Sunday Dharma Talk

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin discusses the Buddha's third noble truth. As he explains, the task attendant to the third truth is to realize the awakened state, the state of cessation, the state in which the heart is free of its burdens. The talk was offered on the last night of the April 2026 Eight-Day Retreat at Powell House.

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes the practice of the Second Noble Truth. The task attendant to the second truth is to let go of clinging. In the talk Peter explains how letting go happens. The talk was given at the April 2026 Eight-Day Retreat at Powell House.

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes the Buddha's teaching on the First Noble Truth. As he emphasizes , the practice of the noble truths, is a process in which the dharma student attends to certain tasks. In this case, the task is to comprehend dukkha (suffering). The talk was given at the April 2026 Eight-Day Retreat at Powell House.

In this talk, Peter Doobinin describes how we learn to see clearly into the impermanent, not-self nature of conditioned things. He explains why it's important to develop these perceptions into the nature of our experience. And how we move beyond our doubt and, in turn, cultivate conviction in our ability to develop insight. The talk was given on the fourth night of the April 2026 Eight-Day Retreat at Powell House. NY Dharma: www.nydharma.org

This dharma talk by Peter Doobinin was given on the third night of the April 2026 Eight-Day Retreat at Powell House. As Peter explains, we should learn, as dharma students, to be heedful of how we practice. Which is to say, the attitude that we bring to the practice. In the talk, he describes how we learn to pay attention to our attitude, in meditation, in dharma practice in general, and in life. And how we learn to develop a skillful attitude, and attitude what will lead us to happiness in this life.

This dharma talk by Peter Doobinin was given on the second night of the April 2026 Eight-Day Retreat at Powell House. In the talk, Peter explains how we learn to practice the dharma by making a joyful effort. May all beings live with ease and in peace.

This dharma talk by Peter Doobinin was given on the first night of the April 2026 Eight-Day Retreat at Powell House. In the talk, Peter describes the practice of taking refuge .... how we take refuge ... and why it's important to learn to do so. May all beings live with ease and in peace.

This is the fifth in a series of five talks on "The Jhana Qualities" given by Peter in November 2025. In the talk, Peter describes what equanimity is; how, through the practice of breath meditation, we develop the quality of equanimity; and how we put it to use in our efforts to know a greater happiness in life.

The third jhana quality is "pleasure." In cultivating skillful pleasure we are learning to establish and maintain a pleasant abiding. When there is a pleasant abiding we remain in the present moment. We are in the most favorable state. We are able to function most effectively, meet the difficulties in life. We are able to stay close to the heart. This dharma talk is the fourth in a series of talks on "The Jhana Qualities" given by Peter in November 2025.

The second jhana quality is 'ease." This quality of ease is sometimes known as rapture, piti in Pali. We might think of it as physical ease. When ease is developed we're in a position to remain present, to function effectively, to thrive. The cultivation of ease is an effort made in the service of the heart. May all beings have ease of being. This talk is the third in a series of dharma talks offered by Peter Doobinin in November 2025 on "The Jhana Qualities."

The first jhana quality is 'singleness of mind." Singleness of mind is focus. When developed in this quality we're able to put our mind where we choose to put it. And keep it there. In this talk, Peter Doobinin explains how we develop this factor of jhana ... and why it's important to do so. This is the second talk in a series of dharma talks on "The Jhana Qualities" offered in November 2025. "Over there are the roots of trees; over there, empty dwellings. Practice jhana, monks. Don't be heedless. Don't later fall into regret. This is our message to you." (MN 19)

The development of concentration, the Buddha teaches, is the heart of the path. The Buddha's concentration, the concentration he learned to develop and then taught is known as jhana. We develop jhana, as the Buddha did, by the practice of mindfulness of breathing. In doing so, it is in our best interests to focus our efforts on developing the 'qualities of jhana.' This is the first in a series of talks given by Peter Doobinin in November 2025 on "The Jhana Qualities." "Over there are the roots of trees; over there, empty dwellings. Practice jhana, monks. Don't be heedless. Don't later fall into regret. This is our message to you." (MN 19)

How do we free ourselves from habitual patterns of mind? How do we change the mind? In this talk, Peter Doobinin describes how the practice of awareness enables us to free ourselves from our habitual patterns ... and how we're able, in consequence, to develop skillful attitude, attitude informed by the heart. The talk was given in May 2024. NY Dharma: www.nydharma.org

In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes how the skills of generosity and equanimity support us as we move forward in life, as we go through periods of transition, as we meet change and difficulty. The talk was given in April 2024.

Compassion is a quality of heart & mind that informs skillful action. As such, compassion is a form of action. A verb. We develop this action by following certain steps. It is a skill. In this talk, Peter Doobinin explains the skill for taking action informed by compassion. The dharma talk was given in March 2025. NY Dharma: www.nydharma.org

In meditation we develop tranquility. Silence. Our task, we might say, is to cultivate silence and then to listen. This sort of listening asks for great patience. In this talk, Peter Doobinin explains how we develop patience ... the patience that is asked for, in finding our way to a greater happiness in life. The talk was given in February 2025. NY Dharma: www.nydharma.org

The practice of letting go is just that, a practice. In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin describes the 'course of treatment' the Buddha prescribes through which we let go and gradually are freed from suffering. The talk was given in the winter of 2025. NY Dharma: www.nydharma.org

As dharma students, we don't lose sight of the truth. We remember the brightness in life. We remember the joy in life. We remember our capacity for happiness. And through it all, we resolve to live live joyfully. In this talk, Peter Doobinin describes how we learn to make the resolve to live joyfully. The dharma talk was given in March 2026. NY Dharma: www.nydharma.org

As dharma students, as an admirable friend, we learn to relate to each other from the heart. We speak the language of the heart. In this talk Peter Doobinin describes why it's so necessary to have admirable friends. "With regard to external factors, I don't envision any other single factor like friendship with admirable people as doing so much for a monk in training, who has not attained the goal but remains intent on the unsurpassed safety from bondage. A monk who is a friend with admirable people abandons what is unskillful and develops what is skillful." (Iti 17) NY Dharma: www.nydharma.org

As dharma students, as human beings, we meet difficulties in life. We meet difficulty, in ourselves, in others, in the world. Through it all, we stay true. We stay true to ourselves. We stay true to the dharma. We stay true to the heart. we don't lose the heart. We keep to the heart. And it's important to remember, as Peter Doobinin reminds us, that what enables us to keep to the heart are the skills we develop as dharma students. The dharma talk was given in March 2026. NY Dharma: www.nydharma.org