October 5, 1998.

Dear Friends in the Dharma,
On behalf of our precious Root Teacher, His Eminence Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche the Fourth, I greet you all. Tashi Delek!

It will soon be one year since the reincarnation of our beloved Third Jamgon Kongtrul returned to grace his main seat at Pullahari Monastery, taking his place among us in this world, as the perfect Lord of his mandala. I pray that the Fourth Jamgon Rinpoche will enjoy a very long life, and that his activity will flourish auspiciously. May all beings rejoice!

The Buddhadharma teaches that mind is beyond relative experiences of life and death, and beings of great realisation take rebirth according to their compassionate motivation to benefit beings. Looking back over the years, from the time that our beloved Third Jamgon Kongtrul manifested his own dissolution, it is clear that the Guru's continuum and blessings are unceasing. Until now, we have continued to receive his guiding inspiration to keep the wheel of his activity going until the present incarnation resumes them. The continual rain of blessings of the Guru's wisdom and compassion, and his continuum in the Fourth incarnation, have been a soothing taste of the truth of the Teachings.

Many disciples and devotees all over the world have been eagerly awaiting the formal announcement of the Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche by his Labrang. On the occasion of the publication of this book, I wish to take the opportunity to express profound gratefulness and thanks to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, to His Holiness Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, and to His Holiness Mindroling Trichen Rinpoche.

The Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang shall remain extremely honoured and profoundly grateful to the Supreme Protector of the Land of Snows, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who, through his pure vision, granted his official seal of final confirmation of His Holiness Karmapa's prophecy of the rebirth of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul on September 18, 1997. May the Supreme Protector of the Land of Snows enjoy a very long life and may his activity continue to flourish auspiciously.

To His Holiness the Glorious Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa Urgyen Trinley Dorje, I am, and all disciples with faith and devotion are, completely beholden for the Fourth incarnation of Jamgon Rinpoche. In truth, it is impossible for me, and those of us in the Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang, to ever express the depth of our gratitude and heartfelt thanks to His Holiness for his flawless prophecy and recognition of the Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, an activity which only a being with the Karmapa's great qualities and wisdom-mind could have accomplished so effortlessly. Despite being in his early youth, he clearly demonstrated his responsibility as the Karmapa and Supreme Head of the Kagyu Lineage. The profound wisdom in the words of advice from one so young, and the genuine care and concern he showed us throughout, has bound all of us with strong karmic connection to Jamgon Rinpoche in humility and profound devotion to His Holiness the Karmapa. We fervently pray that the Glorious Seventeenth Karmapa will enjoy a very long life, and that all of his aspirations, and his purpose of coming to this world, will be auspiciously fulfilled.

During the search for the Fourth incarnation, when I felt so alone and inexperienced about the responsibility that lay before me, the late Drupon Dechen Rinpoche's very kind words of encouragement and advice, given from the bottom of his heart, and his pledge of support, will never be forgotten. Similarly, I shall also never forget the great kindness of the late Umze Thubten Zangpo for his constant encouragement to His Holiness the Karmapa to recognise the reincarnation of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul.

It is impossible to mention the activity of Jamgon Rinpoche without mentioning the Very Ven. Bokhar Rinpoche, and the Very Ven. Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. They are deeply respected and dearly appreciated by all of us in the Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang, for their contribution to the flourishing of Dharma in Jamgon Rinpoche's monasteries and retreat centres in Lava and Pullahari. By Khenpo Rinpoche's singular effort, Dharma has reverberated from Pullahari throughout the world, and the spontaneous songs of realisation of Milarepa and the great masters have resounded joyously at the Stupa of the Third Jamgon Kongtrul.

Finally, I wish to thank everyone, without exception, in the Jamgon Kongtrul Labrang, the Rigpe Dorje Foundations, and those serving in Jamgon Rinpoche's Dharma centres abroad, for their sincere effort and continued dedication to the Guru's activity throughout the years. These demonstrations of devotion have persisted despite personal and domestic obligations and, sometimes, even personal problems and difficulties. I also wish to thank all of our benefactors, disciples, devotees and friends who have encouraged and supported our effort to fulfill the Guru's wishes and carry on his activity. The Fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche will continue to reside in Pullahari Monastery, Nepal, and you are always welcome.

Yours in the Dharma,

General Secretary to H.E. Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche
Pullahari Monastery & Retreat Centre
P.O. Box 11015, Kathmandu
Nepal.