The observations of the remarkable woman who spent fourteen years living in a forbidden land, learning its ancient wisdom and spiritual secrets.
In 1924, Lhasa, Tibet, was forbidden to foreigners, but Madame Alexandra David-Neel—a historian, linguist, and practicing Buddhist—was received by the Dalai Lama and spent years in this remarkable place. While there, she studied philosophical Buddhism and Tibetan Tantra, explored dramatic landscapes, meditated, and witnessed arcane rituals.
In Magic and Mystery in Tibet, Alexandra David-Néel shares her long journey in the Forbidden City and reveals its rich culture, touching on such topics as monastic education, folklore, reincarnation, magical rites, yoga, sages, and more. It’s a fascinating exploration of a spiritual world that most Westerners could not imagine, let alone experience firsthand.