14 

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Formally Announcing
about the Incarnation to the Family

On August 16, 1996, Changdzo Yonten Phuntsok (the most senior of the sangha members in the Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang) Tenzin Dorjee, Sonam Chopel, Phuntsok Tashi, and Dhundul (Changdzo Yonten Phuntsok’s son) visited the family of the reincarnation at their home.

Calling the family together, Tenzin Dorjee formally announced to the grandparents, the parents, and the rest of the family members present, that the baby in their family had been recognised by His Holiness the Karmapa, Supreme Head of the Kagyu Lineage, to be the Fourth incarnation of their Root Teacher, the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. He requested them, on behalf of the Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang, to accept the Karmapa’s recognition. The family was a little surprised, but appeared very calm. The monks then performed the traditional ceremony of bathing the child. After the ceremony, they offered the Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche a set of new robes, and the golden silk scarf and blessing cord from His Holiness the Karmapa.

The Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche was only 8 1/2 months old at that time. He was the only grandchild in his family, and the eldest child of the first son of his grandparents. He was very precious and loved by all of them, especially the grandmother. They were a good and gentle Buddhist family and they understood about reincarnation.

  
H.E. the 4th Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Sept. 96

Talking about the Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, his grandfather, Lodro, a very kind and good man, told the visitors about an incident that happened two months earlier. He said that his grandson had become very restless. He cried endlessly and could not sleep at night. The family consulted a doctor, but he could find nothing wrong with him. Not knowing what else to do, they brought him to see an uncle of theirs who was a monk. He performed a divination, and told the grandparents that their grandson was disturbed because the family owned something that belonged to a monastery. As for the child, he said that giving him a name might help. So their uncle gave him the name Tenzin Norbu.

The grandfather told Tenzin Dorjee and the others of Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang present, that, at the time, he could not understand what the uncle had meant, as his family owned nothing belonging to a monastery. But now it was clear that his grandson belonged to their monastery. As the head of the family, he spoke for all of them. He said that he, the Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche’s grandmother, his parents and the all the members of their family accepted the recognition of his grandson, by His Holiness the Karmapa, as the Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. They were happy that at least one member of their family would be of great benefit to beings.

With Tenzin Dorjee, February 1998