Longchenpa's Three Cycles of Natural Freedom: Oral translation and commentary is a seminal Dzogchen text that is divided into three cycles: Mind, Ultimate Reality and Equality. The ninth Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche (1959–2012) of the Kagyu Nyingma tradition, one of the great meditation master and scholars to come out of the Tibetan diaspora, has provided a detailed oral commentary and spontaneous translation of Longchenpa's text to help reveal the essential meaning of these profound teachings. A glimpse at each cycle - in the Mind Cycle, Longchenpa is in part concerned with our ability to comprehend and experience the freedom within the authentic state; in the Ultimate Reality Cycle, all dualistic notions are challenged as the nature of self and phenomena are revealed as the same; in the Equality Cycle, our aboriginal state is described as that which transcends conditioned existence. Within each cycle, Lonchenpa also gives concise guidelines on approaching one's practice within a retreat situation. Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche's renowned fluency with the English language, coupled with his own profound levels of realization, makes this translation an exciting opportunity for these transformative teachings to not only be known, but also experienced in these modern times.
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX (1955-2012) was born in Nangchen in Kham, eastern Tibet. He was recognised by His Holiness XVI Gyalwang Karmapa as the ninth Traleg tulku and enthroned at the age of two as the supreme abbot of Thrangu Monastery. Rinpoche was taken to Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim at the age of four where he was educated with other young tulkus in exile by His Holiness Karmapa. Rinpoche studied under the auspices of His Eminence Kyabje Thuksey Rinpoche at Sangngak Choling in Darjeeling. He also studied with a number of other eminent Tibetan teachers during that time and mastered the many Tibetan teachings with the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions in particular. Rinpoche moved to Melbourne Australia in 1980 and commenced studies in comparative religion and philosophy at LaTrobe University. He established E-Vam Institute in Melbourne in 1982 and went on to establish further Centers in Australia, America and New Zealand. Throughout his life Rinpoche gave extensive teachings on many aspects of Buddhist psychology and philosophy, as well as comparative religion, and Buddhist and Western thought. He was an active writer and has many titles to his name. Rinpoche's writings are thought provoking, challenging, profound and highly relevant to today's world and its many challenges. Titles include: How To Do Life: A Buddhist Perspective, Shogam Publications, 2021; Actuality Of Being: Dzogchen And Tantric Perspectives, Shogam Publications, 2020; Vajrayana: An Essential Guide to Practice, Shogam Publications, 2020; Desire: Why It Matters, Shogam Publications, 2019; Integral Buddhism: Developing All Aspects of One’s Personhood, Shogam Publications, 2018; King Doha: Saraha’s Advice to a King, Shogam Publication, 2018, Song of Karmapa: The Aspiration of the Mahamudra of True Meaning by Lord Ranging Dorje, Shogam Publications, 2018; Moonbeams of Mahamudra: The Classic Meditation Manual, Shogam Publications, 2015; Karma: What it is, What it isn’t, and Why it matters, Shambhala Publications, 2015; and the best selling The Essence of Buddhism: An Introduction to Its Philosophy and Practice, Shambhala Publications, 2002 & 2014; and many more.
"The Three Cycles of Natural Freedom by the Omniscient Longchenpa, with a translation and commentary by Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche, is most wonderful to welcome into our lives. Without doubt Longchenpa is one of the greatest enlightened masters born among the Snow Mountains of Tibet. His Three Cycles have the potential to bring us directly to the state of enlightenment, especially with this commentary by Traleg Rinpoche, who himself is a great knowledge-holder of Mahamudra and Dzogchen. I, therefore, personally feel this volume will greatly enhance the understanding of Dharma in the West, particularly of the nature of mind as presented in the great Dzogpa Chenpo tradition. I wish to thank Traleg Khandro for her tireless efforts to make Rinpoche's teachings available, so we may enlighten ourselves." -- Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
