Table Of ContentFearless Simplicity
RANGJUNG YESHE BOOKS
PADMASAMBHAVA
Dakini Teachings • Advice from the Lotus-Born
PADMASAMBHAVA AND JAMGON KONGTR'UL
Light of Wtsdom, Vol I • Light of Wisdom, Vol II
YESHE TSOGYAL
The Lotus-Born
GAMPOPA
The Precious Garland oft he Sublime Path
DAKPO TASHI NAMGYAL
Clarifying the Natural State
TSELE NATSOK RANGDROL
The Heart oft he Matter • Mirror ofM indfulness
Empowerment • Lamp ofMahamudra
CHOKGYUR LINGPA + Ocean ofA mrita, Ngak.so Drubchen
JAMGON MIPHAM RINPOCHE
Gateway to Knowledge, Vol I • Vol. II • Vol III
TULKU URGYEN RINPOCHE
Rainbow Painting • As It Is, Vol I • Vol II
Vajra Speech • Repeating the Words oft he Buddha
KHENCHEN THRANGU RINPOCHE
Crystal Clear • Songs ofNaropa • King ofSamadhi • Buddha Nature
CHOKYI NYIMA RINPOCHE
Present Fresh Wakefulness • Indisputable Truth • Bardo Guidebook
The Union ofMahamudra & Dzogchen • SongofKarmapa
TSIKEY CHOKLING RINPOCHE + Lotus Ocean
TULKU THONDUP + Enlightened Living
ORGYEN TOBGYAL RINPOCHE
Lift & Teachings ofChokgyur Lingpa
TSOKNYI RINPOCHE
Fearless Simplicity • Carefree Dignity
COMPILATIONS
Dzogchen Primer • A Tibetan Buddhist Companion (both Shambhala PubL)
DICTIONARIES
The Rangjung Yeshe Tibetan-English Dictionary ofB uddhist Culture CD
Fear less Simplicity
The D.cygchen Way of Living Freely in a Complex World
TsoKNYI RrNPOCHE
Foreword by
SoGYA L RINPOCHE
Compiled and translated by
ERIK PEMA KuNSANG and MARCIA BINDER ScHMIDT
Edited with
KERRY MORAN
RANGJUNG YESHE PuBLICATIONS
BouDHANATH, HoNG KoNG & EsBY
2003
Rangjung Y eshe Publications
Flat sA. Greenview Garden,
125 Robinson Road, Hong Kong
Address letters to:
Rangjung Y eshe Publications
p.o. box 12oo,
Kathmandu, Nepal
Internet homepage: www.rangjung.com
Copyright © 2003 Tsoknyi Rinpoche & Rangjung Y eshe
Publications
First edition 2003
Printed in the United States of America
on recycled acid-free paper
135798642
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
without written permission from the publisher. Special dis-
count is given for classroom use. Write to the above address.
Publication Data:
Tsoknyi Rinpoche. T rans1ated from the Tibetan by Erik Perna Kunsang
(Erik Hein Schmidt) and Marcia Binder Schmidt and edited with Kerry
Moran.
ISBN 962-7341-.tJ.S-7 (PBK.)
1. Fearless Simplicity: The Dzogchen Way of Living Freely
in a Complex World. Eastern philosophy-Buddhism. 3·
Vajrayana-Dzogchen. I. Title.
Cover art: Lhadripa Nawang Zangpo
Cover design: Marcia with Multigraphic' s Krishna
The verse on page 38 wast translated by Nalanda Translation
Committee.
CoNTENTs
Contents 5
Foreword 7
Preface 9
Va jra Song ll
APPETIZER 13
A Daily Dose ofDharma 15
Motivation 23
Salad Dressing 33
Shamatha: The Benefits 50
Shamatha: The Training 64
MAIN CouRsE 83
Ground, Path, Fruition 85
Illusion 95
Mind and Mind Essence u6
Looking, Seeing, Letting Be, and Being Free 127
Liberation 145
Maintenance 156
Dealing with Emotions 17 4
Experiences and the Real191
Fearlessness 208
Juice 223
DESSERT 239
Retreat 241
Advice to the Dried-up Yogi 248
Mingling Practice with Daily Life 261
Aspirations 267
Perseverance 278
FoREWORD
AM VERY HAPPY to introduce this collection of teachings by Tsoknyi
I
Rinpoche, which bears the beautiful title Fearless Simplicity. On many
occasions I have had the great pleasure of watching T soknyi Rinpoche
teach, and I am always struck by his truly remarkable qualities. For me,
he is a master who combines both ancient and modern. Recognized by
the r6th Gyalwang Karmapa, he was trained in the Nyingma and Drukpa
Kagyi.i traditions of Tibetan Buddhism by the foremost masters of our
age: Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Kham-
trul Rinpoche, Adeu Rinpoche of Nangchen and Nyoshul Khen Rinpo-
che. Now, when he teaches, Tsoknyi Rinpoche remains totally faithful
to the authentic word and spirit of the teachings, as passed down in the
great practice lineages of Mahamudra and Dzogchen. In the depth of his
understanding, he reminds me of the outstanding masters of the past,
and I find it incredibly encouraging that a master as young as he is can
embody so deeply the wisdom of this tradition. And in the generous,
direct and careful style of his teaching, he bears an extraordinary resem-
blance to his father, the great T ulku Urgyen Rinpoche.
At the same time, T soknyi Rinpoche speaks to us with an exhilarat-
ing freshness, being fully aware of the complexity of modern life, and
the needs of men and women today. He is gifted with an ability to un-
ravel the most profound of topics in a way that is dear and easy to un-
derstand, and as he maps out the teachings, he draws listeners constantly
back to their own experience, allowing them to discover the truth of the
Dharma within themselves. From his teachings at my centers at Lerab
Ling in Europe and elsewhere, I know at first hand just how much he is
appreciated by the many Rigpa students around the world who have
heard him teach. One of the qualities everyone remarks on is his kind-
ness-his humanity and his unfailing eagerness to help. I count myself
most fortunate that I can number him among my closest friends.
7
FEARLESS SIMPLICITY
It is our great good fortune that for fifteen years now, Rinpoche has
been teaching in Europe, North and South America, Australia and
South East Asia. I know that what· motivates him is an unshakeable
commitment to bring benefit to people and to the teachings, as much as
possible. In fact, he has played a vital, perhaps historic, role in opening
up the Dzogchen teachings to many individuals from the west who are
prominent Buddhist teachers. From many long and fascinating discus-
sions with him, I know of his deep concern for the future of the
Dharma, and about how best to present the teachings to make them ever
more accessible to modem people. I rejoice at this book; it will be a
tremendous blessing for practitioners, and I pray that it will allow his
voice and the teaching of Buddha to reach out to people everyWhere, and
bring them closer and closer to liberation.
-Sogyal Rinpoche
8
