The Skill of Living: The Buddha's Path for Developing Skillful Qualities - Paperback

by Peter Doobinin (Author)

The Skill of Living explicates the Buddha's path for developing the skillful qualities of generosity, ethical conduct, renunciation, truthfulness, effort, determination, discernment, lovingkindness, patience, and equanimity. These qualities are considered "skillful" because, when cultivated, they lead us to greater happiness. We build these qualities, Peter Doobinin emphasizes, by practicing skills. The Buddha taught skills. He didn't say "practice generosity" and leave it at that. In The Skill of Living Peter shows us how to cultivate skills. Teaching the dharma, the Buddha's path, in New York City for many years, Peter has learned how to help people cultivate these skills while living as householders, with jobs, families, and myriad responsibilities, amidst the speed and complexity of the modern world.The Skill of Living exemplifies Peter's clear, thorough, wholehearted, down-to-earth approach to dharma practice. The joy he finds in teaching the dharma shines through on every page. Whether you're a long-term student or somebody who simply wants to have a better life, The Skill of Living offers a way to develop profound, life-changing skills. It is an invitation to explore a precious teaching, to know a greater happiness in your life.

Author Biography

Peter Doobinin is the author of The Skill of Living and the novel Suburban Boy. His writing has appeared in the anthology Commit to Sit; Tricycle; The New York Times, and other publications. The guiding teacher of Downtown Meditation Community, he's been teaching the dharma, the Buddha's path, in New York City for many years. Born in 1955, Peter grew up in Long Island. He departed the suburbs in 1980 and has been living in NYC ever since. After working in the publishing industry for more than two decades, he left in 1998 in order to follow a less worldly direction. He is a co-founder of New York Insight Meditation Center, and in 2002 founded Downtown Meditation Community. His vision, in leading a dharma community, is to help people to follow the Buddha's path while living in the contemporary world. He sees the community as a refuge, a place where people can practice the dharma together, support each other, and share in joyful companionship.