Alexandra David-Neel

Buddhist Adventurer

Tulpas, levitation, tummo, and telepathy. Alexandra David-Neel (1868-1969) was a Belgian-French explorer and writer who investigated these and other mystical topics on epic treks throughout Asia. She was on a mission to learn the secrets of the universe from Buddhist lamas and share them with the Western world.

What did Alexandra David-Neel do that was so influential?

1. Alexandra David-Neel traveled widely throughout Asia to uncover mystical secrets of the East.
2. Alexandra David-Neel embedded herself in Tibetan Buddhist culture, investigating levitation, telepathy, and tummo.
3. Alexandra David-Neel introduced the concept of the tulpa to Western culture.

1. Alexandra David-Neel traveled widely throughout Asia to uncover mystical secrets of the East.

Alexandra David-Néel’s insatiable curiosity and fearless spirit led her on an epic 14-year odyssey through Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia, India, and Tibet. Her journey culminated in a daring four-month expedition to Lhasa, the forbidden capital of Tibet, in 1924.

During her travels, she immersed herself in the study of Buddhist philosophy and esoteric techniques. In Sikkim, she became the disciple of a Buddhist monk and lived in a cave at 12,000 feet for two years. This dedication to understanding Eastern spirituality firsthand set her apart from other Western explorers of her time.

One fascinating account from her travels involves an apparent instance of telepathy. While on the road with her companion Yongden, they encountered a lama. Alexandra silently thought about her desire for some curd, as she had been subsisting on a limited diet. Without any verbal communication, the lama sent one of his companions to a nearby farmer, who returned with a vessel full of curd for her.

Journey to Tibet: Alexandra’s most famous and arduous journey was her 14-year-long effort to reach the forbidden city of Lhasa in Tibet. In 1924, at the age of 55, she successfully entered Lhasa disguised as a Tibetan pilgrim. Her pilgrimage is documented in her book 1927 My Journey to Lhasa.

Exploration of India and Nepal: Before her journey to Tibet, Alexandra spent several years traveling and studying in India and Nepal, immersing herself in Hindu and Buddhist philosophies and practices. She lived among yogis, sadhus, and mystics, learning about their spiritual traditions.

Visits to Sikkim: Alexandra also visited the Himalayan kingdom of Sikkim, known for their rich Buddhist heritage and mystical practices. She spent time in monasteries and documented the traditions and beliefs of the local people.

Travels in China and Japan: In her earlier years, Alexandra traveled to China and Japan, where she studied Taoism, Zen Buddhism, and other Eastern philosophies. She was particularly interested in the mystical and esoteric aspects of these traditions.

Writings and Translations: Throughout her travels, Alexandra wrote extensively about her experiences, observations, and the mystical secrets she uncovered. She authored numerous books, including “Magic and Mystery in Tibet,” “Initiations and Initiates in Tibet,” and “The Secret Oral Teachings in Tibetan Buddhist Sects.” She also translated several Tibetan Buddhist texts.

2. Alexandra David-Néel embedded herself in Tibetan Buddhist culture, investigating levitation, telepathy, and tummo.

Alexandra’s immersion in Tibetan Buddhist culture allowed her to witness and document various psychic and mystical practices firsthand. Her writings provide valuable insights into many unexplained phenomena.

One of the most intriguing example of levitation she witnessed were the extraordinary skills of enhanced athletes called lung-gom-pa runners. On at least three separate occasions, Alexandra observed these individuals who appeared to move at otherworldly speed, barely touching the ground. In one instance, she saw a runner who seemed to be floating just above a challenging mountain pass, moving effortlessly over the rocky terrain. Her companions warned her not to interrupt the runner, as they believed he was in a trance-like state and stopping him could be fatal.

In another fascinating account, Alexandra described seeing a lung-gom-pa practitioner who had chained himself to a rock. This precautionary measure was taken because advanced practitioners were believed to become so light during their meditation that they risked flying off uncontrollably.

Alexandra also extensively researched and practiced tummo, a Tibetan technique for generating body heat through meditation and breathing exercises. She not only studied this practice but also experienced its effects firsthand. In one instance, after accidentally falling into a river during her travels, Alexandra used tummo techniques to dry her soaking wet clothes and prevent hypothermia.

3. Alexandra David-Néel introduced the concept of the tulpa to Western culture.

Perhaps Alexandra’s most famous contribution to the paranormal field is her introduction of the concept of tulpas to Western consciousness. In her 1929 book “Magic and Mystery in Tibet,” she described tulpas as “magic formations generated by a powerful concentration of thought”.

Alexandra claimed to have created her own tulpa through intense visualization and meditation practices she learned in Tibet. She decided to manifest a jolly, monk-like figure resembling Friar Tuck. Through focused meditation, she brought this tulpa into being and reported seeing it among her fellow travelers. Remarkably, she claimed that even a herdsman mentioned encountering the figure, believing it to be another lama.

However, the experiment took an unsettling turn when the tulpa’s appearance began to change, becoming more sinister. Realizing the potential danger of her creation, Alexandra spent six months working to dissolve the thought-form.

Alexandra David-Néel’s contributions to the paranormal field continue to resonate today. Her work not only opened up the mystical world of Tibet to Western audiences but also encouraged a more rational and scientific approach to studying paranormal phenomena. By combining her firsthand experiences with a skeptical mindset, Alexandra David-Néel set a standard for paranormal investigation that remains relevant in modern research.