Exquisitely beautiful, talented and the little-known muse of beat writers Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, Alexandra David-Neel is one of the most beguiling, if largely unknown, women in current history.
Born in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne on October 24, 1868, Alexandra David-Neel was an explorer, mystic, shaman, Buddhist, and prolific writer who studied under and was the first and only western woman to journey into Tibet in her time.
Alexandra David-Neel and Tibet
Developing a thirst at an early age for exploration in general, David-Neel left home at the age of 18 to travel the world, eventually studying the works of Annie Besant the Theosopher. With a decided thirst for the deeply spiritual, she joined several secret societies at this same time, and after dabbling in a career as an opera singer, headed to India funded by an inheritance from her grandmother.
After meeting and marrying railway engineer Phillipe Neel, she set off for what was to be a short excursion that turned into what largely became her life's calling. In a voyage that spanned thousands of miles, David-Neel befriended royalty and studied under some of the most learned Tibetan scholars of the time, including the esteemed Gomchen of the monastery of Lachen. She remained and studied for two years under his tutelage, living in a cave beneath him, a feat unheard of for a woman of her time.
Fourteen years later, after covering thousands of miles in the Far East, she reunited with her mostly understanding husband.
Alexandra David-Neel and the Tulpa
The term Tulpa refers to the physical manifestation, either being or object, of a thought form (similar to homunculi) created by the act of willpower. The term 'Tulpa' refers to the Tibetan Buddhist concept, though other spiritual systems have adopted similar beliefs and practices. In the creation of a Tulpa, the creator meditates and focuses on a specific tangential being with characteristics and traits which are pre-ordained by its creator. In David-Neel's case, she had determined for her manifestation to appear as a plump and jolly Friar-Tuck sort of monk, with a cheerful disposition.
After a period of time, the entity reportedly became real enough that other observers often commented and asked about it, but were unable to communicate with it directly. What renders David-Neels experience as remarkable however is that the Tulpa became quite out of her control and gradually began to adopt a will seemingly of its own.
When David-Neel noted with no small horror the Tulpa gradually becoming leaner and more menacing, she made attempts to spiritually disperse it to little avail. After a great deal of work that reportedly left her drained and nearly at the point of no return, the Tulpa was eventually destroyed.
Whether or not this story is factual and meant to be taken literally, its leanings and insinuations towards the Tibetan Buddhist teaching regarding meeting the Buddha on the road remain self-evident.
Books and Movies Featuring Alexandra David-Neel
The visually incredible movie, Valley of Flowers, was loosely based on her books.
For more information on Alexandra David-Neel, including her complete bibliography, consider visiting her official; website here.
Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman - Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman is a writer, spiritual activist and free spirit who divides her time between Europe and America cultivating a ...
Join the Conversation