Evening Dhamma Talks
Current Year
These talks were given by Thanissaro Bhikkhu during the evening meditation sessions at Metta Forest Monastery.
The full archive of talks back to the year 2000 is also available to search, stream or download. Transcripts of most of the talks are also available there.
- November 2023
Full month zip
- 26 Choices that Matter
- 25 Human Potentials
- 24 Unlearning Helplessness
- 23 Learning & Respect
- 22 To Know the Buddha
- 21 The Buddha’s Buffet
- 20 Friends with the Body
- 19 Developing Absorption
- 17 Verbal Fabrication
- 16 Bowing & Chanting
- 15 Lessons from Pain & Distraction
- 14 Respect Opens Possibilities
- 09 Skills to Make You Free
- 08 In Balance
- 07 There’s Work to Be Done
- 06 The Dhamma Wheel
- 05 Harmony & Cooperation
- 05 Anumodana
- 04 Charge Your Batteries
- 03 Acceptance Without Suffering
- 02 Letting Go Skillfully
- October 2023
Full month zip
- 31 Attention & Intention
- 30 The Time-driven Now
- 29 Take the Buddha Seriously
- 29 In Context (outdoors)
- 28 Practice Like an Adult
- 27 Use Your Defilements
- 26 Over-informed
- 25 Safety
- 24 Compassionate Duties
- 22 This Body, Too
- 22 Right Here in the Heart
- 21 Appreciating Concentration
- 20 Getting Your Head Around the Goal
- 19 Time to Practice
- 17 Your Work
- 16 Exercising Your Judgment
- 15 The Gatekeeper’s Duties (outdoors)
- 15 Nobility Is the Best Policy
- 13 Action & the End of Action
- 12 Toxic Environments
- 10 Heedful & Mindful
- 09 A Deep Well Inside
- 07 Values
- 06 Established in Full
- 05 Meaning & Purpose
- 04 For What It’s Worth
- 03 Firm in Your Intent
- 02 Feelings Not of the Flesh
- 01 Safe Path, Safe Goal
- September 2023
Full month zip
- 30 Calm in the Storm
- 29 Ready for Death
- 27 Protecting Your Practice
- 26 Infinity
- 25 Reflect on What You’re Doing
- 24 Honest & Observant
- 23 Nuts & Bolts
- 21 Rooted in Desire
- 20 Follow & Watch
- 19 Judging the Path
- 17 The Path to End Craving
- 16 Training Your Moods
- 15 Goodwill Without Limits
- 14 Study the Present
- 13 Because the Mind Is Purposeful
- 04 The Flamethrowing Mind
- 03 Play With the Breath
- 03 Learning by Doing (outdoors)
- 02 A Real Education
- August 2023
Full month zip
- 31 Free from Fear
- 30 The World of Conviction
- 29 Self-starting
- 28 Right Here
- 27 Ready for the Truth
- 27 In Tune
- 25 Take This With You
- 24 Blessings
- 23 Fire Prevention
- 22 Powers of Judgment
- 20 Training With the Breath
- 19 The End of Karma
- 18 Return of Wisdom for Dummies
- 16 Working Hypotheses
- 15 Confident Heedfulness
- 14 Wise About Mistakes
- 13 Truth Through Training
- 12 Reflections
- 11 A Well-grounded Fortress
- 10 For Your Purposes
- 09 In the Shape of a Circle
- 08 The Buddha’s Protection
- 06 The Skill of Renunciation
- 06 The Not-self Discourse
- 05 Slings & Arrows
- 04 Survival Skills
- 03 Basic Training
- 02 A Sense of Yourself
- 01 Keep the Dhamma Wheel Rolling
- July 2023
Full month zip
- 30 Train Your Selves
- 29 Compassionate Judgment
- 28 Medicine for the Mind
- 27 Be Observant & Ingenious
- 26 Delight in Concentration
- 25 From the Buddha’s Perspective
- 24 Noble Dhammas
- 23 Fourth Truth, First Duty
- 20 All-around Awareness
- 19 Goodwill Is Respect
- 18 Happiness Without Limitations
- 17 Lessons for New Monks
- 16 True, Beneficial, Timely
- 15 Discernment to Foster Concentration
- 14 Perception
- 13 Jobs With No Competition
- 12 Keep Your Eyes on the Road
- 11 Whole-hearted Concentration
- 10 Smart About Lust
- 09 When Truth Meets Truth
- 08 Renunciation Isn’t Deprivation
- 07 Undefeatism
- 05 The Pleasure of Concentration
- 04 Respect Your Happiness
- 03 The Mind Like Water
- 02 Meaning in the Face of Death
- 01 Discipline Is a Choice
- June 2023
Full month zip
- 30 Feelings of Unworthiness
- 28 Gradually Sudden
- 27 Delight in the Path
- 22 A Well-stocked Memory
- 21 Stake Out
- 20 Conviction as Your Companion
- 19 The Broken Gong
- 18 The Practice in a Word (outdoors)
- 17 Your Own Best Friend
- 17 Mindfulness 2.0 (Guided Meditation)
- 15 A Universal Message
- 14 Passion for Dispassion
- 13 Caught in a Thorn Bush
- 11 How to Shape the Present Moment
- 10 A Complete Training
- 09 Defilements at the Door
- 08 An Island in the Flood
- 06 Steadiness
- 05 The Triple Training
- 04 Emptiness
- 03 The Buddha’s Story & Yours
- 02 A Divine Seat
- 01 On Being Non-reactive
- May 2023
Full month zip
- 30 Breath Meditation Checklist
- 29 Observe Yourself in Action
- 28 To Certify Yourself
- 27 The Skillful Heart
- 26 You Contain Multitudes
- 25 Don’t Drift Off
- 23 A Meditative Environment
- 22 To Quiet the Mind
- 21 Bad, Good, & Skillful Intentions
- 20 Producing Discernment
- 19 Analyzing Anger
- 18 Large-hearted Equanimity
- 17 Honoring the Noble Ones
- 16 Dhamma Intelligence
- 15 Luminous
- 14 Capable
- April 2023
- March 2023
Full month zip
- 31 The Solution Starts Inside
- 30 The Mirror Inside
- 29 Fear Around Death
- 27 Skills to Make a Difference
- 26 Always Start with Good Intentions
- 25 Admit Your Stupidity
- 23 All-around Alertness
- 22 The Radiant Mind
- 21 Mindfulness of Death
- 20 Ugly Body, Happy Mind
- 19 The Search for Happiness
- 18 Tough Goodwill for a Tough World
- 16 Intelligence of the Heart
- 15 Recollecting the Buddha
- 14 Pain Messages
- 13 You Are Not Redundant
- 12 The Desire to Meditate
- 11 Refuge
- 11 Concentration & Its Supports
- 10 Generating Peace
- 08 Better than Good Enough
- 07 Generosity of Spirit
- 06 Magha Puja: Fight Fire with Fire
- 05 Appropriate Attention
- 03 The Real World Isn’t For Real
- 02 Thoughts About Thinking
- 01 Rebirth & Not-Self
- February 2023
Full month zip
- 28 Evaluation
- 26 Faith in Awakening
- 25 Your World to Practice In
- 24 The Path in Brief
- 23 Free Not to Suffer
- 22 Encouragement
- 20 The Graduated Discourse
- 18 Death Plays for Keeps
- 17 Guilt & Shame
- 16 Outside the Box
- 15 Fighting Skills
- 14 Freedom
- 13 Beyond Imagination
- 12 To Purify the Heart
- 10 Why It’s Good to Know Why
- 09 Developing the Path
- 08 Realizing Cessation
- 07 Abandoning Craving
- 06 Comprehending Suffering
- 05 Developing & Letting Go
- 04 For the Survival of True Happiness
- 02 Consciousness, Name, & Form (Reading)
- January 2023
Full month zip
- 29 The Projector
- 27 You Contain Multitudes
- 25 Thinking About Rebirth
- 24 Doubt vs. Discernment
- 23 The Fetter of Perceptions
- 22 A Gift of Stillness
- 20 The Armored Car
- 19 Safety in an Uncertain World
- 17 Sober Up
- 17 Good Energy from Within
- 16 The Need for Agency
- 15 Events as Events
- 14 Do, Maintain, Use
- 13 Goodness & Goodwill
- 08 Feeding on Open Wounds
- 07 Can Do
- 06 Standing Outside Your Thoughts
- 05 Talking Among Your Selves
- 03 The Joy of Curiosity
- 02 Rivers of Craving
- 01 Mental Karma