The Karmapa's Visions

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H.H. the 17th Karmapa, Urgyen Trinley Dorje

The Karmapa became serious again after some time. Returning the letter of prophecy to Tenzin Dorjee, he said that he had nothing more, or new, to add and advised him to return to Chushur to continue the search. The Karmapa told them that during the past year he had frequently seen, in visions, rainbows above the mountain in front of Tsurphu. Within the rainbows, he could see the Third Jamgon Kongtrul, luminous with many lights. Then he saw the rainbows, the vision of Jamgon Kongtrul, and the lights dissolve into each other and disappear behind the mountain. The Karmapa said that this vision had also often appeared in his dreams. Furthermore, he had visions of the Tibetan alphabets indicating the names of the parents. That was why he told them to return to search again in Chushur.

Tenzin Dorjee then said to the Karmapa that they had been searching in the area of Chushur as he had instructed them to do. He wondered if they should now also search in the opposite area of Kamba Dzong where there were many villages. However, the Karmapa replied that they should not do that. He said that they should continue to search in the area around Chushur as he had originally instructed them to do.

The Karmapa walked them to the door. As they were leaving, he again repeated what he had told them about his visions. Pointing now to the mountain in front of Tsurphu, the Karmapa reiterated that during the past year, he had often seen visions of rainbows above the mountain in front of Tsurphu. Within them, he could see the Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, luminous with many lights. Motioning with his hands, he said that then the rainbows, the vision of Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, and the lights dissolved into each other and disappeared behind the mountain. He again told them that this vision had also appeared many times in his dreams, and furthermore, he had had visions of the Tibetan alphabets indicating the names of the parents. Finally, repeating his advice, he told them to return to Chushur to continue with the search.

The full meaning of the first sketch, which the Karmapa had drawn on May 27th, dawned in Tenzin Dorjee's mind. Tenzin Dorjee said that he suddenly became aware of the significance of the rainbows, the Tibetan alphabets, and the family home in the Karmapa's sketches. It was clear now that they were all related to the Karmapa's visions.