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The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel: A Biography of the Explorer of Tibet and Its Forbidden Practices PDF

369 Pages·1997·12.62 MB·English
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THE SECRET LIVES OF ALEXANDRA DAVID-NEEL ft B i o g r a p h y o f t h e E x p l o r e r o f T i b e t AMD I t s F o r b i d d e h P r a c t i c e s B arbara Foster and M ic hael F oster “A fascinating account of the life and exploits of the brilliant 20th century Frenchwoman who became the first European female to enter the. holy city of Lhasa.” —Harper’s Bazaar The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel f\ Biography o f th e E xp lo rer o f T ib et AMD Its Forbiddeh Practices BARBARA FOSTER AND MICHAEL FOSTER THE OVERLOOK PRESS W OODSTOCK & NEW YORK First published in the United States in 1998 by The Overlook Press, Peter Mayer Publishers, Inc. Lewis Hollow Road Woodstock, New York 12498 Copyright © 1998 Barbara Foster and Michael Foster All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or broadcast. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publications Data Foster, Barbara M. The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel / Barbara Sc Michael Foster—Rev. ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. David-Neel, Alexandra, 1868—1969. I. Foster, Michael. II. Title. BQ950.A937F67 1998 294.3*092—dc21 [B] 96-50127 Book design and formatting by Bernard Schleifer Original Maps by Letha Hadady Manufactured in the United States of America ISBN 087951-774-3 First Edition 135798642 d V lt'C V lf'S Voyages and Chronology vii Preface to the Revised Edition ix Introduction : Our Journey to Alexandra xii vtc: c f^eeher 1. The Eye of Empire 3 2. Prisoner of a Dream 9 3. The Ego and Its Own 18 4. The Saddest Story 34 5. India Absurd and Marvelous 46 6. City of Joy 57 7. The Genie and the Demon 65 8. The Living Buddha 79 9. An Invisible Barrier 92 10. In the Realm of Shiva 102 CONTENTS VlWj 11. Cavern in the Sky 117 12. Asia Marvelous and Diverse 131 13. A Paradise 143 14. The French Nun 157 15. An Officer and a Gentleman 172 16. A Long Walk 185 17. A Long Walk, Continued 196 18. “The Potala Is the Paradise of Buddha.' 210 tyree: 19. The Dream of Repose 225 20. Success at Paris 235 21. The Short Path 246 22. Storm Clouds 259 23. The Wife of the Chinese 273 24. The Sage of Digne 288 Coda: The Legacy 298 Sources and Acknowledgments 307 Selected Bibliography 311 Index 321 ^ 0\jc \ & j - (^Dswfo-c/Xbel 1891-1893 India 1911-1912 Ceylon, India 1912-1916 Sikkim, Nepal, southern Tibet (expelled) 1916-1918 India, Burma, French Indochina, Japan, Korea, China 1918-1921 Eastern Tibet (Kum Bum) 1921-1924 Journey to Lhasa through eastern Tibet, Mongolia, western China, and southern Tibet 1925 Return to France 1937-1945 Soviet Union, China, Sino-Tibetan border, India 1946 Final return to France v o v i ol&Qyy October 24, 1868 Louise Eugénie Alexandrine Marie David is born in Paris. 1871 The Commune lives and dies. 1873 The Davids move to Belgium. 1888-1890 Alexandra investigates the Society of the Supreme Gnosis, London. She discovers the Theosophical Society in Paris and Buddhism and other oriental philosophies. 1891 Departs for India. 1895 Sings with l’Opéra-Comique in Indochina 1898 Publishes Pour la vie, a libertarian essay 1904 Marries Philip Neel; her father dies 1911 Undertakes second Asian sojourn 1912 Meets Prince Sidkeong of Sikkim, glimpses Tibet and has two interviews with the Dalai Lama. viii CHRONOLOGY 1914-1916 Lives as a hermit in the Himalayas 1917 Tours Japan and Korea 1918-1920 Lives among the monks at Kum Bum monastery October 1923 Sets out on a four-month journey afoot to Lhasa February 1924 Reaches Lhasa, remains for two months 1925 Returns to France 1927 My Journey to Lhasa is published in New York, London, and Paris. 1928-1936 Alexandra buys and inhabits Samten Dzong in Digne, France. Completes Magic and Mystery; Buddhism; Initiations 1937-1945 She lives in China during the Sino-Japanese war. 1941 Philip Neel dies. 1946 Alexandra returns to France to settle estate. 1955 Yongden, her adopted son, dies. 1959 Marie-Madeleine Peyronnet comes to Samten Dzong. 1968 Alexandra’s 100th birthday is celebrated at Digne. September 8, Alexandra, much honored, dies at Digne. Several 1969 projects are left incomplete.

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Alexandra David-Neel was the first European to explore Tibet at a time when foreigners were banned. Few people have led a life of adventure equal to hers, or made so much of it. This book presents a vividly detailed chronicle of David-Neel's quest to conquer her personal demons and of the outer jour
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