Product Description

Born in 1868 to a respectable French family, Alexandra David-Neel became an occultist, anarchist and the most remarkable female travel writer of the Twentieth century. David-Neel studied at the Sorbonne at a time when women were not allowed to formally matriculate and converted to Buddhism after viewing a statue of the Buddha in the Guimet Museum. In 1911 she set off, alone, to travel around India for the second time and in 1914 she secluded herself in a cave in the Himalayas for two years, intensively studying the mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the mystic legends that surrounded Buddhist monks. From 1918 she spent three years in a Buddhist monastery translating texts into French and English. By 1924 she had travelled to the forbidden city of Lhasa and returning to France in 1927 began to write, recording her extraordinary experiences. She died in 1969, 101 years old, still travelling, and an inspiration for a generation that included Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Magic & Mystery in Tibet, like Seven Pillars of Wisdom, attempts to bring ancient wisdom into the modern age. David-Neel records the seemingly magic feats performed by Buddhist monks; telepathy, tumo breathing (the art of generating body heat to keep warm in freezing conditions), the ability to run for days at a time, the ability to defy gravity and the ability to become invisible. As a child David-Neel had wanted to search for the unknown and as an adult she went beyond the Western world, and into areas unexplained by Western science. No other Western writer has ever been so immersed in Tibetan culture and Buddhism, and few other books have entranced readers for seventy years.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39379 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-09
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Review
David-Neel's trailblazing travels were driven by curiosity and deep-seated Buddhist spirituality... Her writings blend descriptions of extraordinary psychic exercises and Bon sorcery... with accounts of the wonders and rigours of early 20th-century travel in remote regions. --'Wanderlust'

A fascinating account of the spiritual training of Tibetan monks and mystics… an intriguing book… A true travel classic that will enchant thinkers and adventurers alike. --'Geographical'

One of the most remarkable and influential female travellers of all time, delves into the mysterious world of Tibetan Buddhism… Her lucid prose and insightful observations will captivate readers throughout, opening the door to a different kind of reality. --'Big Issue'

'Geographical'
"A fascinating account of the spiritual training of Tibetan monks
and mystics... A true travel classic."

'The Middle Way'
"It is a delight and a `must-read' for anyone interested in the Way."

Customer Reviews

A unique woman
I first read this book when I was in my teens; the impression it made on me then has lasted 50 years. I keep having to buy the book again because I give my copy away to friends! As a teenager, I revelled in imagining rites of the lamas and the sheer concentration of mind and spirit which gave them such powers. Now I am still overawed by what ADN actually achieved: a (small) woman, travelling alone, or with her adopted son, a hundred years ago in the wilds of Tibet, enduring extraordinary hardships.
When you've read this, read "My Journey to Lhasa".
As well as an extraordinary traveller, she was a linguist and scholar -- and above all her mind was both analytical and receptive.
By the way, her literary style is not great -- it's just the material which is mind-blowing!

An excellent read!
I couldn't put this book down! Alexandra David-Neel, the first European woman to meet the Dalai Lama, describes her travels through the forbidden "Land of Snows" during the early 20th century. She encounters hermits who have acheived extrordinary spiritual and physical feats and describes her own mysterious experiences. This book is a thorough account of Tibetan Buddhism and the methods that were employed by some Tibetan mystics and Bönpo magicians - such as the terrifying Chöd ritual - as well as the culture and customs of Tibet. The true story of a woman with incredible determination and a thirst for knowledge.

As it says in the back cover of the 2007 edition:

She describes "Tibetan mystics who could live naked in temperatures below freezing... lames who could run for increadable distances without rest, food or drink and monks who could defy gravity."

If you have an open mind, read this book!

Magic & Mystery in Tibet: An incredible Journey!
Alexandra David Neel was the first European woman to meet the Dalai Lama. She travelled extensively and learned Buddhism from mystics & hermits. Alexandra David Neel was an authority on Buddhism and published many books until her death at 101 years old.