Magic and Mystery in Tibet

Despite the author's ill-considered title, examination of this book's contents shows the work to be decidedly unkooky.

This is David Neel`s testimony about what she saw, learned, and experienced during her years living in the heart of Tìbet, the Land of Snow.Along the story, David Neel strive to narrate to the european readers of the early 20th century, each detail of the religion, culture and traditions of the tibetan people. It is posible to notice that mostly of David Neel`s comments and descriptions are under the lens of her own subjective personal opinion, inaccurate sometimes, mistaken in others (especially in Dharma doctrines). Her own rejection and prejudices against organized religious structures and religious/spiritual authorities, caused to her to develop wrong ideas about Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, resulting in giving wrong information. For instance, when she tries to explain the Tulku system and the Dalai Lama`s political power and goverment. She also fails to understand the meaning and role of the yi-dam (deity) in Vajrayana.. She suffers a massive confution about these buddhist tantric practice, trying to support her arguments based in what she previous knew from the hindu tantrism. She was also overly influenced by the materialistic view of the Theravada school that she meet before in Ceylan (Sri Lanka),vto which she considered the "real Buddhism".The book is now outdated, surpassed in quality and quantity by the buddhist printed material which we have today.My general impression, is that the conceited mind of David Neel, never really got to understand the Tibetan Buddhism, in particular because she kept herself in a narrow and separated position, always observing everything as a western foreigner. She let us know that she never was a real Vajrayana practitioner, the core of this practices where out of her real understanding, quite contrary as its told and believed in general.It is important to understand that the virtues and merits of David Neel, are not in her books, but in her life as explorer which worked as bridge betwen east and west that later would be followed by many other western spiritual seekers, contemplatives and academics.

This is such an excellent book for those interested in mysticism, lamas, Bon, shamanism and Tibetan Buddhism. Alexandra David Neel writes about her own experiences in and around Tibet in great detail but she also includes legends and stories and descriptions of ritual practices that are scarcely touched upon in other books on similar subjects. And this was originally published in 1929! The author is incredibly intelligent and you can tell there is both genuine fascination in her research and studies as well as a skeptical and logical approach to the subjects she explores. Fascinating read.

It is interesting because of her experiences. But as a self sustained backpacker on a limited budget, having to fumble my way, learned the languages, encounter since inception or landing on my own, I find traveling with connections, escorts, interpreters less appealing. It is a totally different experience when you are completely on your own on a limited budget. It is not a free style traveling, but also a wheel and deal situation like a business in order to get what you want. In the free style, you are what you are, learn the culture and adapt. Nothing material to offer except your own culture and respect the others. Still it doesn't negate her wonderful experiences. This reminds me of the French people in their colonies, always wandering to poor countries and have servants, cooks and drivers. When the service is no longer provided, as another country takes over, they go home.

I am concerned this version is counterfeit and a version published by the Chinese government or someone supporting the Chinese government, with edited content. It looks like they scanned a copy of text - or extremely bad typesetting by someone who doesn't know what they're doing. The paragraph marks are off, the footnote notations are wrong. I am concerned that this version is probably something issued by the Chinese government and they have edited the text to exclude anything that goes against their warped version of history and reality. I intend to send this book back and ask for a refund. The cover art is an embarrassment and whoever designed it should be banned from using MSWord or (god forbid) a desktop publishing system for life. I read this book in college and was fascinated by it, so I decided to buy a hard-cover copy for my bookshelves. I assumed the cover that was shown on Amazon was just a representation of the real cover (I mean, perhaps they didn't have a picture of it)--because no book cover art could look that bad. I was wrong. "Bigfontbooks.com" reprinted this version. Their cover is horrific. The typesetting is awful. It is full of errors in punctuation and even spelling. Can't believe I paid extra for this.

Really interesting read! There are no words! Just read it! 🤯

A most remarkable book relating mystical events the author personally witnessed during her years living in Tibet as a woman lama. She is always careful not to over-assert or over-interpret. These events are certainly un-explainable, from a Western perspective, but what I enjoy is the observation that from the Tibetan perspective, there is nothing miraculous or magical about it. It's just the working of an universal law, a law in which the trained mind can tap into power that are inaccessible to the rest of us. Some of these events, such as the Tumo practitioner's ability to dry wet rags sitting in the snow at 18,000 feet, has been later documented and proven scientifically. What it does leave me is there is a lot we don't know about ourselves.

Love this book

good

Good reading, fascinating subject.

the work describes a lot about the life of ordinary Tibetans of her era but is not very different from her early book. She has not provided much details about the true magic and mystery of tibet. Milaropa has not been covered in details. Tantra and other mystic life style of tibetans has only been touched at very superflous level. All in all a very average book

Best spiritual practice book

Good read