For years I have heard of Chimi Lhakhang and the magical powers of the soot smeared wooden phallus that hangs within the sanctum sanctorum of the perfectly ordinary temple that sits atop a low-lying plateau in Punakha valley. Over the centuries, women from all around the world have trudged up the gentle incline to the Divine Madman’s Temple - with a singular purpose in mind: to be blessed by the wooden phallus. These women were all driven not by faith or belief - but by desperation caused by their unfilled wombs. They have all been told that Chimi Lhakhang’s wooden phallus has the magical powers to help women conceive and bear children.
To me all such rants are nothing more than effective ploys to attract visitors for increased collection of Ngendah. But this morning’s mail brought in something quite the unexpected - a mail from the Club President of the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset, Rtn. James Ham, MD, that read as follows:
“Wanted to share the good news with my extended Rotary Family! Please share with others, since I’m sure I forgot a lot of people (been awake for 42+ hours now). Kinley Jin Ham born at 6:54 am on 8/10/19, 5 pounds 13 ounces, 20 inches. Mom and baby are doing well.”
I offered my Congratulations to President James, but asked him:
“By the way how did you happen to name the baby Kinley Jin Ham?”
His answer:
“This is our first child. We went to Chimi Lakang and received the blessing from the Lama and was told we would have a boy named Kinley Wangchuk.”
My next question:
“Was your visit to Chimi Lhakahng during your last trip when we met at our Weekly Club Meeting?”
His answer:
“Yes, sir. My wife was pregnant almost immediately after the visit!”
What can I say? Drukpa Kuenleg the Divine Madman cannot, after all, be all that MAD. That is all fine - but I am terror struck at the though of a young unmarried women going up to the Lhakhang and getting a blessing from the phallus. That would be catastrophic! 😂😂😂😂😂
The following are the blessed couple and the new-born Kinley Wangchuk:
The blessed couple at Taktsang Monastery
Drukpa Kinley in Honolulu
NOTE:
I have Club President Jame's permission to post the story and the accompanying photos.
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