On April 26, 1994, the second anniversary of the parinirvana of the beloved Guru, the final ceremony for His Eminence the Third Jamgon Kongtrul was held at his main seat in Pullahari monastery, Nepal, and his sacred body relic was enshrined in a golden stupa there. (see photo right)

In August, 1994, on behalf of the Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang, Tenzin Dorjee and Sonam Chopel journeyed to Tsurphu monastery, Tibet, to entreat His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa, for his recognition of the reincarnation of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul. They were advised to perform 100,000 pujas of Guru Rinpoche and many prayers of supplication for Jamgon Rinpoche’s swift return.

The following year, in April, 1995, Tenzin Dorjee visited the Karmapa in Tsurphu once more, to request news about the reincarnation. He was accompanied by Lama Siri and Acharya Chokey Gyaltsen. They were advised to perform 100,000 Tsok offering pujas of Mahakala, and many prayers of supplication for the swift return of Jamgon Rinpoche.

  
The Karmapa with Lama Siri, Umze Thubten Zangpo,
Tenzin Dorjee and Khenpo Chokey Gyaltsen.
Taken in Tsurphu monastery, April 1995

A month later, in May, 1995, Tenzin Dorjee returned to Tibet to accomplish the Third Jamgon Rinpoche’s wishes for the monastery and the retreat centres in Palpung and Dzongsho, Kham, Eastern Tibet. He was accompanied by Lama Tsewang Phuntsok. On their way to Kham, they visited the Karmapa at Tsurphu monastery again. The Karmapa informed them that it was not time yet, but he had a good feeling about the reincarnation. He advised them to further perform 100,000 Tsok offering pujas of Gyalwa Gyamtso, pujas of the Six-Armed Mahakala, and many prayers to supplicate for Rinpoche’s swift return.

The crown for Palpung Monastery in Pullahari, May 1995
The gilded crown on Palpung Monastery, July 1995