How We Practice

The dharma, the path that leads to the awakened heart, includes, as an element component, the development of appreciative joy.  This quality of appreciation, joy, is a sublime abiding.  It is found in the heart.  But it must be cultivated.  In this dharma talk, Peter Doobinin explains the practice for cultivating appreciative joy.  The talk was the first in a series of talks on "Appreciative Joy" that Peter offered in May 2026. NY Dharma:  www.nydharma.org 

In following the Buddha's path, we're asked to go against the stream.  We're asked to be non-conformists.  In this talk Peter Doobinin explains what is means to be a non-conformist and how we develops the abilities needed to follow a countercultural path.  The talk was given in the spring of 2026.

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.