10/18/97

Dearest Friends everywhere,

When Boddhistvas like Topgala die something special always happensand in this case he must be happy in the pure land.

Karmapa Thaye Dorje was officially invited to Bhutan for the cremationceremony and was received with full honours. A three hour tour from theBhutanese border to the capital Thimpu took seven hours as thousands awaitedhim along the road. Yesterday three thousand came for his blessing andthe whole royal family including the king and his four queens receivedhim as the 17th Karmapa.

You will understand what this means for the Himalayas, in Dharamsala,towards Communist China, and for our work worldwide. The link between the16th and 17th has just been established.