Law of Change

When we truly understand the law of change, the Buddha tells us, we're able to know true happiness.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin explains how dharma students learn to develop this essential element of wisdom in their efforts to make the most of their lives.  The talk was given in November 2017, at the Downtown Meditation Community Sunday Night Meditation class.

Beginning to See the Light

This dharma talk, "Beginning to See the Light," was given at a Downtown Meditation Community daylong retreat in April 2010.  In the talk, Peter talks about the importance of learning to connect to the qualities of awakening as they arise.  Daylong retreats provide dharma students with an opportunity to deepen their practice and begin to see things they might not have seen before.  May all beings awaken and be free. 

Life is Good

"Life is Good."  This talk was given at Downtown Meditation Community's Sunday Night class on August 14, 2011.  In following the path of the dharma, we learn to know the joy of living.  We develop the skill of living joyfully, Peter Doobinin teaches, by learning to meditate joyfully.

Living in Resolve

It's important to realize that dharma practice is not a passive endeavor.  As dharma students, following the Buddha's lead, we understand that the path culminates in skillful action.  Accordingly, we live every day with the resolve to take action in support of the heart.  This talk was given by Peter Doobinin at Downtown Meditation Community in 2016.  May all beings know happiness of heart!

A Day Well Spent

"The days and nights are passing endlessly, how are we spending our time?"  This is an important question for all dharma students to ask.  In this talk, given at Sunday Night Meditation in 2017, Peter Doobinin discusses what it means to have a day well spent.  

Optimism

As dharma students, we learn to meet our practice with an attitude of optimism.  We have faith in our capacity to know a greater happiness.  We believe in ourselves.  When we consider our dharma practice, we bring a quality of brightness.  Peter gave this talk on "Optimism" at the Sunday Night Meditation class in June 2015. 

Conviction in Awakening

As we develop in conviction, we make a greater effort to practice.  This is an important cause and effect relationship.  But what is conviction?  How do we develop it?  In this talk, given at the Sunday Night Meditation class, Peter discusses these essential questions.

Being True

The dharma student learns to make an ongoing, wholehearted effort to develop in truthfulness.  In this talk, given on November 5, 2017, Peter discusses this elemental aspect of our goodness.

 

Letting Go

"Letting Go."  The dharma student doesn't attempt to "let go" of her suffering through an act of will; in fact, the Buddha's instruction when it comes to suffering and clinging isn't simply to "let go."  Instead, the dharma student learns to develop the skill that will enable letting go to happen.  In this talk, given at Downtwon Meditation Community, Peter discusses the skill of letting go.