Drukpa Kunley: Madcap Lama of the Himalayas by Carpenter Russ & Carpenter Blyth

Author:Carpenter, Russ & Carpenter, Blyth [Carpenter, Russ]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Religion & Spirituality
Published: 2012-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Now we move to a place fairly close to Chodzom’s house, a temple called Changangkha (which dominates a hill overlooking modern Thimphu). The story features a character called Lama Paljor, who lived at Changangkha and must have loved female companionship almost as much as Kunley. He had assembled a nice, little harem of four woman and had just kidnapped a fifth. DK arrived at Changangkha at the same time as the victim’s family arrived, with swords at the ready, itching to skewer Paljor.

Changangkha

DK then launched into a lengthy tale set in ancient India, which we find fairly tedious. But the story works, and Lama Paljor ultimately apologized and released the girl. The most interesting part of this episode is this song, in which DK tried to prove to Paljor that no girl is perfect, and certainly not worth fighting over.

Mistress Byaldzom of Khyung Sekha,

Your beautiful lotus is not enough—

What about your skill in the pelvic thrust?

Lady Adzom of Gommto,

Your attractive body is not enough—

What about skill and style in bed?

Paldzom Buti of Nyamo,

Your skill in milking is not enough—

What about your kissing and foreplay?…

Lama Paljor of Gang Kha,

You could fulfill a desire for five score girls—

Why quarrel over one?

Kunley’s attitude toward women in this song might seem a bit utilitarian, but, in fact, DK generally held women in high esteem. We have already mentioned how his favorite girlfriends were impressive creatures. Here is another one: Namkha Dronma. You will learn more about her when we visit Lobesa. For now, it’s enough to know that DK fought one of the monumental battles of his life while he was in her neighborhood, confronting the infamous Long Rong Monster. After finally subduing this terrifying demon, DK returned to the Thimphu region, and Namkha Dronma followed him.

Ultimately, Kunley and Namkha Dronma ended up at a place called Tseluna Ney. In modern Bhutan, this is a stunningly beautiful spot, and we imagine it was the same 400 years ago. DK then did something that might strike you as harsh, but was actually an act of great love. He sealed Namkha Dronma into a cave, where she lived, meditating, for three years. This was not an ordinary cave. Instead, it had a triangular shape, just like the shape of the ritual dagger used in Buddhist ceremonies. And three years was not accidental. Three is a special number in Tibetan Buddhist practice—for example, the classic retreat lasts three years, three months, and three days.

In Namkha Dronma’s elevated state, three years seemed like three days. At the end of the third year Kunley returned to the cave, just as she was achieving the rainbow body, which is a Tibetan Buddhist phrase for enlightenment. Thus, this story has the happiest of all endings.

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