Alexandra David-Néel’s Followers (240)

Alexandra David-Néel

Born

in Saint-Mandé, France

October 24, 1868

Died

September 08, 1969

Website

http://www.alexandra-david-neel.org/index_anim.htm

Genre

Travel, Religion & Spirituality

edit data

Alexandra David-Néel was an explorer, anarchist, spiritualist, Buddhist and writer. She is most known for her visit to the forbidden (to foreigners) city of Lhasa, capital of Tibet (1924). She was born in Paris, France and died in Digne, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. She wrote more than 30 books, about Eastern religion, philosophy, and her travels. Her well-documented teachings influenced the beat writers Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, and philosopher Alan Watts.

Her real name was Louise Eugenie Alexandrine Marie David. During her childhood she had a strong desire for freedom and spirituality. At the age of 18, she had already visited England, Switzerland and Spain on her own, and she was studying in Madame Blavatsky's Theosophical Society.

In Alexandra David-Néel was an explorer, anarchist, spiritualist, Buddhist and writer. She is most known for her visit to the forbidden (to foreigners) city of Lhasa, capital of Tibet (1924). She was born in Paris, France and died in Digne, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. She wrote more than 30 books, about Eastern religion, philosophy, and her travels. Her well-documented teachings influenced the beat writers Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, and philosopher Alan Watts.

Her real name was Louise Eugenie Alexandrine Marie David. During her childhood she had a strong desire for freedom and spirituality. At the age of 18, she had already visited England, Switzerland and Spain on her own, and she was studying in Madame Blavatsky's Theosophical Society.

In 1890 and 1891, she traveled through India, returning only when running out of money. In Tunis she met the railroad engineer Philippe Néel, whom she married in 1904.

In 1911 Alexandra traveled for the second time to India, to further her study of Buddhism. She was invited to the royal monastery of Sikkim, where she met Maharaj Kumar (crown prince) Sidkeon Tulku. She became Sidkeong's "confidante and spiritual sister" (according to Ruth Middleton), perhaps his lover (Foster & Foster). She also met the thirteenth Dalai Lama twice in 1912, and had the opportunity to ask him many questions about Buddhism—a feat unprecedented for a European woman at that time.

In the period 1914-1916 she lived in a cave in Sikkim, near the Tibetan border, learning spirituality, together with the Tibetan monk Aphur Yongden, who became her lifelong traveling companion, and whom she would adopt later. From there they trespassed into Tibetan territory, meeting the Panchen Lama in Shigatse (August 1916). When the British authorities learned about this—Sikkim was then a British protectorate—Alexandra and Yongden had to leave the country, and, unable to return to Europe in the middle of World War I, they traveled to Japan.

There Alexandra met Ekai Kawaguchi, who had visited Lhasa in 1901 disguised as a Chinese doctor, and this inspired her to visit Lhasa disguised as pilgrims. After traversing China from east to west, they reached Lhasa in 1924, and spent 2 months there.

In 1928 Alexandra separated from Philippe. Later they would reconcile, and Philippe kept supporting her till his death in 1941. Alexandra settled in Digne, and during the next 10 years she wrote books.

In 1937, Yongden and Alexandra went to China, traveling there during the second World War, returning to France only in 1946. She was then 78 years old.

In 1955 Yongden died. Alexandra continued to study and write till her death at age 100. ...more

Combine Editions
Alexandra David-Néel’s books

Average rating: 4.03 · 5,056 ratings · 449 reviews · 116 distinct works • Similar authors

	My Journey to Lhasa: The Classic Story of the Only Western Woman Who Succeeded in Entering the Forbidden City 3.98 avg rating — 2,327 ratings — published 1927 — 83 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Magic and Mystery in Tibet 4.08 avg rating — 1,454 ratings — published 1929 — 139 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Secret Oral Teachings in Tibetan Buddhist Sects by Alexandra David-Néel, Lama Yongden, Alan W. Watts (Foreword) 4.20 avg rating — 306 ratings — published 1961 — 36 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Au coeur des Himalayas Le Népal 3.75 avg rating — 107 ratings — published 1949 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Initiations and Initiates in Tibet by Alexandra David-Néel, Fred Rothwell (Translator) 4.13 avg rating — 83 ratings — published 1930 — 35 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tibetan Tale of Love and Magic 4.23 avg rating — 70 ratings — published 1938 — 22 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	L'Inde où j'ai vécu 3.82 avg rating — 72 ratings — published 1951 — 18 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Buddhism: Its Doctrines & Its Methods 4.10 avg rating — 63 ratings — published 1978 — 23 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Power of Nothingness 3.94 avg rating — 62 ratings — published 1954 — 15 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Immortality and Reincarnation: Wisdom from the Forbidden Journey 4.02 avg rating — 54 ratings — published 1961 — 24 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Alexandra David-Néel…

Quotes by Alexandra David-Néel (?)

“Suffering rises up those souls that are truly great; it is only small souls that are made mean-spirited by it.”
― Alexandra David-Néel

13 likes

“Voyager, c'est, de même qu'étudier, faire un long bail avec la jeunesse. Il n'existe pas, je crois, de plus efficace fontaine de jouvence que ces deux choses: voyage et activité intellectuelle.”
― Alexandra David-Néel

3 likes

“« Il ne faut pas vouloir du bien aux gens en dépit d’eux et contre leur volonté. Chacun sait, mieux que personne, ce qu’il lui convient. »”
― Alexandra David-Néel, La Lampe de sagesse

2 likes

See all Alexandra David-Néel's quotes »

Polls

What would you like to read in March for our Non-Fiction Read with a travel theme?

My Journey to Lhasa: The Classic Story of the Only Western Woman Who Succeeded in Entering the Forbidden City by Alexandra David-Néel

3 votes, 42.9%

Alone Time: Four Seasons, Four Cities, and the Pleasures of Solitude by Stephanie Rosenbloom

3 votes, 42.9%

Baghdad Sketches by Freya Stark

1 vote, 14.3%

7 total votes

9 comments

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Seasonal Read...: 30.6- Kiri's Task: Exploration & High Adventure	179	219	Nov 08, 2010 03:24PM
The Seasonal Read...: Winter Challenge 2010-2011 Completed Tasks (do not delete any posts)	2578	1100	Feb 28, 2011 09:05PM
Around the World ...: TA: Circumnavigator / Rogue Traveler 2013	10	88	Sep 16, 2013 09:06AM
100+ Books in 2025: Genndy kicking the ass of 100 books challenge 2014	104	90	Dec 31, 2014 09:07AM
Short & Sweet Treats: Today's Special	1036	289	Feb 02, 2016 06:55PM
Around the World ...: Daisy ATW Circumnavigator	18	25	Jan 09, 2017 08:14PM
Read Women: The big list of group reads! - updated Feb 2020	4	698	Jan 28, 2017 01:48PM
Cozy Mysteries : Title and Author game, Round 3	13653	557	Apr 03, 2017 09:53AM
Bookworm Bitches : 2017: BB's Literary Scavenger Hunt Challenge	55	198	Dec 27, 2017 05:13PM

More…