View source for Stephen Gethin: The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind

{{EventPage
|pagename=Stephen Gethin: The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind
|InterviewPage=Media/The_Natural_Openness_and_Freedom_of_the_Mind_by_Stephen_Gethin
|headerImage=The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind (Padmakara 2024)-front.jpg
|eventTitle=Stephen Gethin
|eventSubtitle=The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind Book Launch
|description=Lopen Karma Phuntsho interviews translator Stephen Gethin and discusses the new book from Padmakara Translation Group, ''The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind: A Treasure Tantra of the Great Perfection'' by Deshek Lingpa with commentary by Khangsar Tenpa'i Wangchuk.

In September, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche offered the oral transmission, or lung, for this incredibly clear text of Dzogchen that, in the eighth century, Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava and Yeshe Tsogyal sealed in the mind of Yudra Nyingpo, one of Guru Rinpoche’s twenty-five disciples. The text was rediscovered as a mind treasure by an emanation of Yudra Nyingpo, Deshek Lingpa (1956-2020), also known as Tulku Lhatsam or Tertön Padma Jigme Dorje, who was the abbot of both two monasteries in Golok.

Shambhala Publications just released a translation of this text, which includes an extensive commentary by Khangsar Tenpa'i Wangchuk, one of the most revered Nyingmapa lamas of the twentieth century whose entire collected works the Padmakara Translation Group is translating.
[https://www.shambhala.com/the-natural-openness-and-freedom-of-the-mind.html Find the book here on Shambhala's website.]

Stephen Gethin studied veterinary medicine at Cambridge University, where he was also awarded a choral exhibition. After a number of years in professional practice, he spent much of the 1980s undertaking two three-year retreats in France, where he now lives and, as a founding member of the Padmakara Translation Group, continues to translate. He was a Tsadra Foundation Translation Fellow from 2005 to 2024. His published translations include:

#[https://www.shambhala.com/nagarjuna-s-letter-to-a-friend-2951.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqpOsylggmtrxMDMlVNq_2gMDmP6H3FKC53g8gBzHfp7jZUsqtB ''Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend: With Commentary by Longchen Yeshe Dorje, Kangyur Rinpoche]]''. Shambhala 2005.
#[https://www.shambhala.com/zurchungpa-s-testament-9781559394925.html ''Zurchungpa's Testament''], by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Shambhala, 2006.
#[https://www.shambhala.com/a-garland-of-views-3420.html ''A Garland of Views: A Guide to View, Meditation, and Result in the Nine Vehicles'']. Jamgön Mipham's commentary on Padmasambhava's ''Garland of Views'', Shambhala, 2015.
#Dudjom Rinpoche's [https://www.shambhala.com/a-torch-lighting-the-way-to-freedom-3665.html ''A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom: Complete Instructions on the Preliminary Practices'']. Shambhala, 2016.
#''[[A Feast of the Nectar of the Supreme Vehicle]]: An Explanation of the Ornament of the Mahāyāna Sūtras; The Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra with Commentary by Mipham'', Shambhala, 2018.
#[https://www.shambhala.com/a-chariot-to-freedom-15692.html?srsltid=AfmBOopJ7UYfDn0JOedPBQmXkPSHU_166UGhyHH8w0xp-I9m9RaGJ8TC ''A Chariot to Freedom: Guidance From the Great Masters on the Vajrayāna Preliminary Practices'']. A detailed preliminary practice commentary by Shechen Gyaltsap. Shambhala, 2021.
#''[[Mahasiddha Practice: From Mitrayogin and Other Masters]]''. Volume 16 of Jamgön Kongtrul's ''Treasury of Precious Instructions'' (''gdams ngag rin po che'i mdzod''). Shambhala, 2021.
#[https://www.shambhala.com/awakening-wisdom-9781645471639.html ''Awakening Wisdom: Heart Advice on the Fundamental Practices of Vajrayana Buddhism''] by Pema Wangyal. Shambhala, 2023.
#''[[The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind]]''. Khangsar Tenpai'i Wangchuk's Collected Works. Shambhala, 2024.
#''The Cloudless Sky''. Khangsar Tenpai'i Wangchuk's Collected Works. Forthcoming. 
#''The Aspiration to the Excellent Way''. Khangsar Tenpai'i Wangchuk's Collected Works. Forthcoming. 
He also collaborated on a number of translations, including
*[https://www.shambhala.com/for-the-benefit-of-all-beings-14947.html ''A Flash of Lightning in the Dark of Night''] by the Dalai Lama. Shambhala, 1993.
*[https://bca.tsadra.org/index.php/Books/Wisdom:_Two_Buddhist_Commentaries ''Wisdom: Two Buddhist Commentaries''] by Khenchen Kunzang Pelden and Minyak Kunzang Sönam. Editions Padmakara, 1993.
*[https://bca.tsadra.org/index.php/Books/The_Words_of_My_Perfect_Teacher_(1998) ''The Words of My Perfect Teacher''] by Patrul Rinpoche. HarperCollins, 1994.
*[https://www.shambhala.com/a-guide-to-i-the-words-of-my-perfect-teacher-i-673.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqyYLKPXqzKE6AiJ_Dwlw5i_Gx7O8bPmrgDlZm8MBEHW77pKivg ''A Guide to The Words of My Perfect Teacher''] by Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang. Shambhala, 2004.
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|EventSeries=Conversations on Buddha-Nature; Book Launch
|date=26 October 2024
|eventtime=10:00 AM
|timezone=Eastern Standard Time
|zoomlink=https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GKsNwBbyQsK6ZSg3HBXZ6g
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|recommendedcontent=Books/The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind (Padmakara 2024); A Feast of the Nectar of the Supreme Vehicle
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