Magic and Mystery in Tibet - Softcover

David-Neel, Alexandra

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0486226824 ISBN 13: 9780486226828

Publisher: Dover Publications Inc., 1971

Synopsis

For centuries Tibet has been known as the last home of mystery, the hidden, sealed land, where ancient mysteries still survive that have perished in the rest of the Orient. Many men have written about Tibet and its secret lore, but few have actually penetrated it to learn its ancient wisdom. Among those few was Madame Alexandra David-Neel, a French orientalist. A practicing Buddhist, a profound historian of religion, and linguist, she actually lived in Tibet for more than 14 years. She had the great honor of being received by the Dalai Lama; she studied philosophical Buddhism and Tibetan Tantra at the great centers; she meditated in lonely caves and on wind-swept winter mountains with yogi hermits; and she even witnessed forbidden corpse-magic in the forests. Her experiences have been unique.
Magic and Mystery in Tibet tells the story of her experiences in Tibet, among lamas and magicians. It is neither a travel book nor an autobiography but a study of psychic discovery, a description of the occult and mystical theories and psychic training practices of Tibet. She tells of great sages and sorcerers that she met; of the system of monastic education; the great teachers and their disciples; Tibetan folklore about their spiritual athletes; reincarnation and memory from previous lives; elaborate magical rites to obtain siddhis; the horrible necromantic magic of the pre-Buddhist Bonpa shamas; mental visualization exercises to create disembodied thought forms (tulpas); visions; phenomena of physical yoga, control of the body heat mechanism; breathing exercises; sending "messages on the wind"; and much similar material.
An unusual aspect of Madame David-Neel's book is that she herself experienced many of the phenomena she describes, yet she describes them with precision and in a matter-of-fact manner, permitting the reader to draw his own conclusions about validity, interpretation in terms of psychology, and value. Particularly interesting for the modern experiencer are her detailed instructions for tumo (the yoga of heat control) and creation of thought projections.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Alexandra David-Neel spent many years in the East and especially in Tibet, a closed, awesome, icy and mysterious world. 'Magic and Mystery in Tibet' records her fascinating travels and the discoveries she experienced in this forbidden country. Having studied at the Sorbonne under Professor Foucaux, a noted Sanskrit and Tibetan scholar, Alexandra David-Neel is one of the most distinguished of women explorers. She brings a common sense and sometimes sceptical eye to the practices and beliefs of the magicians and mystic masters of the ancient dreamland of Tibet.

Amongst the extraordinary events she describes are how Tibetan mystics can live naked in zero temperatures; how they practice psychic sports; how they can run incredible distances without rest, food or drink; how they utilise telepathy; and how they appear to defy gravity.

“Precisely the person to explore Tibet... absolutely fearless. Her accounts of Tibetan religious ceremonies and beliefs are the fullest and best we have.”
THE NEW YORKER

About the Author:

Alexandra David-Neel studied at the Sorbonne and then journeyed to Tibet. She has written in four books of her experiences.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dover Publications Inc.
• Publication date: 1971
• ISBN 10: 0486226824
• ISBN 13: 9780486226828
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 321