Carefree Dignity

by Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Erik Pema Kunsang (Translator), Marcia Binder Schmidt (Translator)

Tsoknyi Rinpoche is a reincarnate lama educated in the Tibetan Buddhist
tradition. He has been teaching students from around the world since 1990.
“Being carefree, you can fit in anywhere. If you’re not carefree you keep
on bumping up against things. Your life becomes so narrow, so tight; it
gets very claustrophobic. Carefree means being wide open from within,
not constricted. Carefree doesn’t mean careless. It is not that you don’t
care about others, not that you don’t have compassion or are unfriendly.
Carefree is being really simple, from the inside. Dignity is not conceit
but rather what shines forth from this carefree confidence.”
—Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s teaching style embodies a vividness that is a play
between himself and his audience. His immediateness includes gestures
and examples that entice us to understanding. Through guided meditations
he offers direct participation as a delightful enhancement to our
practice. Simple, straightforward and profound, Carefree Dignity is a
book that captivates our intellect while enriching our awareness.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Meditation

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1998

About the author

Born in 1966 in Nubri, Nepal, TSOKNYI RINPOCHE is one of the most renowned teachers of Tibetan Buddhism trained outside of Tibet. Deeply versed in both the practical and philosophical disciplines of Tibetan Buddhism, he is beloved by students around the world for his accessible style, his generous and self-deprecating humor, and his deeply personal, compassionate insight into human nature. The married father of two daughters, Rinpoche nevertheless manages to balance family life with a demanding schedule of teaching around the world, and overseeing two nunneries in Nepal, one of the largest nunneries in Tibet, and more than 50 practice centers and hermitages in the eastern region of Tibet.

Reviews

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page after page of lucid, clear, comprehensible, actionable, fresh Dzogchen instruction. Maybe the best Dzogchen book I have ever read.

Techniques, advice, many different teaching metaphors... just so good.

[PsychoSchematics · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dzogchen instruction. Not an intro to meditation. Would not recommend this to someone who is not adept in their Tibetan Buddhist meditation. Book is a transcription of a retreat conducted by Tsoknyi Rinpoche. As such, it does not have the structure of an organized book of instruction but more like conversations including Q&A sessions with the attendees.

[Doreen Maloney · Rating 5 out of 5]

could change your life

[Joe Larabell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up because I wanted to learn more about dignity as it's practiced in Buddhism but, even though there were chapters near the end of the book titled "Carefree" and "Dignity", the bulk of the book dealt with Dzogchen practice and realizing the nature of mind. Tsoknyi Rinpoche explains these things in the clearest way that I've ever seen so far. The book is based on lectures that were given as part of a retreat for his personal students so the presentation builds in a logical gradient. That said, it does not assume any previous understanding of Dzogchen -- one could easily pick this up as their first introduction to the subject and not be overwhelmed. At the same time, by the end of the book, nothing has been left unsaid (at least not in terms of actually starting one's own practice). This is a book that I will undoubtedly be recommending to friends over time and I'm sure I will eventually reread it as my own practice develops.

[Mer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've struggled to understand the letting go aspect during meditation and non-meditation but this book really clarified that for me. And the examples are those that I can readily identify, which I've struggled with, with other teachers.

I will say Rinpoche does a more than thorough job of providing examples. I found myself starting to skim pages towards the end of the book, mumbling 'I get it! I get it! What else do you have for me to learn!'

[Adam Zuwerink · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book that I would call an advanced (but not expert) teaching on the Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Definitely not the first book to pick up on this topic, but a very good read once you have an understanding of Buddhist philosophy. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because portions became repetitive and disjointed in the middle, and I would have liked to see a little more editing when turning the author's oral teachings into book form.

[Mervyn Teo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light read but insightful especially on Dzogchen practice and mental trainings. logic etc.
Not much on visualizations, think only Vajrasattva and Guru Yoga.
Nothing much on history or lineage masters but more on practice, Rigpa awareness.