Sunday Dharma Talk

The Path Is a Path

In this talk, Peter Doobinin, discusses what it means to be on the Buddha's path.  As he explains, in being on the path, we're asked to engage in an ongoing process of moving forward.  The dharma talk was given on June 4, 2023.

Lessons in Skillful Thinking

All that we are, the Buddha tells us, begins with our thoughts.  For the student of the dharma, the task is to abandon unskillful thoughts and to cultivate skillful thoughts.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin explains the skills for cultivating skillful thoughts.  The talk was offered in the winter of 2022.

Equanimity, Acceptance & Wisdom

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin takes a close look at the skill for being mindful of emotions, including blatant and subtle emotions.  He describes the role of equanimity and acceptance in bringing simple awareness to the experiences of mind; and how when these qualites are developed, there is the potential for wisdom.  The talk was offered on 3 December 2023.

Priorities for Life

What are our priorities for our dharma practice?  What are our priorities for life?  How can we change our priorities?  In this talk, Peter Doobinin discusses these questions; questions that dharma students are asked to ask.  The talk was given on 6 February 2022.

Noble Escape

In making a noble escape, dharma students seeks escape from the prisons of painful thought worlds, from habitual patterns of desire and aversion, from ways of living that can't bring a reliable happiness.  In this talk, Peter Doobinin, describes how we learn to find this kind of noble escape.  The talk was given at a daylong retreat in New York City in November 2023.

The Happiness of Morality

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes how the development of ethical conduct - the practice of non-harming - leads to happiness of heart.  In the talk, Peter explains why it's important to learn to prioritize the cultivation of our goodness, in the form of virtue, and how, when we do this, it has a great benefit in our lives and the lives of others.  The talk was given in the autumn of 2023.

The Path of Truthfulness

As Peter Doobinin explains, spiritual growth depends on our ability to be truthful.  About ourselves.  About our habitual attitudes.  In this talk, Peter describes how we develop in truthfulness; and how, in turn, this leads us to a greater happiness in life.  The talk was given in August 2023.

Changing Your Attitude

Much of our capacity to find a greater happiness in life depends on the degree to which we're able to change our attitudes.  The dharma student learns, by developing her skill, to abandon unskillful attitudes and cultvate skillful, sublime attitudes.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin decribes the skills we seek to develop in this effort.  The talk was given in the summer of 2023.

Finding the Light

Our dharma practice is one of gradually letting go of that which obscures the heart.  As we develop in concentration and insight, we're more and more able to access the heart, to find the light within.  And as we're more able to find the light in the heart, we're more able to take action that will lead to a greater happiness in our lives.  In this dharma talk, offered in September 2023, Peter explains how, little by slowly, we find the light within.

Developing a Sublime Attitude

What is our attitude?  As Peter Doobinin explains, being able to develop a sublime attitude is crucial to achieving good results in meditation ... and to knowing a greater happiness in life.  In this dharma talk, Peter describes the skill for developing a sublime attitude in meditation and in all postures.  The dharma talk was given in the summer of 2023.