On the morning of this last day of the Western year some very important guests paid Gyalwa Karmapa a visit: Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche and several other tulkus and khenpos (scholars who have graduated from a higher Buddhist institute of learning) from Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery in Bodhnath, Kathmandu. Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche is the seventh in the line of the Rabjam succession.

He is the grandson and spiritual heir of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, a very important meditation master. His grandfather raised him and began teaching him at the age of three, and he attended almost every single teaching, empowerment, and ceremony his grandfather presided over.

When his grandfather built the Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery in Nepal he named his grandson as the abbot even though he was still very young. The monastery has over 300 monks studying today and is one of the largest monasteries outside Tibet.

Despite his young age at the time when he became abbot, Rabjam Rinpoche succeeded in creating a model monastery.

Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche was born in Nepal on June 30, 1993. When Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche passed away, his close students requested Trulshik Rinpoche, his most senior and accomplished disciple, to find his incarnation.

He had numerous dreams and visions that clearly indicated the identity of the incarnation as the son of Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, the third embodiment of Chogyur Dechen Lingpa, himself the son of Tulku Ugyen Rinpoche, and Dechen Paldron.

In December 1995, Trulshik Rinpoche performed the ceremony of offering a name (Ugyen Tenzin Jigme Lhundrup), and robes to the young tulku. His actual enthronement took place at Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery in Nepal in December 1996 and was attended by thousands of students from all over the world. Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche is being educated in the quiet of Bhutan under the guidance of Rabjam Rinpoche.

When the illustrious guests arrived they were immediately escorted to the Gyalwa Karmapa’s room where they exchanged silk scarves. Tea and refreshments were served, and the Karmapa and his visitors took time together for an extended talk.