11 

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Tenzin Dorjee's Confession

At 8 a.m. the next morning, Tenzin Dorjee went to meet the Karmapa. (Sonam Chopel had left for Lhasa the night before). When they were alone, the Karmapa asked Tenzin Dorjee if he felt happy with the baby he had met the day before. Tenzin Dorjee replied that he was happy because everything had matched the Karmapa’s prediction. He said that he was depending on the Karmapa, and so his personal impressions and feelings regarding the child did not matter. The Karmapa replied that Tenzin Dorjee was right. He said the reincarnation is very important for all of Buddhism and, in particular, for the Karma Kagyu lineage because Jamgon Rinpoche is one of its lineage holders. A mistake about him would mean that he would not be able to benefit the Buddhadharma and sentient beings, and that he would not be able to carry out his activity.

As the Karmapa spoke, Tenzin Dorjee could not help feeling very impressed with him. He thought that, although the Karmapa was still very young (he was only 12 years old* at that time) he was very clear about what he was doing, and about his responsibility as the Karmapa, the Supreme Head of the Lineage. His prophecy and instructions had been very precise. This was all very apparent to Tenzin Dorjee now. However, only a few days earlier, when he was feeling disappointed and tired after the unsuccessful search for the reincarnation, Tenzin Dorjee had thought that the Karmapa might, after all, be too young. Overcome by regret about what he had thought, Tenzin Dorjee confessed and told the Karmapa everything about how he had felt, and he cried. He said to the Karmapa that he would do everything the Karmapa asked. Even if he had to return to search for months, or years, he would do so if that was what the Karmapa asked him to do. The Karmapa laughed and told Tenzin Dorjee not to cry, and blessed him.

Without giving any explanation, the Karmapa then asked Tenzin Dorjee to return to search again! Surprised, Tenzin Dorjee asked the Karmapa, "What about the child we met yesterday? Is he not the right one?" The Karmapa replied, "I am not saying that. But, you should search once more."

Tenzin Dorjee asked the Karmapa where he should conduct the search this time, as he had previously instructed the party to search around Chushur Dzong. The Karmapa said he should now search on the other side of the river. (That would be in Kamba Dzong, which is across the river from Chushur.) Tenzin Dorjee then asked how he should identify the reincarnation. The Karmapa said that he should do so in the same way as he had done during the last search, based on his letter of prediction.

Laughing, the Karmapa asked if Tenzin Dorjee wished him to go along for the search, and gave him a stack of paper prayer flags to scatter from the highest point he was going to. He said the same people as before should make up the search party, and advised them to chant the Twenty-one Tara Praises as many times as possible, instead of chatting with each other, on their way. He said their search had some obstacles, and that the illness Phuntsok Tashi (Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche’s monk) had suffered, was related to this.

Tenzin Dorjee then went to see the late Drupon Dechen Rinpoche, and told him that they would be resuming the search for the reincarnation of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul, as Karmapa had directed them to do so. Drupon Dechen Rinpoche looked surprised. He said that if the Karmapa had decided on this, then it should be done as he had directed. He also said that, as the Karmapa had offered to go on the search with them, Tenzin Dorjee should entreat the Karmapa to be with them until the reincarnation is found.

That same afternoon they left for Lhasa. Just before leaving, Tenzin Dorjee and Didi went to the Karmapa and entreated him to join them on the search. The Karmapa laughed and said that he had been there already, and that they should be leaving soon.

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Note:
* The Karmapa was born in 1985 and would be 11 years old at that time according to western calculations, but Tibetans add another year to the age in their calculations, and considered him to be 12 years of age.