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Trade Paperback
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9780486226828
Overview
Overview
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.
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.
- Format: TradePaperback
- Author: David-Neel, Madame Alexandra
- ISBN: 9780486226828
- Condition: Used
- Dimensions: 8.45 x 0.67
- Number Of Pages: 368
- Publication Year: 1971
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A trip in time and space to a place few can imagine.
Andru V. - 4 years 4 months agoThe power of the mind is something modern humans are still striving to fully comprehend. Many people believe that the full potential of the mind remains unknown to this day. Traveling halfway across the globe from her native France, the remarkable author of the book "Magic and Mystery in Tibet" Alexandra David-Neel, recounts fantastic stories detailing the abilities that a select few Tibetan Buddhist practitioners display. By shedding glimpses of light on to what may have once been the stuff of legend, author Alexandra David-Neel describes personal encounters with ascetic yogis, hermits, living in the caves of the Himalayas who possess what would otherwise be called "super-human" talents. Illuminating such powers as "near flight" and the memory of previous lives, Alexandra David- Neel seems to be suggesting that there may very well be powers of the mind that remain occult or hidden to most people. An ardent skeptic can enjoy the journeys documented in the book as it illustrates a landscape that can no longer be visited. This work of non-fiction should be valued not only as a true adventure story, but for its historical documentation of a way of life few can personally witness today.
HPB Staff Review