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Welcome.

This site offers an extensive collection of English translations of suttas from the Pāli Canon, as well as a multitude of free downloads of Dhamma from the Kammaṭṭhāna (or Thai Forest) Tradition of Buddhism. Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu of Metta Forest Monastery is the speaker, author or translator unless otherwise noted.

What’s New

New Content NoticesSubscribe to RSS Notices of New Content
Libro nuevo
Nos alegra presentar Un Puñado de Arena y La Luz del Discernimiento : Las Enseñanzas de Phra Ajaan Suwat Suvaco, por Ajaan Suwat Suvaco.
publicado el 15 de enero
New Book
A Handbook for the Relief of Suffering : Three Essays by Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. A Handbook for the Relief of Suffering consists of three short essays that were meant to be given to hospital patients as food for thought for them to ponder while undergoing treatment.
posted January 13
December Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Jan. 1
New Book
Four Noble Truths is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. An introduction to the Buddha’s central teaching, the four noble truths, explaining them in the context of the Buddha’s statements about truth in general, and as the context for all his other teachings.
posted December 27
November Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Dec. 7
October Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Oct. 30
September Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Oct. 1
New Essay
At War with the Dhamma, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. There is no way that a just-war theory could be in line with the Dhamma.
posted Sept. 21
August Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Sept. 2
New Book
Undaunted : The Buddha’s Teachings on Aging, Illness, Death, & the Deathless is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. How lessons drawn from the Buddha’s awakening can give guidance in how best to deal with the big problems of life: aging, illness, death, grief, and giving care to those who are sick or dying.
posted August 26
July Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Aug. 2
New Essay
The Heart a Flowing Stream: The Buddha on Ending the Āsavas, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. The three āsavas, or effluents, are tendencies that lead to rebirth. On the night of his awakening, the Buddha put an end to these tendencies in his heart for good. This essay discusses the approaches he recommended to his followers for ending their own effluents, and ways of motivating themselves to achieve that goal.
posted July 15
New Book
Sublime Determinations is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. A transcript from a retreat held in conjunction with the Sociedade Vipassana de Meditação of Brasília on the topic of the four sublime attitudes (brahmavihāras): unlimited goodwill, unlimited compassion, unlimited empathetic joy, and unlimited equanimity.
posted July 13
June Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted June 25
New Book
Meditations 11 is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. Transcribed Dhamma talks on breath meditation and various aspects of the Buddhist Path given by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu during the evening meditation sessions at Metta Forest Monastery primarily from 2020-2021.
posted June 6
May Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted June 1
April Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted April 28
March Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted April 1
February Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted March 1
January Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Feb. 2
New Book
Along the Way : Essays on the Buddhist Path is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. The eighth collection of essays by Thanissaro Bhikkhu: Safety in a Duality, Dhamma Is What Dhamma Does, Becoming a True Person, Happiness as a Skill, Wise Enough to Care, An Arrow in the Heart, Meditators at Work, Unhindered at Death, Clinging & the End of Clinging, The Buddha’s Rx, The Logic of Not-self, and The Dhamma Eye.
posted Jan 21
Libro nuevo
Nos alegra presentar El corazón inteligente: Cinco charlas de dharma, por Ajaan Suwat Suvaco. Una colección de charlas para conmemorar el centenario de Ajaan Suwat.
publicado el 11 de enero
December Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Dec. 31
New Essay
Dhamma Is What Dhamma Does : The Buddha as Strategist, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. The Dhamma can be recognized by the strategic attha, or purpose, that it serves.
posted Dec. 25
November Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Dec. 1
Livro novo
Alegra-nos apresentar Bom Coração, Boa Mente: A Prática das Dez Perfeições, por Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Uma série de palestras dadas nos retiros do Brasil e da França sobre o tema das dez perfeições (pāramī).
publicado o 25 de Novembro
October Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Nov. 1
New Lecture
Antidotes to Anger, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. The Buddha’s tools for dealing with anger.
posted Oct. 26
New Lecture
Mindfulness of Breathing, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. Three talks on putting the Buddha’s sixteen-step instructions on breath meditation into practice.
posted Oct. 26
2 New Suttas
Saṁyutta 55:23 Godha Sutta and Saṁyutta 55:25 Sarakāni Sutta.
posted Oct. 8
September Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Oct. 1
New Lecture
The Three Perceptions, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. A talk on how the three perceptions of inconstancy, stress, and not-self function on the path.
posted Sept. 10
New Essay
Unhindered at Death, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. How to prepare for death by overcoming the hindrances.
posted Sept. 9
หนังสือเล่มใหม่
หนังสือสวดมนต์. บทภาษาบาลีที่สวดประจำที่วัดเมตตาวนาราม ซึ่งบางบทมีคำแปลภาษาไทยและภาษาอังกฤตด้วย
อัปโหลดเมื่อวันที่ 7 กันยายน
หนังสือเล่มใหม่
พระสูตร. บทพระสูตรที่สวดประจำที่วัดเมตตาวนาราม เช่น ธัมมะจักกัปปะวัตตะนาสูตร มัคคะวิภังคะสูตร และ มะหาสะมะยะสูตร เป็นต้น
อัปโหลดเมื่อวันที่ 7 กันยายน
August Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Sept. 1
7 New Suttas
Aṅguttara 5:166 Nirodha Sutta, Aṅguttara 6:70 Samādhi Sutta, Aṅguttara 6:71 Sakkhibhabba Sutta, Aṅguttara 6:78 Sukha Sutta, Aṅguttara 6:83 Aggadhamma Sutta, Aṅguttara 6:91 Abhabba Sutta, and Aṅguttara 6:92 Ṭhāna Sutta.
posted Aug. 4
July Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Aug. 2
New Sutta
Saṁyutta 54:12 | Sakaṁbhiya Sutta How a person who is a learner meditates, as opposed to how a person fully awakened meditates.
posted July 6
June Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted July 1
New Essay
Happiness as a Skill : The Practice of Puñña, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. How acts of puñña—goodness—are an intrinsic and necessary part of all Dhamma practice.
posted June 30
New Essay
The Buddha’s Rx : Attacking Suffering at Its Cause, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. Like a good doctor, the Buddha aimed his cure for suffering, not at its symptoms, but at its underlying cause.
posted June 9
Новые публикации
Статьи Наставления Будды о чести и стыде и Метта означает доброжелательность.
Опубликовано 4-го июня
Livro novo
Alegra-nos apresentar Mantendo a respiração em mente e Lições em samādhi por Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo. Um guia fundamental para a meditação da respiração e a prática dos jhānas.
publicado o 4 de Junio
May Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted June 1
New RSS feeds
The stagnant podcast feed for the evening Dhamma talks has been replaced with a new, updated evening talk RSS feed. Additionally, a new short morning talk RSS feed has been added to the site. Both should be compatible with Google Play Music and iTunes. We will try to get them registered with both of those services. Thank you to all the users of the feed for your feedback and patience. Any help you can give troubleshooting these new feeds is appreciated.
posted May 15
April Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted May 1
March Dhamma talks re-mastered
Due to some issues with audio quality in their original production, all of the evening Dhamma talks in March have been re-mastered. If you downloaded them for your local archive prior to April 15th, it is recommended that you download them again and replace them.
posted Apr. 15
March Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Apr. 1
February Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Mar. 8
หนังสือเล่มใหม่
มรรค. อธิบายอริยมรรคมีองค์ ๘
อัปโหลดเมื่อวันที่ 18 กุมภาพันธ์
หนังสือเล่มใหม่
กุศโลบาย. รวมพระธรรมเทศนา
อัปโหลดเมื่อวันที่ 18 กุมภาพันธ์
2 New Suttas
Dīgha 33 Saṅgīti Sutta and Dīgha 34 Dasuttara Sutta.
posted Feb. 16
6 New Suttas
Aṅguttara 3:121 Soceyya Sutta (1), Aṅguttara 3:122 Soceyya Sutta (2), Aṅguttara 4:87 Putta Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:88 Saññojana Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:89 Diṭṭhi Sutta, and Aṅguttara 4:90 Khandha Sutta.
posted Feb. 16
January Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Feb. 1
New Essay
Karma Is Individual, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. A short essay on the question of collective karma.
posted Jan. 22
2 traducciones nuevas
Nos alegra presentar dos traducciones nuevas de enseñanzas de Bhikkhu Thanissaro. La primera, Las Raíces de Romanticismo Buddhista, es un ensayo sobre las raíces romanticas del budismo occidental. La segunda, Una Fundación para el Corazón, es una plática sobre el triple entrenamiento de virtud, concentración y discernimiento.
publicadas el 21 de Enero
21 New Suttas
Saṁyutta 3:8 Mallikā Sutta, Saṁyutta 3:21 Puggala Sutta, Saṁyutta 3:22 Ayyikā Sutta, Saṁyutta 4:18 Piṇḍa Sutta, Saṁyutta 7:12 Udaya Sutta, Saṁyutta 7:16 Paccanika Sutta, Saṁyutta 11:14 Daḷidda Sutta, Saṁyutta 11:15 Rāmaṇeyyaka Sutta, Saṁyutta 11:22 Dubbaṇṇiya Sutta, Saṁyutta 11:24 Accaya Sutta, Saṁyutta 12:55 Mahārukkha Sutta, Saṁyutta 15:10 Puggala Sutta, Saṁyutta 16:11 Cīvara Sutta, Saṁyutta 22:18 Hetu Sutta (1), Saṁyutta 22:19 Hetu Sutta (2), Saṁyutta 22:20 Hetu Sutta (3), Saṁyutta 22:76 Arahanta Sutta, Saṁyutta 22:78 Sīha Sutta, Saṁyutta 22:82 Puṇṇama Sutta, Saṁyutta 22:96 Gomaya Sutta, and Saṁyutta 23:1 Māra Sutta.
posted Jan. 9
December Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Jan. 1
16 New Suttas
Saṁyutta 35:17 No Cedaṁ Sutta (1), Saṁyutta 35:18 No Cedaṁ Sutta (2), Saṁyutta 35:19 Abhinanda Sutta (1), Saṁyutta 35:20 Abhinanda Sutta (2), Saṁyutta 35:118 Sakka Sutta, Saṁyutta 35:134 Devadaha Sutta, Saṁyutta 35:136 Rūpārāma Sutta, Saṁyutta 35:187 Samudda Sutta (1), Saṁyutta 35:188 Samudda Sutta (2), Saṁyutta 35:190 Khīrarukkha Sutta, Saṁyutta 45:27 Kumbha Sutta, Saṁyutta 45:153 Kumbha Sutta (another), Saṁyutta 46:3 Sīla Sutta, Saṁyutta 46:38 Nīvaraṇa Sutta, Saṁyutta 48:8 Daṭṭhabbaṁ Sutta, and Saṁyutta 51:22 Ayoguḷa Sutta.
posted Dec. 27
20 New Suttas (and one revised)
Aṅguttara 2:35 Samacitta Sutta (revised), Aṅguttara 2:61 Sannivāsa Sutta, Aṅguttara 2:74 Sukha Sutta, Aṅguttara 2:120 Duttappaya Sutta, Aṅguttara 2:134 Ananuvicca Sutta, Aṅguttara 5:23 Upakkilesa Sutta, Aṅguttara 6:31 Parihāna Sutta, Aṅguttara 6:73 Jhāna Sutta (1), Aṅguttara 6:74 Jhāna Sutta (2), Aṅguttara 7:50 Nandamātar Sutta, Aṅguttara 7:54 Sīha Sutta, Aṅguttara 8:19 Pahārāda Sutta, Aṅguttara 8:22 Ugga Sutta, Aṅguttara 8:61 Icchā Sutta, Aṅguttara 9:8 Sajjha Sutta, Aṅguttara 9:24 Sattā Sutta, Aṅguttara 9:25 Paññā Sutta, Aṅguttara 10:18 Nātha Sutta, Aṅguttara 10:73 Iṭṭhā Sutta, Aṅguttara 10:76 Abhabba Sutta, and Aṅguttara 10:101 Samaṇasaññā Sutta.
posted Dec. 26
หนังสือเล่มใหม่
โพชฌงค์. อธิบายธรรมะ ๗ ข้อ ที่เป็นองค์แห่งการตรัสรู้
อัปโหลดเมื่อวันที่ 24 ธันวาคม
New Essay
The Dhamma Eye : Text & Context, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. A discussion of the first noble attainment.
posted Dec. 20
10 New Suttas
Saṁyutta 55:5 Sāriputta Sutta, Saṁyutta 55:7 Veḷudvāreyya Sutta, Saṁyutta 55:26 Anāthapiṇḍika Sutta, Saṁyutta 55:27 Anāthapiṇḍika Sutta (2), Saṁyutta 56:1 Samādhi Sutta, Saṁyutta 56:2 Paṭisallāna Sutta, Saṁyutta 56:26 Mittā Sutta, Saṁyutta 56:27 Tatha Sutta, Saṁyutta 56:28 Loka Sutta, and Saṁyutta 56:32 Khadira Sutta.
posted Dec. 5
November Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Dec. 1
7 New Suttas
Aṅguttara 5:7 Kāmesu Sutta, Aṅguttara 5:74 Dhammavihārin Sutta, Aṅguttara 5:99 Sīha Sutta, Aṅguttara 5:109 Catuddisa Sutta, Aṅguttara 5:110 Arañña Sutta, Aṅguttara 5:137 Appaṁ Sutta, and Aṅguttara 5:152 Saddhamma-niyāma Sutta.
posted Nov. 20
16 New Suttas
Aṅguttara 3:5 Ayoniso Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:10 Mala Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:20 Pāpaṇika Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:24 Pahukāra Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:30 Avakujja Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:42 Ṭhāna Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:50 Ātappa Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:95 Sarada Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:109 Atitta Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:112 Nidāna Sutta (1), Aṅguttara 3:113 Nidāna Sutta (2), Aṅguttara 3:115 Dullabha Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:116 Appameyya Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:117 Aneñjaka Sutta, Aṅguttara 3:124 Kusināra Sutta, and Aṅguttara 3:136 Mitta Sutta.
posted Nov. 17
12 New Suttas
Aṅguttara 4:33 Sīha Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:38 Paṭilīna Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:100 Potaliya Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:116 Appamāda Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:117 Ārakkha Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:128 Abbhūta Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:138 Nikkaṭṭha Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:158 Parihāni Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:160 Sugata Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:182 Pāṭibhoga Sutta, Aṅguttara 4:191 Sotānugata Sutta, and Aṅguttara 4:201 Sikkhāpada Sutta.
posted Nov. 14
October Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Nov. 1
New & Expanded Suttas
Majjhima 12 Mahāsīhanāda Sutta, Majjhima 95 Caṅkī Sutta (Expanded), and Majjhima 91 Brahmāyu Sutta (Excerpt).
posted Oct. 28
New Sutta
Majjhima 151 Piṇḍapātapārisuddhi Sutta. A monk should repeatedly reflect on how far he’s come in fulfilling the duties of the four noble truths.
posted Oct. 27
New Suttas
Majjhima 31 Cūḷagosiṅgasāla Sutta, Majjhima 51 Kandaraka Sutta, and Majjhima 128 Upakkilesa Sutta.
posted Oct. 25
Expanded Sutta
Majjhima 75 Māgaṇḍiya Sutta. Previously an excerpt; now a full translation. The Buddha teaches a member of a hedonist sect about the nature of true pleasure and true health.
posted Oct. 17
New Sutta
Majjhima 77 Mahāsakuludāyi Sutta. Why do the Buddha’s followers hold him in such high regard?
posted Oct. 13
New Sutta
Majjhima 69 Golissāni Sutta. How a wilderness-dwelling monk should behave.
posted Oct. 10
Nouveau livre
J'ai le plaisir de vous informer qu'un nouveau livre en français est disponible Bonté et Bonheur. Une série d’enseignements donnés lors d’une retraite en France sur le thème des dix perfections (pāramī).
Publié le 5 octobre
New Sutta
Majjhima 67 Cātuma Sutta. Some of the dangers that new monks might face.
posted Oct. 3
September Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Oct. 1
New Sutta
Majjhima 40 The Shorter Discourse at Assapura.
posted Sept. 29
New Book
Meditations 10 is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. Transcribed Dhamma talks on breath meditation and various aspects of the Buddhist Path given by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu during the evening meditation sessions at Metta Forest Monastery primarily from 2018-2019.
posted Sept. 18
New Suttas
Majjhima 25 Poison-grass, Majjhima 107 To Gaṇaka Moggallāna, and Majjhima 125 The Level of the Tamed.
posted Sept. 3
August Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Sept. 1
New Book
Good Heart, Good Mind : The Practice of the Ten Perfections, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. A series of talks given at two retreats—one in France, the other in Brazil—on the topic of the ten perfections (pāramī): giving, virtue, renunciation, discernment, persistence, endurance, truth, determination, goodwill, and equanimity. These perfections provide an excellent framework for understanding how to give meaningful and satisfying purpose to everyday lay life in a way that’s conducive both to genuine goodness and to genuine happiness.
posted Aug. 30
New Sutta
Majjhima 64 The Longer Exhortation to Māluṅkya.
posted August 25
New Essay
Wise Enough to Care, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. The lessons of compunction.
posted August 25
New Suttas
Majjhima 7 The Simile of the Cloth, Aṅguttara 3:96 Assemblies, and Aṅguttara 5:26 Release.
posted August 17
New Essay
Clinging & the End of Clinging, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. The Buddha’s strategic approach to clinging.
posted August 13
July Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted August 1
Новые публикации
Руководство по медитации на дыхании С каждым вдохом и выдохом и лекция о Дхамме Большой холст.
Опубликовано 23 июля
June Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted July 1
New Suttas
Majjhima 11 The Shorter Lion’s Roar Discourse, Theragāthā 10:7 Gotama, Theragāthā 13 Soṇa Koḷivisa, and Theragāthā 17:2 Sāriputta. The suttas have also been added to the current versions of the corresponding ebooks.
posted June 24
New Essay
Becoming a True Person, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. The Buddha’s instructions for becoming compassionate and accountable.
posted June 20
May Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted June 1
New Book
The Mirror of Insight: The Buddha as Strategist, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. A short explanation of the Buddha’s teachings on the topic of insight and how those teachings should be strategically applied in practice. Included is an analysis of the different meanings of the word, saṅkhāra, fabrication, and the various ways in which fabrications are viewed, used, and abandoned along the path. The traditional two-truth theory of how the Buddha taught is also called into question.
posted May 17
New Suttas
SN 1:2 Freedom, SN 1:56 Engendered (2), SN 1:57 Engendered (3), SN 2:2 Kassapa the Deva’s Son, SN 2:17 Subrahma the Deva’s Son, and SN 2:22 Khema the Deva’s Son
posted May 5
New Book
Gather ’Round the Breath: Dhamma Talks Cited in With Each & Every Breath, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. A collection of 114 Dhamma Talks. A companion volume to Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu’s introduction to breath meditation, With Each & Every Breath, presenting in sequence all of the talks referenced in it.
posted May 2
New Essay
Meditators at Work, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. Meditation is an active rather than a passive process.
posted April 21
March evening Dhamma talks
regular evening.
posted April 6
February Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Feb. 17
January Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Feb. 5
Livro novo
Alegra-nos apresentar Escolhendo Um Bom Caminho. Para proteger os potenciais que possibilitarão encontrar a verdadeira felicidade, devemos criar o melhor ambiente possível no nosso dia dia, mantendo os preceitos, praticando a contenção dos sentidos, procurando ter moderação na fala, tentando encontrar isolamento com regularidade e tentando manter a perspectiva correta. Quando temos a perspectiva correta, todos os outros elementos do caminho fluem. É assim que começamos a escolher um bom caminho, que, na verdade, é o melhor caminho que existe.
publicado o 2 de fev.
New Essay
An Arrow in the Heart : The Buddha’s Teachings on Grief, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. The Buddha’s three steps for overcoming grief.
posted Jan. 31
New Book
Bases for Success: Six Dhamma Talks on the Four Iddhipādas, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. The Four Iddhipādas are the most neglected of the teachings that the Buddha said were central to maintaining his message.
posted Jan.  24
New Essay
The Logic of Not-self, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. The Buddha’s reason for teaching Not-self.
posted Jan. 20
December Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Jan. 14
New Lectures
Various new lectures have been added, including those from Ajaan Geoff's recent visit to Singapore.
posted Jan. 4
November Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Dec. 1
October Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Nov. 8
New Book
Noble Warrior : A Life of the Buddha Compiled from the Pāli Canon, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu and Khematto Bhikkhu, is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. The translated passages are interspersed with a minimum of explanation, allowing the compilers of the Canon to speak for themselves. Particular attention is given to the many accounts of the Buddha’s awakening and the role that his awakening played in shaping the Dhamma he taught.
posted October 26
September Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Oct. 10
ของใหม่ ธรรมเทศนาภาษาไทย:
อบรมภาวนาตอนเย็น กรกฎาคม และ เทศน์ตอนเช้า เดือน กรกฎาคม
ตั้งแต่ 28 กันยายน ปึ 2019
New Essay
Safety in a Duality, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. The Buddha taught that a teacher’s first duty was to give the student a firm grounding in how to decide what should and shouldn’t be done. This article explains the importance of this essential duality on all levels of the practice.
posted Sept. 10
August Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted Sept. 8
July Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted August 9
ของใหม่ ธรรมเทศนาภาษาไทย:
อบรมภาวนาตอนเย็น พฤษภาคม และ เทศน์ตอนเช้า เดือน พฤษภาคม
ตั้งแต่ 23 กรกฎาคม ปึ 2019
June Dhamma talks
regular evening and short morning
posted July 6
ของใหม่ ธรรมเทศนาภาษาไทย:
อบรมภาวนาตอนเย็น มีนาคม และ เทศน์ตอนเช้า เดือน มีนาคม
ตั้งแต่ 26 มิถุนายน ปึ 2019
New Book
The Intelligent Heart : Five Dhamma Talks, by Ajaan Suwat Suvaco, is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. It’s a collection of his Dhamma talks published to commemorate Ajaan Suwat’s 100th birthday.
posted June  17
New Book
Factors for Awakening : Ten Dhamma Talks, by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, is available in ebook formats and can be read online as well. The seven factors for awakening (bojjhanga) are a set of qualities explaining how right view helps to develop right mindfulness into right concentration.
posted June  17

The Gift of Dhamma

All of the Dhamma here is offered freely―no price tags, no advertising, no suggested donations, no memberships, no strings attached in any way. This is distributing the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma, in line with how the Buddha himself taught that his teachings should be offered.
For those who want to express gratitude for the teachers’ generosity, the best way is to put the teachings into practice, earnestly―to see for yourself, for your own benefit, and for the benefit of the world.

About

Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Phra Ajaan Geoff)

Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Geoffrey DeGraff) is an American Buddhist monk of the Kammatthana (Thai Forest) Tradition. After graduating from Oberlin College in 1971 with a degree in European Intellectual History, he traveled to Thailand, where he studied meditation under Ajaan Fuang Jotiko, himself a student of the late Ajaan Lee. He ordained in 1976 and lived at Wat Dhammasathit, where he remained following his teacher's death in 1986. In 1991 he traveled to the hills of San Diego County, USA, where he helped Ajaan Suwat Suvaco establish Metta Forest Monastery (Wat Mettavanaram). He was made abbot of the Monastery in 1993.

Kammatthana

Kammatthana: Literally, “basis of work” or “place of work.” The term is most often used specifically to identify the Thai Forest Tradition, i.e., the forest tradition lineage founded by Phra Ajaans Mun and Sao. For an introduction to the history of the Kammatthana Tradition, see the essay “The Customs of the Noble Ones,” by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Phra Ajaan Mun Bhuridatto (1870-1949)

Ajaan Mun was born in 1870 in Baan Kham Bong, a farming village in Ubon Ratchathani province, northeastern Thailand. Ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1893, he spent the remainder of his life wandering through Thailand, Burma, and Laos, dwelling for the most part in the forest, engaged in the practice of meditation. He attracted an enormous following of students and, together with his teacher, Phra Ajaan Sao Kantasilo Mahathera (1861-1941), established the Kammatthana Tradition that subsequently spread throughout Thailand and to several countries abroad. He passed away in 1949 at Wat Suddhavasa, Sakon Nakhorn province.

Phra Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo (1907-1961)

Ajaan Lee was one of the foremost teachers in the Thai forest ascetic tradition of meditation founded at the turn of the century by his teacher, Phra Ajaan Mun Bhuridatto. His life was short but eventful. Known for his skill as a teacher and his mastery of supranatural powers, he was the first to bring the ascetic tradition out of the forests of the Mekhong basin and into the mainstream of Thai society in central Thailand.

Phra Ajaan Fuang Jotiko (1915-1986)

Ajaan Fuang was one of Ajaan Lee’s most devoted students, spending some 24 rains retreats in the company of his renowned teacher. After Ajaan Lee’s death, Ajaan Fuang continued on at Wat Asokaram, Ajaan Lee’s bustling monastery near Bangkok. A true forest monk at heart, Ajaan Fuang left Wat Asokaram in 1965 in search of greater solitude more conducive to meditation, and ultimately ended up at Wat Dhammasathit in Rayong province, where he lived as abbot until his death in 1986.

Phra Ajaan Suwat Suvaco (1919-2002)

Born on August 29, 1919, Ajaan Suwat ordained at the age of 20 and became a student of Ajaan Funn Acaro two or three years later. He also studied briefly with Ajaan Mun. Following Ajaan Funn’s death in 1977, Ajaan Suwat stayed on at the monastery to supervise his teacher’s royal funeral and the construction of a monument and museum in Ajaan Funn’s honor. In the 1980’s Ajaan Suwat came to the United States, where he established four monasteries: one near Seattle, Washington; two near Los Angeles; and one in the hills of San Diego County (Metta Forest Monastery). He returned to Thailand in 1996, and died in Buriram on April 5, 2002 after a long illness.

For Beginners

Books

Dhamma

The best introductions to the Dhamma are The Buddha’s Teachings, a short introduction to the basic concepts and values underlying Buddhist practice; Noble Strategy, a collection of essays about Buddhism by Thanissaro Bhikkhu; Awareness Itself, a collection of short teachings by Ajaan Fuang, Thanissaro Bhikkhu’s teacher; and Refuge, a compilation of essays and scriptures from the Pali Canon addressing basic elements of the Buddhist Path.

Breath Meditation

The best starting point for learning breath meditation is the new book, With Each & Every Breath. The other fundamental guide to breath meditation is Keeping the Breath in Mind by Ajaan Lee.

Pāli Canon

The Dhammapada, the Udana, and the Itivuttaka are all excellent gateways to the Pali Canon.

The Wings to Awakening

Not for beginners, but the essential guide to practicing the Buddhist Path, following the Buddha’s own summary of his teachings, is The Wings to Awakening.

Talks

The Basics collection is a graduated series of 10-15 minute Dhamma talks addressing many areas of the practice. Any of the Dhamma talks can be played initially during meditation to provide guidance and ideas for experimentation. Alternatively, the Guided Meditations collection provides a few variations of a longer guided meditation providing more structure.

FAQ

General

I’m having trouble downloading files.

Some people have downloading problems with the large .zip archives. Internet connections are often interrupted, and the download managers in web browsers are bad at resuming downloads. The download either fails, or it “completes” but is corrupted. If you're internet connection is bad, it’s recommended to use a download accelerator. These do a much better job at resuming interrupted downloads and leaving you with uncorrupted files. Some of these download accelerators are available as extensions to your web browser. Others are stand alone applications. An excellent free one that works on Windows, Android, and Linux is Uget.

What is an RSS feed?

An RSS feed is a simple list of new content to this site that your browser or feed reader will automatically check for updates. Then that list will be accessible from, ususally, your browser toolbar as a dropdown menu. Since the RSS feed is just a small text (xml) file, it doesn’t use as much bandwidth to check for new content as would visiting the site periodically to check for new content. Each item link in the feed’s list will open the location on dhammatalks.org where you can download the referenced content.

How do I subscribe to the RSS feed?

If you use Firefox or Internet Explorer browsers just left-click on the “subscribe” link and everything should be straightforward. Google Chrome doesn’t have an RSS feed reader, but you can get an add-on, such as Feedly, from the app store. This feed is RSS 2.0 but also ought to work with “atom” readers.

Books

Are there any accessibility options for the vision impaired?

Many of these books can be downloaded in DAISY 3.0 and Braille Ready Format (BRF) formats directly from bookshare.org without any requirement of membership.

Which ebook format do I need?

The epub format works for most e-readers, such as Android, iPhone, iPad, Nook, Sony, Adobe Digital Editions, desktop and laptop computers, among others. But not Kindles! Kindles use either the azw3 or mobi format.

What’s the difference between the azw3 and mobi formats?

The azw3 and mobi are Amazon’s proprietary formats for Kindles. The azw3 is a big improvement over the mobi, and Kindles can finally benefit from the intended formatting and fonts. Amazon, however, does not (yet?) support the azw3 in the Kindle Personal Documents Service, so reportedly manual (usb) uploading to the Kindle device is still necessary. The mobi format will continue to be made available until Amazon fully supports the azw3.

What are the disadvantages of the pdf format?

The pdf format is the old standard and should be supported by all devices. The primary disadvantage of pdfs relative to epub, azw3 and mobi, however, is you cannot enlarge the font size without the text overflowing off the edge of the screen. That can make it quite challenging to read on small devices. Additionally, with the large ebooks, ones with 1,000 or 2,000 pages, your device might freeze or struggle to scroll through the pdf. Because of the way they’re constructed, that won’t happen with the other ebook formats.

I want to read the ebooks on my desktop or laptop computer. Which format should I get?

Epub. The epubs have the intended fonts and formatting because of the capabilities of the epub format itself and because the ebooks from this website were created originally as epubs. The mobis, on the other hand, are just push-button conversions from the epubs using the Calibre application. While the mobis are fully functional, no additional effort is put into correcting their formatting for the Kindle. It’s a credit to Calibre that they come out looking as well as they do. The original formatting and fonts are available on a Kindle by using the azw3 format, which is almost identical to the original epub version.

Is there any free software so I can read ebooks on my computer?

There are a number free reader apps. Purely for reading epubs, Adobe Digital Editions has a slick interface. Calibre is a more comprehensive option which allows for converting to other formats. There are also a Sony Reader app and a Nook-for-PC app. These might be of interest if you also have one of those devices for purposes of syncing. Kindle-for-PC reads mobis but is not recommended.

How can I get paperback versions of these books?

Please see the book request list for instructions. Please do not contact the website administrator via email to request books. Such requests will be disregarded.

I’m having trouble downloading mobi files.

Case 1: Instead of downloading the mobi file, the Safari browser tries to open it as web page. Answer: I was able to download the files on Safari by clicking on them while holding down the "option" button. Using Firefox instead of Safari also takes care of the problem. Based on a little research I did, it seems like the mobi as HTML problem on Safari is nothing new.

Case 2: The mobi downloads as a .txt file using a Samsung Galaxy tablet running Android 4.2.2. Answer: I noticed the url contained the mobi extension, but when I download it, it gets changed to a .txt extension. Manually renaming the file from filename.txt to filename.mobi fixes the problem, and it opens up in Kindle just fine.

Audio

How do I stream (listen to) the mp3 audio files?

The little orange “play” button will open your browser’s media player on the page. The little orange “close” button will stop playback.

How do I download the mp3 audio files?

If you click on the name of the talk or chant, the link will automatically tell your browser to download the file. If it still insists on streaming the talk, such as in Firefox, right-click the link to get a menu where you can choose download. Also, double check that your browser’s privacy extensions or settings are not interfering.

What happened to the full year zip archives?

Because hard drive space is expensive on a hosted web server, it was costly to store those large archives for the downloading convenience of a small number of users. It shouldn’t be too difficult to build a local collection by downloading the full month zip archives. In any case, there are advantages, since there is a much smaller chance of ending up with a corrupt file downloading ten 150 MB archives than a single 1.5 GB one.

What do “med-fi” “low-fi” “NR”, “oly”, & “sony” mean in some talk titles?

Please note that mp3 files with an “NR” or “(oly)” notation indicate recordings of somewhat lower audio quality -- “NR” for applied “Noise-Reduction” and “(oly)” for “Olympus,” an inferior recording device at the Monastery. Any of these could also be labelled “low-fi.” “(Sony)” is similar to “(oly),” but the audio quality is more acceptable. More recently the Sony device has been labelled “med-fi.”

Contact

The site admins welcome your feedback at dhammatalks.feedback@gmail.com.
Please contact us at this email to:
  • alert us to broken links, corrupted files, other trouble with the site;
    • (When reporting trouble please indicate the hardware and software you are using, e.g. Windows Vista and Internet Explorer 7, or iPad with iOS5, to the extent you are able.)
  • report typos in any of the content, including the suttas, ebooks, dhammatalk transcriptions, etc.
  • give general feedback and suggestions regarding usability;
  • request additional content be made available; or
  • anything else reasonably related to site administration.
Please DO NOT contact us at this email to:
  • reach Thanissaro Bhikkhu. All inquiries about the Dhamma should be directed to Thanissaro Bhikkhu at Metta Forest Monastery by regular mail or by telephone;

  • request printed books. Book requests sent here will be disregarded. For book requests please follow the instructions at: book requests; or
  • sell us anything. This site has a strict policy against hosting advertising or linking to commercial sites.

More …

Citation Examples

Web published book

Bhikkhu, Thanissaro. Head & Heart Together, 9 Jan 2018. dhammatalks.org. Retrieved from https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/Head&HeartTogether/Section0001.html. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.

Chapter in a web book

Bhikkhu, Thanissaro. “The Joy of Effort.” Head & Heart Together, 9 Jan 2018. dhammatalks.org. Retrieved from https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/Head&HeartTogether/Section0001.html. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.

Ebook (i.e., epub, mobi, pdf)

Bhikkhu, Thanissaro. Head & Heart Together. Valley Center, CA: Metta Forest Monastery, 2016. Epub Edition. dhammatalks.org. Retrieved from https://dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writings/Ebooks/HeadHeartTogether180109.epub.

Web essay

Bhikkhu, Thanissaro. “Names for Nibbana.” dhammatalks.org, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/uncollected/Nibbana.html. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.

Sutta translation

Madhupindika Sutta [The Ball of Honey] Majjhima Nikaya 18. (Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu). dhammatalks.org. Retrieved from https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/MN/MN18.html.

Thai Forest translation

Ajaan Fuang Jotiko. Awareness Itself: The Teachings of Ajaan Fuang Jotiko (Translated from the Thai by Thanissaro Bhikkhu). 7 April 2018. dhammatalks.org. Retrieved from https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/AwarenessItself/Section0001.html. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.

Audio file

Bhikkhu, Thanissaro. “Feeding Off the Future,” 19 Nov 2013. Evening Dhamma Talks on dhammatalks.org. Audio retrieved from https://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/y2013/Feeding_Off_the_Future.mp3. Accessed 10 Oct 2018.

Youtube

Bhikkhu, Thanissaro. “Feeding Off the Future.” Youtube, uploaded by Dhamma Talks by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, 17 June 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqhsxxNEtzQ.

Copyright

All of the content on this site is meant to be released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Unported License. Most of the pre-2014 works are tagged with simple ‘for free distribution only’ language. More recent content is explicitly tagged with the Creative Commons (CC) License. Both licenses are meant to guide users to use and distribute the Dhamma in line with the Dhamma as explained above.
There is some uncertainty about the meaning of ‘Commercial’ with regard to the CC NonCommercial License. For example, some consider the sale of content to support a non-profit entity to be ‘NonCommercial.’ The author and copyright holder of the content on this site considers any sale, including by non-profit entities for non-profit purposes, to be ‘Commercial’ and a copyright violation.
To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

Links

Metta Forest Monastery (Wat Metta) has some useful information for day and overnight visitors to the Monastery, including maps, directions from the airport, transportation information, etiquette, the daily schedule, a calendar of uposatha days, as well as some photos from around the Monastery.
Forest Dhamma provides free publications of the Dhamma talks and books of Ajaan Mahā Boowa and his disciples. The translations are either by Ajaan Paññavaddho, Thanissaro Bhikkhu, or Bhikkhu Silaratano (Ajaan Dick). Also there is information regarding Forest Dhamma’s monastery, in the tradition of Ajaan Mun and Ajaan Mahā Boowa, on a parcel of forest in rural Virginia, USA.
TheravadaCN.org has Chinese translations of many of the Theravada writings from this website and Access to Insight.