Alexandra David-Neel is the author of several popular books on esotericism, the most famous of which is The Mystics and Magicians of Tibet (1931). However, we don't know much about the personality of this amazing woman.
Wanderer from Paris
She was born in 1868 in Paris. The girl showed early musical abilities. As an adult, she quickly became famous as a singer and shone on the stage of the Paris Opera. Then she got married successfully. But at 43 years old, David-Neel's life changed dramatically: she was diagnosed with throat cancer. Doctors announced a death sentence.
In the hope of gaining, if not physical, then at least spiritual healing, the woman decided to devote herself to Buddhism. Leaving her family, stage and friends, she set off on a mystical journey through the East. Alexandra was accompanied by the Tibetan boy Yongden, who later became her adopted son.
To avoid the dangers of travel and move freely around the country, both had to disguise themselves as nalhor-pa - beggar pilgrims. Still, this did not guarantee protection from roving robbers and the police. In addition, the British government announced a wanted list for David-Neel, seeking to expel her from Tibet.
She managed on foot, carrying a knapsack on her shoulders, to overcome a hardship journey to Lhasa, where she, the first of all Western women, was awarded a reception by the Dalai Lama.
Alexandra studied Tibetan culture and language at Tashilumpo Monastery University near Shigatse. The abbot of the Panchen Lama monastery became her mentor. Upon completion of her studies, David-Neel received the Tibetan equivalent of her Ph. D. in Buddhist Studies. In addition, she was awarded the honorary attire of a lama, which was a great rarity for a Westerner, especially for a woman.
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Tibetan miracles
In the book "Mystics and Magicians of Tibet" David-Neel describes many amazing phenomena associated with the magical and spiritual practices of the Tibetans.
So, in the chapter "How to keep warm without fire among the snows" Alexandra talks about tumo - a special type of breathing, practicing which, you can generate internal heat and not freeze even at very low temperatures. With this practice, monks can sit on snow-capped peaks wearing only light cotton clothing, melt ice and turn ice water into steam, thus drying wet blankets. The snow around them is melting before our eyes … Some especially advanced hermits even refuse to wear clothes and spend their entire lives in the mountains completely naked.
David-Neel herself also managed to master tumo with the help of his teacher-lama. “He just ordered me to go to one deserted place, swim there in the icy stream, and then, without drying off or dressing, spend, without moving, in this form all night in meditation. It was the beginning of winter, the height of the area reached 3000 m. I was filled with incredible pride, as I did not even catch a cold."
In his book, David-Neel also writes that Tibetan magicians are capable of creating "tulpa" - immaterial doubles. Here is one of the episodes she personally witnessed:
“At that time my camp was set up near Punarited in Kham. One afternoon I was talking to the cook in the hut that served as our kitchen. The young man asked to give him provisions. I said: "We go to my tent, there you will take everything you need from the box." We went out. Approaching the tent, the floors of which were thrown back, we both suddenly saw the chief lamu rite sitting at my table on a folding chair. We were not surprised - this lama visited me quite often. The cook said at once: “A rimpotche has come to you. I need to go back, make tea for him, I'll take some provisions later. "-" Okay, make some tea as soon as possible, "I replied. The servant left, and I hurried to the tent. A few steps before it, it seemed to me that it was swirling in front of the tent. a veil of transparent fog slowly recedes from her. The lama disappeared. Very soon the servant returned with tea.he was very surprised. Not wanting to scare him, I explained that "rimpot" only had to say two words to me. He's busy and couldn't stay longer. I did not hesitate to tell the lama about this incident, but he just giggled maliciously and did not want to explain anything to me."
Ashes scattered over the Ganges
Alexandra David-Neel spent about 12 years in Tibet. Tibetan lamas taught her tantric rituals and, in addition, she was able to develop a magical gift. For example, after her adopted son Yongden died, she learned to get in touch with him by casting a spell, after which a lotus flower appeared on her palm.
David-Neel was not only ranked among the highest caste of Tibetan mystics-red-hats, but also elevated in the West to the rank of world-famous scholars. She was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Society of Belgium, the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honor.
Alexandra treated the unusual phenomena that she had encountered from the point of view of a researcher. “The study of the phenomena of the psyche,” she wrote, “must be approached in the same way as any other science. The discoveries that are possible in this area do not contain anything supernatural, nothing that could justify superstitions and nonsense spread by some irresponsible people. On the contrary, the purpose of such studies is to reveal the mechanism of the so-called miracles, and the explained miracle is no longer a miracle!"
But what about the fatal disease? She passed without a trace! David-Neel lived a long life - 101 years, in full health and sanity. She spent the last years at her estate in the south of France, which she called Samten-Dzong - "Abode of Reflections". According to the will, the ashes of this amazing woman were scattered over the sacred river Ganges.
According to the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Alexandra David-Neel was "the first person who introduced the real Tibet to the West" and "conveyed the authentic flavor of Tibet as he felt it."
Tamara Troyanova