The Natural Freedom of the Nature of Mind

The Natural Freedom of the Nature of Mind (Tib. སེམས་ཉིད་རང་གྲོལ་, Semnyi Rangdrol, Wyl. sems nyid rang grol) — part of Longchenpa's Trilogy of Natural Freedom. It has three chapters, related to the Ground, Path and Fruition, and it contains the oft-quoted lines:

Since everything is but an illusion,

Perfect in being what it is,

Having nothing to do with good or bad,

Acceptance or rejection,

One might as well burst out laughing!

Texts

• The Great Perfection Natural Freedom of the Nature of Mind, by Longchenpa (rdzogs pa chen po sems nyid rang grol)
  • English translation: The Natural Freedom of Mind, translated by Herbert V. Guenther, in Crystal Mirror IV (Dharma Publishing, 1975), pages 113-146.
  • English translation: Naturally Liberated Mind, the Great Perfection, translated by Tulku Thondup, in The Practice of Dzogchen, (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1989), pages 316-354.
  • Colophon: This 'Natural Freedom of Mind' has been composed for the benefit of future generations by the yogi Dri-med 'od-zer (Klong-chen rab-'byams-pa), having been blessed by the sublime teacher from Uḍḍiyāna, Padmasambhava, at O-rgyan-rdzong, an ornament of Gangs-ri thod-dkar.
• A Commentary on the Essential Stages of the Path of The Great Perfection Natural Freedom of the Nature of Mind, by Longchenpa (rdzogs pa chen po sems nyid rang grol gyi lam rim snying po'i don khrid)
  • English translation: Quintessential Meaning-instructions on the Stages of the Path of Naturally Liberated Mind, The Great Perfection, translated by Tulku Thondup, in The Practice of Dzogchen, (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1989), pages 355-374.
• A Prayer of The Natural Freedom of the Nature of Mind, by Longchenpa (sems nyid rang grol gyi gsol 'debs)