In 1956, the Gyalwa Karmapa visited Druk Dechen Chökor, the most important Drukpa Kagyu monastery. He gave teachings there and also performed a rite of purification. From there, he travelled throughout Sikkim and met with the new king, Tashi Namgyal. At that time, people the world over were celebrating the two thousand five-hundredth anniversary of Buddha's passing into parinivana. The Gylawa Karmapa and his followers continued their journey into India and then Nepal, where they visited all the sacred sites. From Nepal, Rigpei Dorje returned to India and traveled to the famous Ajanta caves, where Buddhist sculptures dating back to the Goupta Dynasty have been preserved. In Kalimpong, the Gyalwa Karmapa met Her Royal Highness, Ashi Wangmo. The Bhutanese princess had begun construction of a monastery for the Gyalwa Karmapa in Eastern Bhutan. Rigpei Dorje was asked at that time if he wished to seek shelter at the Rumtek monastery in Sikkim, which had been built during the life of the 9th Gyalwa Karmapa. At that time he declined the invitation, explaining that he would go there in the future when faced with the necessity to do so.

When Rangjung Rigpei Dorje got back to Tsurphu in the beginning of 1957, new conflicts had broken out in Kham. A steady flow of refugees were streaming towards central Tibet. Amongst them were many Kagyu lamas such as the 9th Sangye Nyenpa Rinpoche, Situ Rinpoche, Talep Rinpoche and their disciples who went to Tsurphu. It was at this same time that the Gyalwa Karmapa recognized the new Kongtrul Rinpoche of Palpung and Bongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Gyalwa Karmapa received the scriptural transmissions and the teaching on the Longchen Dzeudun, the very profound treatise in seven volumes of Longchenpa dealing with the Maha Ati (Dzogchen).

From Kham, the conflict spread inexorably to central Tibet. The Gyalwa Karmapa sent Situ Rinpoche, Sangye Rinpoche and the venerable meditation master Kalu Rinpoche to Bhutan. The young Jamgon Kongtrul from Palpung was sent to stay with his family of rich merchants in Kalimpong, India. However, the Gyalwa Karmapa himself refused to leave at that time, saying that he would go to Bhutan if the situation deteriorated. He intended to remain at Tsurphu till the very last moment, in order to help the refugees in their flight.

Fighting...