Alex Wilding

When he disrobed, in order to marry his English wife, he did so properly, requesting permission and handing his robes back to the Karmava. He had zero interest in building up any sort of large organisation of his own, but worked very hard giving teachings at centres in Britain, America and particularly in Europe. I wonder whether he even ever got cross.

When he disrobed, in order to marry his English wife, he did so properly, requesting permission and handing his robes back to the Karmava. He had zero interest in building up any sort of large organisation of his own, but worked very hard giving teachings at centres in Britain, America and particularly in Europe. I wonder whether he even ever got cross.

It's hard to imagine, but I suppose it must have happened. So far, so good. But as a fourth, we also had Trungpa, whose behaviour meant that he had to leave Samye Ling. Was it the smashing of Akong's personal shrine, urinating down the stairwell and collapsing into a drunken stupor when important visitors were expected that was the final straw? Quite possibly.

It's hard to imagine, but I suppose it must have happened. So far, so good. But as a fourth, we also had Trungpa, whose behaviour meant that he had to leave Samye Ling. Was it the smashing of Akong's personal shrine, urinating down the stairwell and collapsing into a drunken stupor when important visitors were expected that was the final straw? Quite possibly.

And having mentioned that story, I want to point out that I'm not just repeating rumours here. This is taken from the account of his very own wife, who to this very day carries the flag for him. Trungpa found a following, initially amongst the dropouts and hippies, and went on to build up a large organisation in America, some of which still exists. In spite of mottos from his early days like

And having mentioned that story, I want to point out that I'm not just repeating rumours here. This is taken from the account of his very own wife, who to this very day carries the flag for him. Trungpa found a following, initially amongst the dropouts and hippies, and went on to build up a large organisation in America, some of which still exists. In spite of mottos from his early days like

Buddha Dharma without credentials, he did in fact end up creating what was thought of as a royal court and wanted to be treated like a king, pretty much literally. But this is not the place for an expose. You can find that kind of thing on the web if you like.

Buddha Dharma without credentials, he did in fact end up creating what was thought of as a royal court and wanted to be treated like a king, pretty much literally. But this is not the place for an expose. You can find that kind of thing on the web if you like.

Suffice it to say that alcohol and other abuses brought him to an early death, so unless you are in the circle of his followers, it's not unreasonable to assess his life as something of a disaster. We've also had cases like Sogyal Laka, who ended up in a very public disgrace, labelled as such by the Dalai Lama.

Suffice it to say that alcohol and other abuses brought him to an early death, so unless you are in the circle of his followers, it's not unreasonable to assess his life as something of a disaster. We've also had cases like Sogyal Laka, who ended up in a very public disgrace, labelled as such by the Dalai Lama.

Although in fairness to the system, there are good grounds for wondering whether he ever was, initially, recognised as a tulku. We do know that there was never an enthronement, and there was never any sort of certificate. His mother, who was pushing his career forward, did claim to have once had a handwritten note from Jamyang Chensi Cherki Lodro, recognising Sogyal as a tulku.

Although in fairness to the system, there are good grounds for wondering whether he ever was, initially, recognised as a tulku. We do know that there was never an enthronement, and there was never any sort of certificate. His mother, who was pushing his career forward, did claim to have once had a handwritten note from Jamyang Chensi Cherki Lodro, recognising Sogyal as a tulku.

But this note was lost in the flight from Tibet. I suppose it could happen, although Jamyangchensi himself, in his extremely detailed autobiography, says nothing about it, and only mentions Sogyal once briefly as a peripheral figure in one of Jamyangchensi's dreams.

But this note was lost in the flight from Tibet. I suppose it could happen, although Jamyangchensi himself, in his extremely detailed autobiography, says nothing about it, and only mentions Sogyal once briefly as a peripheral figure in one of Jamyangchensi's dreams.

In Old Tibet, that magic land, some of this emotional derailment might have been kept at least largely in check through the very fact of the rigidity of that society.

In Old Tibet, that magic land, some of this emotional derailment might have been kept at least largely in check through the very fact of the rigidity of that society.

Nowadays, on the other hand, a tulku gone bad has far more opportunity to cut loose, get drunk, say, Hey, I'm a mahasiddha, my mad behaviour is crazy wisdom, done out of pure motivation to help sentient beings smash through the dualistic mind. This kind of thing can find a following. Now, a few minutes ago I mentioned my own first teacher, a tulku who did end up in the West.

Nowadays, on the other hand, a tulku gone bad has far more opportunity to cut loose, get drunk, say, Hey, I'm a mahasiddha, my mad behaviour is crazy wisdom, done out of pure motivation to help sentient beings smash through the dualistic mind. This kind of thing can find a following. Now, a few minutes ago I mentioned my own first teacher, a tulku who did end up in the West.

Long ago, back in the 1970s, I recall him saying that while he did believe that there was something in it when he was talking about the Tulku system, he nevertheless felt that it was a thing that had worked in old Tibet, but was not fit for the new world. And that was 50 years ago, long before the high-profile scandals I mentioned above.

Long ago, back in the 1970s, I recall him saying that while he did believe that there was something in it when he was talking about the Tulku system, he nevertheless felt that it was a thing that had worked in old Tibet, but was not fit for the new world. And that was 50 years ago, long before the high-profile scandals I mentioned above.