These eloquent verses, from the Theragatha, chronicle the many "conversations" that Venerable Talaputa, a former actor and contemporary of the Buddha, had with his own mind during the course of his practice. As these verses reveal, while he was still a layperson Talaputa yearned deeply for a life more in harmony with Dhamma; following his ordination his stern admonishments of his unruly mind ultimately led him to his ultimate goal: final liberation. The translator's easy conversational commentary sheds light on these verses from several different angles, and paints Talaputa as an exemplar of the ancient forest meditation tradition that still lives today.