The Divine Madman: The Sublime Life and Songs of Drukpa Kunley

by Keith Dowman

The Divine Madman is the secret biography of one of Tibet's best-loved saints, the buddha Drukpa Kunley. Drukpa Kunley was a "nyomba," a crazy yogi who taught through outrageous behavior and ribald humor, through symbolic action, songs and poetry. Using people's emotion, neuroses and sexuality, as a tantric yogi through skillfull means and crazy wisdom he awakened their buddha-nature. He belonged to the lineage of Tilo, Naro, Marpa and Milarepa and taught the same profound Mahamudra yoga, but his most secret teaching was radical Dzogchen, Tibet's existential yoga. He wandered as a tantric beggar through Central and Southern Tibet in the 15th century and is still well-known there as the hero of anti-establishment and anti-monastic tales and the author of bawdy songs. But in Bhutan he became more than an icon, he still is the patron saint of a country where the phallus is revered as a religious icon. This book is a collection of anecdotes and songs compiled by a Bhutanese scholar, Geshe Chaphu, made last century, which became a best seller in the Himalayas. It has been translated by Keith Dowman into easily accessible prose and poetry. Lee Baarslag has illustrated the work with her fine line-drawings.

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Biography, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion

182 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 1980

Reviews

[Mesoscope · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this volume Keith Dowman translates a curiously-unnamed biography (biographies?) of the venerated figure Drukpa Kunley, master of Mahamudra.

This work can be evaluated through several different lenses - as folklore, myth, hagiography, literature, and esoteric practice instruction. On several of those axes I am highly critical of this work, for reasons I will return to presently

Kunley is an exemplar of a very popular stock motif in Asia - the mad saint, who by virtue of possession and mastery of an esoteric lineage, lies outside the bounds of regularly-ordered society. In this sense, his unorthodox behavior, typically rendered as boozing and liberating the ladies with his prodigious sexual powers, can be taken to exemplify the natural spontaneity of the mind that is realized and perfected by the masters of the Mahamudra lineage.

Thus read on the level of mythology and folklore, there is some amusement and insight to be gained by a study of this work. In its bawdy, comic action, I was somewhat reminded of another beloved fixture of Tibetan culture - Uncle Donpa, the secular hero-fool whose comic misadventures are often extremely hilarious.

Now I must return to the focus of my criticism. I do not presume my own values to be universal, but that does not stop me from bringing them to bear in a cross-cultural analysis of the works of a very different tradition. Nor should it, because I do not claim any universal status to my conclusions - this is how this work appears to me as an artifact.

On that level, I will observe what I hope is obvious to most students of Tibetan culture - it is historically a crushingly patriarchal society, in which women have systematically been displaced and marginalized, especially by the political and religious establishment. Despite weak and unpersuasive protestations to the contrary, perhaps singling out the mythological figure of Yeshe Tsogyel as an important woman teacher, the reality is that women have virtual no presence in the long history of Tibetan religious culture whatsoever.

So it gives me pause when we see the heavily-repeated pattern of Kunley walking in, breaking up a family, sexually enlivening a female subject, and hitting the road without looking back. Whoever wrote this material - Dowman never tells us - assures us that he knew what he was doing, and the lucky women who caught his fancy achieved liberation by virtue of his sexual ministrations. I'm sort of reminded of the axiom that history is written by the winners.

I think it needs to be emphasized that there are in fact teachers in the west who take this conduct as a model, and justify behavior that is patently in the service of their all-too-human appetites in the name of some sort of antinomian liberation from conventional values. And I have known through long personal experience the havoc that can wreak on spiritual communities and on individuals, and I do know people who have not fully recovered decades after the fact, when some self-professed spiritual guru decided to have his way with his disciple's wives as part of his great teaching.

This is a real thing that happens, and it really does destroy people's happiness. And for those who would defend such conduct as the inconceivable display that can't be evaluated by mere mortals such as myself, I would ask, why is it, that these enlightened masters who are beyond the extremes of pleasure and pain, always seem to manifest their realization through sex, alcohol, and money? If they are outside of mundane care, why do we not see them instead taking up important but painful and disturbing altruistic work - say, a ministry with the homeless - since it's all of one taste to them?

Tibetan culture has its downsides like any other culture, and in my opinion the guru thing is really bad news, especially in the west. And I would maintain that in the west, we do not deserve to have gurus in the traditional sense until we have the capacity to first see them as what they are, and what they will always remain - human beings. That includes Chogyam Trungpa, and the Dalai Lama, and the Karmapa, and your personal lama.

Of course, Dowman strikes an enthusiastic tone from quite the opposite perspective, and it is no mystery that this work was initially published by devotees of Adi Da, who has his own ignominious track record of liberating the wives of his disciples while their husbands waited in the wings.

As a cultural and historical artifact, this work is illuminating. As a work of folklore, it is sometimes amusing but rather formulaic and repetitive. As a guide to practice, it is a disaster.

[Carrolldunham Dunham]

Don't travel to Bhutan without reading this book on Bhutans most beloved crazy wisdom saint.

[John Eliade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my biggest problem with this book is that Dowman doesn't include a lot of source information despite his copious notes that clear up linguistic and cultural issues. I would have liked to know from what documents he was pulling these stories from or perhaps the controversies regarding some of them (ex. Pelzang Buti may or may not have existed and the lines that sprouted from her and Kunley's union might be fabricated). Despite that, the meaning of the Divine Madman's teachings come through if one takes the time to meditate and I really enjoyed Kunley's antics and philosophy. There were times where I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. I would definitely recommend this for any one interested in Bhutanese Buddhism.

[Mihai Cetean · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a really great book. Not for everyone though, lots of things which challenge the "normal" way of thinking.

[Jed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic penis Tibetan monk. I’ll heil to that

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have immense respect for the amount of research and passion that went into compiling and translating the materials for this book. However, being told in the prologue that "you must read these stories with reverent attention and faith" and that "if anyone reads it and distorts it with an opinionated mind, his soul will leak into the lower realms" was a huge turnoff for me, and in fact insured that I would read all of the following with an opinionated mind.

Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman, was allegedly an awakened Buddha who lived in the 15th and 16th century in Tibet and Bhutan, a reincarnation of the mystic poet Saraha. His shtick was that he wanted to awaken and enlighten others spontaneously, with surprise, laughter, and even shame. He railed against mindlessly following monastic or social rules, and used his Flaming Thunderbolt of Wisdom (yeah, his dick) to enlighten women and tame demons.

The repeating themes in this book are that only total idiots would interpret Drukpa Kunley's sermons and behavior as nonsense (advice like: give your children nuts to eat if they wake up in the middle of the night and hear you having sex with your wife, "pay no respect to dogs, crows, or women," and "the Lama's thick penis is the plague of nuns," uttered by someone who impregnated a nun himself. I get it, he has a magic penis of wisdom, it's ~*~not*~* just sexual), and that true believers should accept whatever he does, including piss into his hand and offer it as a holy drink. Whoever meets him with skepticism is punished with swift death or a long string of bad luck. (Another repeating theme is women—remember, those people you're not supposed to respect?—telling him, "Please accept the gift of my body.")

I find it strange that someone who preached not-believing-authority-for-the-sake-of-believing-authority would punish people who didn't wholeheartedly and immediately accept his authority. He performs miracles in front of some people but not others. How is everyone supposed to know who's Crazy Wise, and who's just crazy? I found myself sympathizing with all of the buffoons who wouldn't drink his piss water, but we've already established that my soul is destined for the lower realms, so no surprise there.

Additionally, my edition of this book is a reprint by Pilgrims Publishing, and there was apparently a real problem putting the pages in order between pages 80 and 100. Not sure if my copy exemplifies a Crazy Wise approach to publishing, or if some mishap caused all in the same edition to have this problem.

[Chia Wei Sheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

Interesting translation and insight into why phallic symbols remain to be worshipped openly in bhutan today. Drukpa kunley has well rescued many whom took too extreme views and too many inhibitions without having really “lived” and “experienced” life and bliss/sexual activity to the fullest, such negations and forced inhibitions can potentially create real monsters and demons in the mind. There is nothing evil about sex, orgasm, and the enjoyment of these processes. That is how humans reproduce anyway. Whether monk or nun, we’re all still human.

[Pradeep Vegireddi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this book as a reminiscent from Paro (Bhutan). Bhutan is very spiritual (Tantric Buddhism which is quite different from the one you see in Gaya), and the influence of monks like Drukpa is still very profound. I was lucky to witness the festival happening in Paro Dzong. From their religious dance forms to their ideas on spirituality and sexuality i found everything new and intriguing.The book is as mad as the madman but it throws a good amount of light on the stories which shaped the thinking and daily chores of a general bhutanese.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to give up a lot of limitations to read this book. It’s kind of a long, poetical and mythical story about the wandering and miracles of an ancient Tibetan lama, a divine madman who steps outside the boundaries of social norms in order to serve and enlighten others. Wild. Enjoyable. And very much out of my usual experience. The essence: “relaxing in the stream of events”, ”never working, letting reality hang loosely”, “Drukpa was continually and spontaneously communicating the great Truth of Emptiness -that “whatever arises is the Path of Release”.

[Saraswati Urao · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first books I have read, which is full of truth . Cause have been hearing a lot of stories since kid ,his magical stories and how funny one can be , alot more I went in my imaginary world while going through the book. Made me feel the stories in it and the places . As am a living creature in the particular country 😉 .

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers stories from the life of Drukpa Kunley, along with some interspersed poetry. Kunley was a “mad sage” (a Nyönpa, as Tibetan Buddhists call such individuals) / tantric yogi of the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition who lived during the 15th and 16th centuries in Tibet and Bhutan. Today, his most well-known legacy is the phallic graffiti that is common in Bhutan (encouraging it, not drawing it all himself.) Kunley’s approach was definitely tantric and ran counter to the mainstream. By “tantric” I mean that he did not eschew those activities that mainstream religion seeks to prohibit, but rather saw them as a means to master the mind through mindful practice. So, as the Bhutanese phalluses might suggest, he often comes across as sex-obsessed as well as being a drunkard, but the whole idea of this crazy form of wisdom is to rise above the programming of societal convention, and to be free of all the little niggling value judgements that culture and religion impose on the world in order to see life through a less distorted lens.

I’m not qualified to speak to how well concepts are translated, but the book is readable and thought-provoking, and that’s enough for me. There’s humor throughout, as when Kunley tells the monks of the monastery he’s visiting that he has a friend who is an excellent singer, and then proceeds to bring a goat in to bleat for them. That said, those who are attached to the mainstream religious approach and who place a high value on societal conventions are likely to find much to be offended by in the carefree discussions of sex and the wild statements designed to shock people out of their stupors.

I enjoyed reading this book, found it full of interesting ideas, and would recommend it for anyone interested in the person or philosophy of Drukpa Kunley.

[Pamela Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read <3 <3

[Felix Banuelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very unique way of a saint.

[Kinley Wangchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed every page with devotion. Chap su choe!

[Charlie Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing.. not for the faint of heart haha

[Neža Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic on divine madness. Worth reading slowly and chewing on the stories.

[Dewi Rhys-jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. All the books with Keith Dowman's name on them are worth reading. We always need to keep in mind that Dzogchen is something we do.

[Danny Mindich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read this book for the second time. First time read it in 2018 in Bhutan. Now read it in 2021 in Florida.

Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman, has some lessons for us. His crazy wisdom shocks our feeble human minds, and helps us gaze at more than we can imagine.

The book is obviously immensely sexist, failing to recognize and discuss the autonomy of women. This is certainly a shame. From another perspective, while Medieval Tibet was such a patriarchal society, it is exciting to see a source that recognizes the potential for Buddhahood in women. If we are to take what is written at face value (as maybe we should), it can be read as hopeful and insightful. There are certainly lessons to be gained from reading this wonderful book.

The Divine Madman is a hero of mine. He is a sage. Adept, learned, wise, shocking, loving. Drukpa Kunga Legpa shares his sacred wisdom as best he can with the reader and his disciples. Reading this book, one can glimpse the divine landscape of Tibet and Bhutan - filled with wrathful and peaceful spirits. There is so much more to the world than a modern, scientific mind can grasp.

Lessons taught, of living in the moment, taking life as it comes, guiding wisdom, clarity, and direction are as relevant today as they were in such an alien landscape as 15th century Tibet is to a western 21st century reader.

If you are to read it, take it as it comes, remove whatever judgments you have, and you may gain wisdom from this Divine Madman.

[Daniel Simmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those who think of Buddhist lamas as stern moralists who are all work and no play, this book offers an often hilarious corrective. Sample passage:

"At the temple of Ramoche, he [Lama Drukpa Kunley, the hero of this narrative] found the monks engaged in metaphysical discussion, and thinking that he should not lose this opportunity to teach them how to laugh, he asked, 'What are you doing, O monks?' 'We are cleansing our spiritual perspective of doubts and disharmonies,' they told him. 'I know a little bit of metaphysics myself,' said the Lama, grabbing a handful of his own flatulence and thrusting it under their noses. 'Which came first, the air or the smell?' he demanded."

Divine madness, indeed, and the tales told herein had me snorting suja (butter tea) out of my nose more than once during my recent trip to Bhutan.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book translates some of the tales associated with the saint Drukpa Kunley, who was a Buddhist that operated FAR out of what society would call proper moral behavior, and would use sex, crudity and vulgarity to expose the nature of reality, and ideally lead people to Enlightenment. I read it before bed to make me smile. If you go to Bhutan, to Chimilhakhang (his temple), they bonk you on the head with Drukpa Kunley's bow, arrow, and of course, a massive wooden phallus, all ostensibly to enhance the recipient's fertility.

[Scott Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book, loved it. I saw some very clear symbology in the book, that is metaphors in the stories about taming demons and enlightening people through shocking behaviour, that perhaps isn't obvious. If you take the stories solely at face value then you'll maybe be left puzzled by Drukpa Kunley and his method (or lack thereof). Probably not for those new to Tibetan Buddhism for that reason.

[Tashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Divine Madman is the first biography to appear in the West of a Tibetan Crazy Adept "at work". This is the "secret biography" of one of Tibet's foremost saints, the Buddha Drukpa Kunley.

[Daniel Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, shocking, dangerous, true