The Dzogchen tantra titled The Natural Openness and Freedom of the Mind teaches the advanced practices of trekchö, thögal, and bardo. This tantra is a mind terma, or treasure, of the modern tertön, or treasure revealer, Deshek Lingpa—recognized as an emanation of Yudra Nyingpo, a student of the great translator Vairotsana and one of Padmasambhava’s twenty-five disciples. Khangsar Tenpa’i Wangchuk’s commentary elucidates the finer points of the view and practice of this rich and profound text, which combines into one stream the Heart Essence teachings of Vimalamitra, Padmasambhava, and Vairotsana.

Deshek Lingpa’s root text and Khangsar Tenpa’i Wangchuk’s commentary are translated here for the first time, continuing an extended project to render the latter’s entire collected works into English. These teachings are considered advanced and secret, to be taught only to those who have received transmission from a qualified master.