Thanissaro Bhikkhu

(Geoffrey DeGraff)

In addition to the the titles listed below, Thanissaro Bhikkhu has also translated into English many books by masters of the Thai forest traditions, including Upasika Kee Nanayon and Ajaans Lee, Fuang, and Maha Boowa. An anthology of his sutta translations is available in a four-volume series of books entitled Handful of Leaves, distributed by the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies. He has also prepared a number of Study Guides on various topics of interest to Buddhist practitioners.

Affirming the Truths of the Heart: The Buddhist Teachings on Samvega & Pasada, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1997; 13k/4pp.)

Popular interpretations of Buddhism today often ignore the importance of two powerful emotions, emotions that propelled the Buddha — and all those who have sought Awakening since — towards the goal of Awakening: samvega, a sense of urgency to escape the round of meaningless existence; and pasada, a clarity and serene confidence that allows one to proceed confidently towards the goal without lapsing into despair. In this short essay the author explores the meaning of these essential emotions and how we can encourage them to blossom in our lives. [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

The Agendas of Mindfulness, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2002; 9k/3pp.)

Mindfulness meditation is sometimes described as a kind of "passive all-encompassing acceptance" of one's immediate experience. But, as the author reminds us in this essay, the Pali texts paint a very different picture of what meditation is all about: it is, in fact, a very pro-active process with a clear agenda. [Printed copy available in the book The Karma of Questions.]

All About Change, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2004; 18k/6pp.)

What did the Buddha really have to say about anicca — inconstancy and change? Does the fact of impermanence tell us (as some popular teachings claim) that we should learn to "embrace our experiences without clinging," that we have the freedom to "create whatever world we want to live in"? In fact, the Buddha's teachings on anicca offer something far more useful and profound.

Basic Breath Meditation Instructions, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1994; 8k/3pp.)

A guided meditation, from the talk, "Using Meditation to Deal with Pain, Illness & Death". (See also: "A Guided Meditation.")

The Buddhist Monastic Code, Volume I: The Patimokkha Training Rules Translated and Explained, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1996; multi-part HTML book; 1273k/574pp.)

The 227 Patimokkha training rules, which are recorded in the Suttavibhanga (the first major section of the Vinaya Pitaka), affect every aspect of the daily life of the Theravada Buddhist bhikkhu (monk). The Patimokkha rules are presented here along with summaries of their "origin stories" and valuable commentary to help the monk-in-training master the fine points of monastic conduct. This book is now in widespread use at English-speaking Theravada monasteries around the world. [Printed copies of this book are available free of charge upon request from: Metta Forest Monastery, PO Box 1409, Valley Center, CA 92082 USA. For delivery to Asia or Australia, please write instead to: Chao Khun Nyanadilok, Wat Makut Kasatriyaram, Krung Kasem Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.]

The Buddhist Monastic Code, Volume II: The Khandhaka Rules Translated and Explained, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2002; 532pp.)

Whereas the Patimokkha concerns the basic rules of Theravada Buddhist monastic life (see The Buddhist Monastic Code, Volume I), the Khandhaka (the second major section of the Vinaya Pitaka) concerns its customs, which are no less essential to monastic life. This landmark book organizes and explains the Khandhaka rules in a systematic and practical way, for the benefit of any Theravada monk-in-training. [Printed copies of this book are available free of charge upon request from: Metta Forest Monastery, PO Box 1409, Valley Center, CA 92082 USA. For delivery to Asia or Australia, please write instead to: Chao Khun Nyanadilok, Wat Makut Kasatriyaram, Krung Kasem Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. The printed version now available is an earlier edition that contains a number of typographical and other errors. A revised and up-to-date printed edition is expected by early 2003.]

The Customs of the Noble Ones, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1999; 18k/6pp.)

One popular theory today maintains that the Buddha's teachings have survived all these years thanks to Buddhism's ability to adapt to the customs of whatever culture it finds itself at a particular moment in history. The history of the Thai forest kammatthana tradition, however, offers a striking counterexample to this notion. As the author argues in this essay, history has shown that the true Dhamma survives only when people have been willing to adapt their own customs and habits so as to meet the Dhamma face-to-face, on its own terms.

De-perception, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2002; 13k/4pp.)

When we sit down to meditate we usually bring along a host of assumptions about what our perceptions are, what our experience of meditation is like, and what it should be. As meditators, our task is to learn to ask the right questions — questions that will help us break through layer after layer of these false preconceived notions. This article, based on a Dhamma talk, is full of practical advice for meditators of all levels. [Printed copy available in the book The Karma of Questions.]

Dhammapada: A Translation, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Barre, MA: Dhamma Dana Publications, 1997; multi-part HTML book; 288k/150pp.)

The Dhammapada, an anthology of verses attributed to the Buddha, has long been recognized as one of the masterpieces of early Buddhist literature. Only more recently have scholars realized that it is also one of the early masterpieces in the Indian tradition of kavya, or belles lettres. This translation of the Dhammapada is an attempt to render the verses into English in a way that does justice to both of the traditions to which the text belongs. This translation also grew from the translator's conviction that the text deserved to be offered freely as a gift of Dhamma. As few good-quality translations of this beloved text are currently available as gifts, the translator was inspired to make his own. Thus was this translation born. [Printed copies of this book are available free of charge from Dhamma Dana Publications.]

The Economy of Gifts, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1997; 12k/4pp.)

This short essay explores the vital role of giving (dana) in Theravada Buddhism, especially as it is expressed in the relation between the lay and monastic communities. These mutually dependent communities support one another by means of an economy based entirely on generosity itself, thus offering us a refreshing alternative to modern Western materialism.

Emptiness, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1997; 7k/3pp.)

In this short essay the author explains the role of emptiness in the practice of meditation. [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

Five Piles of Bricks: The Khandhas as Burden & Path, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2002; 17k/6pp.)

When asked, "What am I?" Buddhist scholars and meditation teachers, alike, usually state that what we conventionally call a "person" is best understood in terms of the five khandhas: form, feeling, perceptions, mental fabrications, and consciousness. This understanding of the khandhas, which first emerged several centuries after the Buddha's death in the commentarial literature, differs significantly from the role of the khandhas as presented in the Pali Canon. In this essay the author shows that the Buddha used the teachings of the khandhas not to define what we are, but rather as a tool to help us put an end to our suffering. [Printed copy available in the book The Karma of Questions.]

Freedom from Fear, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2002; 19k/6pp.)

Since the beginning of time human beings have lived in fear: fear of change, of loss, of death. Unfortunately, as we see played out on the world stage today, people have learned a host of unskillful ways to deal with fear. The author writes: "The most unskillful response to fear is when, perceiving dangers to our own life or property, we believe that we can gain strength and security by destroying the lives and property of others." In this essay the author describes the Buddha's prescription for overcoming fear once and for all, by uprooting its very cause. [Printed copy available in the book The Karma of Questions.]

A Guided Meditation, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1999; 10k/3pp.)

Basic instructions in the practice of breath meditation. (See also: "Basic Breath Meditation Instructions.") [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

The Healing Power of the Precepts, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1997; 11k/3pp.)

Many people today have come to the Buddha's teachings in search of emotional and spiritual healing. In this short essay the author reminds us that the single most effective tool for healing a wounded heart may be found in the cultivation of sila, or virtuous conduct. [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

Itivuttaka: A Translation, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Barre, MA: Dhamma Dana Publications, 2001; multi-part HTML book; 160k/120pp.)

A lucid translation of the complete Ititvuttaka, a collection of 112 short discourses found in the Khuddaka Nikaya. [Printed copies of this book are available free of charge from Dhamma Dana Publications.]

Jhana Not by the Numbers, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2005; 13k/4pp.)

The author recalls how Ajaan Fuang taught meditation to his students: he would give them just enough instruction to stay on-track, but would rarely "certify" them as having attained this or that level of jhana, thereby motivating them to develop self-reliance and ingenuity in their meditation. In the words of Ajaan Fuang: "If I have to explain everything, you'll get used to having things handed to you on a platter. And then what will you do when problems come up in your meditation and you don't have any experience in figuring things out on your own?"

Karma, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1996; 8k/2pp.)

This short introductory essay explains the nature of karma (Pali: kamma), or willful action. The process of karma is a complex interplay between the fruits of our past actions (over which we have no control in the present) and the choices we make in the present moment; it is not a convenient justification for the misfortune of others ("Oh, it's just their karma!"). [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

The Karma of Questions: Essays on the Buddhist Path, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2002)

As the author writes in the Introduction: "There's no such thing as a totally idle question. Every question, even the most casual, carries an intention." Since one's intentions shape the course of one's entire spiritual journey, learning to ask the right kinds of questions plays an essential role in any spiritual practice. This collection of essays explores the nature of questions in the Buddhist path. [Printed copies of this book are available free of charge by writing to: The Abbot, Metta Forest Monastery, PO Box 1409, Valley Center CA 92082, USA.]

Many of the essays in this book are available on-line individually:

Life Isn't Just Suffering, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2000; 14k/5pp.)

Did the Buddha focus on suffering because he was a pessimist? Did he really say that life is suffering? Or was he a realist with something much more useful to say?

Meditations: Forty Dhamma Talks, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2003; 460k/160pp.)

These short talks on meditation practice were given by Ajaan Geoff (Thanissaro Bhikkhu) during the evening meditation sessions at Metta Forest Monastery (California). Using breath meditation as the principal point of reference, these talks address a wide range of topics of practical interest to beginning and advanced meditators, alike. Topics range from the development of generosity, the cultivation of skillful qualities of mind, how to develop concentration, how to overcome fear, and so on — all the the way to the opening to the transcendent itself. This book is highly recommended.

The Meaning of the Buddha's Awakening, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1997; 9k/3pp.)

Although the Buddha's Awakening took place long ago in ancient India, the fact of his Awakening is very much alive today and has profound implications for how we approach Buddhist practice. In this essay the author explores both the What and the How of the Buddha's Awakening: what he awakened to and how he did it.

The Mind Like Fire Unbound: An Image in the Early Buddhist Discourses, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Barre, MA: Dhamma Dana Publications, 1993; Third edition, revised 1999; multi-part HTML book; 250k/100pp.)

Early Buddhism borrowed two of its central terms from the workings of fire. Upadana, or clinging, originally referred to the fuel that kept fire burning; nibbana, the name of the goal, to a fire's going out. This is the first book to examine these terms from the perspective of how the early Buddhists themselves viewed fire — what they saw happening as a fire burned, and what happened to the fire when it went out — to show what light this perspective throws on Buddhist doctrine in general, and the practice of meditation in particular. With extensive quotations from the Pali Canon, newly translated, this is also a useful sourcebook for anyone who wants to encounter Buddhist teachings in their earliest known context. [Printed copies of this book are available free of charge from Dhamma Dana Publications.]

Nibbana, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1996; 5k/2pp.)

This short essay sketches the use of fire imagery in early Buddhism to describe Nibbana, the goal of Buddhist practice. This essay is a good starting point before tackling the more comprehensive book on the same subject: The Mind Like Fire Unbound: An Image in the Early Buddhist Discourses. [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

Noble Strategy: Essays on the Buddhist Path, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1999)

A collection of essays concerning the Buddhist path of practice. [Printed copies of this book are available free of charge by writing to: The Abbot, Metta Forest Monastery, PO Box 1409, Valley Center CA 92082, USA.]

From the Introduction:

The essays in this book present views on basic elements in the Buddhist path — the attitudes, concepts, and practices that lead to total freedom for the mind. If the views are right, they themselves form a part of the path. Thus, in learning how to make best use of these essays, it's important to understand how views function in bringing about freedom.

Any correct statement about the path is a part of right view. And yet the goal of the path — total freedom — includes freedom from attachment to all views. This means that right views don't stand at the end of the path. In other words, we don't practice the path simply to arrive at right view. And yet we can't follow the path without making use of right views. So right views are tools — strategies — to a higher end. They are unique in that their approach to reality leads ultimately to their own transcendence. They are meant to spark the sort of inquiry that takes the mind beyond them. Their efficacy is what proves their truth. Their integrity in action, combined with the worthiness of their outcome, is what makes them — as strategies — noble.

So the essays collected here are intended as aids to this program of noble strategy. There is much more to this program than can be contained in this — or any other — book. After all, right view is only part of the path. But my hope is that these essays will help get you started on the right path to freedom, and that the points they raise will prove useful along the way.

The essays, which are available on-line individually, include:

No-self or Not-self?, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1996; 7k/2pp.)

Are the Buddhist teachings of not-self (anatta) to be taken as statements of metaphysical truth, or as a teaching device to assist the practitioner in reaching the final goal, which lies altogether outside the realm of "self" or "not-self"? As this compelling essay reveals, a careful look at the canonical teachings suggests the latter. (This is Ven. Thanissaro's second essay on the subject. For a more expanded treatment, with supporting quotes from the Pali Canon, see his 1993 essay, "The Not-self Strategy.") [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

The Not-self Strategy, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1993; 24k/8pp.)

Is the central Buddhist teaching of anatta (not-self) a statement of metaphysical truth, or is it a strategy for gaining release from suffering? In this essay the author demonstrates, through a careful reading of the key passages from the Pali Canon on the subject of anatta, that the latter may, in fact, be the case. (This is Ven. Thanissaro's first essay on the subject, containing quotes from the Pali Canon to support his argument. It originally appeared in the magazine "Insight" in 1994. For a more concise treatment see his 1995 essay, "No-self or Not-self?.")

One Tool Among Many: The Place of Vipassana in Buddhist Practice, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1998; 21k/7pp.)

What is the relationship between calm (samatha) and insight (vipassana) in Buddhist meditation? A careful reading of the suttas in the Pali Canon suggests that the two are not separate meditation methods (as many commentators — classical and contemporary — suggest), but two aspects of a single, unified practice. According to the suttas, correct meditation practice thus calls for us to develop both aspects and to bring them into balance. [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

Opening the Door to the Dhamma: Respect in Buddhist Thought & Practice, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2001; 22k/7pp.)

In order to succeed at learning a new skill, one must first muster sufficient respect for oneself, the subject under study, and one's teacher. In this essay the author demonstrates that the same holds true when approaching the Buddha's teachings — the ability to learn depends upon the proper respect for three things: yourself, the principle of kamma, and other people's insights into that principle. [Printed copy available in the book The Karma of Questions.]

The Path of Concentration & Mindfulness, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1997; 21k/7pp.)

Are concentration and mindfulness two distinct paths of meditation or are they inseparable parts of a single unified path of practice? In this article, adapted from a talk given at CIMC in 1996, Thanissaro Bhikkhu suggests that the heart of insight practice as taught by the Buddha consists of the skillful development of both jhanic concentration and mindfulness. [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

The Practice in a Word, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2004; 7k/2pp.)

Appamadena sampadetha! — such was the dying Buddha's parting instruction, which has often been translated as "Practice diligently!" But a wider reading in the suttas reveals that that crucial word appamada has a far more nuanced and significant meaning. The Buddha's real message, argues the author, was, "Don't be complacent. Watch out for danger. Protect the mind's good qualities. Don't let your guard down."

Questions of Skill, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2001; 15k/5pp.)

"The Buddha wasn't the sort of teacher who simply answered questions. He also taught which questions to ask." So begins the author, who explains here how the essence of Buddhist practice consists in learning how to ask skillful questions. [Printed copy available in the book The Karma of Questions.]

Reconciliation, Right & Wrong, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2004; 13k/4pp.)

The Buddha's many teachings include detailed instructions on conflict resolution. This essay explores how the Buddha's insights into the fundamental differences between forgiveness and true reconciliation form the cornerstone of a skillful approach to restoring and preserving communal harmony.

Refuge: an Introduction to the Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2001; 220k/74pp.)

This short book provides an excellent introduction to the most basic principles of Buddhism: the Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha, collectively known as the Triple Gem or Triple Refuge. The material is divided into three parts: (I) an introductory essay on the meaning of refuge and the act of going for refuge; (II) a series of readings drawn from the earliest Buddhist texts illustrating the essential qualities of the Triple Gem; and (III) a set of essays explaining aspects of the Triple Gem that often provoke questions in those who are new to the Buddha's teachings. [Printed copies of this book are available free of charge from the author. Write to: Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Metta Forest Monastery, PO Box 1409, Valley Center, CA 92082, USA.]

Right Speech, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1999; 4k/2pp.)

For many of us, right speech is the most challenging of the precepts to honor. Yet practicing right speech is fundamental both to helping us become trustworthy individuals and to helping us gain mastery over the mind. So choose your words — and your motives for speaking — with care. [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

The Road to Nirvana is Paved with Skillful Intentions, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1999; 14k/5pp.)

According to the basic principle of karma, our underlying intentions play a crucial role in determining the ultimate fruits of our actions. As the author explains in this essay, if we're genuinely interested in pursuing the goal of the Buddha's teachings, it's not enough that we act merely with good intentions; rather, we must learn, through honest self-reflection and association with virtuous and wise friends, to cultivate skillfulness in our intentions. [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

Samsara, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2002; 5k/2pp.)

Is samsara (the wearisome "wandering-on" from birth to death to rebirth) a place, or is it the process by which we create and re-create our own suffering? Here the author likens samsara to an addiction that we can choose to give up — or not. Which one shall it be? [Printed copy available in the book The Karma of Questions.]

Samsara Divided by Zero, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2000; 8k/2pp.)

How can the path of practice, which is fabricated, ever hope to deliver us to the goal — nibbana — which is itself unfabricated? A striking analogy from modern chaos theory helps untangle this ancient paradox. [Printed copy available in the book The Karma of Questions.]

That the True Dhamma Might Last a Long Time: Readings Selected by King Asoka, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (ed. and trans.; 2nd edition; 1996; 61k/20pp.)

A collection of short readings from the Pali Canon, which King Asoka (India, 273-232 B.C.E) selected as representative of the essence of the Dhamma. (See also The Edicts of King Asoka, by Ven. S. Dhammika.)

Trading Candy for Gold: Renunciation as a Skill, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1999; 13k/3pp.)

Which would you rather have: an unquenchable thirst for sense-gratification, or a stable, true, and lasting happiness? The choice is yours. [Printed copy available in the book Noble Strategy.]

Using Meditation to Deal with Pain, Illness & Death, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1993; 33k/11pp.)

A talk given to a conference on AIDS, HIV and other Immuno-deficiency Disorders in Long Beach, CA, Nov. 13, 1993.

A Verb for Nirvana, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2005; 30k/12pp.)

As long as we think of Nirvana (Nibbana) as a place — as a destination localized somewhere in space and time — we misunderstand its fundamental significance. In this essay (backed by a selection of sutta excerpts) the author shows that Nirvana is the ending of the entire samsaric process of becoming that creates time and space in the first place. Upon enlightenment one doesn't "enter" or "reach" Nirvana; one simply "Nirvanas."

The Weight of Mountains, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2001; 18k/6pp.)

Why do we keep creating suffering for ourselves? How do we bring it to an end? The key is to learn some better feeding habits for the mind. [Printed copy available in the book The Karma of Questions.]

"When you know for yourselves...": The Authenticity of the Pali Suttas, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2002; 55k/18pp.)

For centuries scholars have argued over which parts of the Pali Canon — if any — contain an accurate record of the Buddha's teachings. The texts themselves state that doubts about the Dhamma can be decisively resolved only if one puts the teachings into practice to the point of attaining stream-entry, the first stage of enlightenment. In this essay the author explains the qualities that (according to the texts) one must develop in order to authenticate the Dhamma for oneself. [Printed copy available in the book The Karma of Questions.]

The Wings to Awakening: An Anthology from the Pali Canon, translated and explained by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Barre, Mass.: Dhamma Dana Publications, 1996; multi-part HTML book; 350k/180pp.) [Printed copies are available free of charge from Dhamma Dana Publications; also available in PDF

One facet of the Buddha's genius as a teacher was his ability to organize the vast body of spiritual teachings he left behind so that his students — his contemporaries and all those who have come since — could readily put the teachings into practice and reap their results. The "Wings to Awakening" (bodhipakkhiya-dhamma) is the Buddha's own list of his most important teachings, and includes teachings on the Four Frames of Reference, the Four Right Exertions, the Four Bases of Power, the Five Faculties, the Five Strengths, the Seven Factors for Awakening, and the Noble Eightfold Path. Toward the end of his life, the Buddha stated several times that as long as the teachings in this list were remembered and put into practice, his message would endure. The Buddha himself described the Wings to Awakening as being what was most worth mastering and passing along to others.

The material gathered in this anthology consists of more than 200 newly translated passages from the suttas, along with extensive commentary to help the reader grasp their full meaning and their relation to the practice of meditation. This volume is thus both a treasure-house of important passages from the Canon covering the key points of the Buddha's teachings, as well as a practical manual to help the serious meditation student navigate through some of the most fundamental and profound points of Dhamma.