Journey with Robert Thurman in Bhutan film

Buddhist Teachings & Meditations in the Land of the Thunder Dragon

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Screenings
  • Store
  • About the Film
    • Trailer
    • Synopsis
    • Robert Thurman
    • Directors’ Statement
    • The Team
  • Robert Thurman
    • Reading List
  • Press
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Blog
  • GET THE FILM

Friendly Phalluses of Bhutan

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Emily Davidow

Io9’s recent article, “In Bhutan, friendly phalluses painted on houses scare off evil spirits,” has been making the rounds on all the social networks, causing me to reflect on all the friendly phalluses I encountered on our expedition. Fitting in nicely with the theme of our latest video outtakes post, orgasm and death, here are some of my favorite phalluses encountered while filming Journey with Robert Thurman in Bhutan.

Auspicious phallus
Gradated phallus
Phallus above the door
Phallus laundry
Phallus poster
Wood phalluses

The popularity of the phallus for waving in good luck and dispelling evil spirits dates back to Lama Drukpa Kunley (1455-1529) who was known as the divine monk or divine madman for fighting demons with his Flaming Thunderbolt (penis). A new ibook, Drukpa Kunley, Madcap Lama of the Himalayas, by Russ and Blyth Carpenter, explains how it became depicted in this particular manner in the story of Drukpa Kunley introducing himself to Tsongkhapa, the great teacher, at the temple of Ramoche near Lhasa in Tibet.

When Kunley first went to visit Tsongkhapa, he was turned away by the attendant monks for not bringing an offering. Arriving without one, he offered his testicles on the spot, but that was not accepted. The next time, he returned with a box of gold and was able to see Tsongkhapa right away. Kunley prostrated before Tsongkhapa and presented his gift along with a sarcastic song (that was lost on Tsongkhapa). Tsongkhapa, pleased, offered a protective thread to Kunley. Traditionally these protective threads are worn around necks and wrists, but Kunley wrapped the thread around his Flaming Thunderbolt and went to the market.

Look! Look! he shouted. If you have fifty pieces of gold, you can gain audience with the Buddha Tsongkhapa himself. He may even give you one of these! And he waved his member with thread around it in the air.

And now you know why the friendly phalluses painted on houses and buildings throughout Bhutan have a thread tied around the center.

This entry was posted in Blog, Production Notes and tagged Bhutan, buddhism, Drukpa Kunley, Flaming Thunderbolt, penis, phallus, phalluses, Tsongkhapa. Bookmark the permalink
  • Tags

    art Bhutan Bob Thurman bodhisattva book buddha buddhism capitalism chakrasamvara Cool Hero Cool Heroes dharma Dochula film Gross National Happiness happiness Inner Revolution Jey Tsong Khapa Journey with Robert Thurman in Bhutan mandala Matrix movie nagarjuna nonviolence nuclear disarmament outtakes philosophy Phobjika Valley pilgrimage reality reincarnation richard freeman robert a.f. thurman robert thurman root of the tongue self shiva society superbliss wheel mandala Tibet Tibetan Buddhism travel tsong khapa wisdom yoga
  • Recent Posts

    • Buddhist Film Festival in Sri Lanka May 2013
    • Interview with Robert Thurman on gurus and love
    • From MAD to MUD: Tibetan Buddhism and Nuclear Disarmament
  • Latest Tweets

    •  
    Follow on Twitter
  • Sign up for email updates

  • © Copyright 2022 Emily Davidow and Joshua Davidow