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L'Inde où j'ai vécu
Die abenteuerlichen Reisen einer ungewöhnlichen und mutigen Frau.
408 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
7 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra David-Néel
129 books251 followersAlexandra 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 11, 2017
I had a wonderful memory of "voyage d'une parisienne à Lhassa".
I found this one less easy to read. She gives lots of information that, even if some of it now 70 years old, is still invaluable, but it does not flow easily. Some analysis 5Nehru, Gandi,...) are very interesting. Some parts are full of humor.
But still a nice read.
I found this one less easy to read. She gives lots of information that, even if some of it now 70 years old, is still invaluable, but it does not flow easily. Some analysis 5Nehru, Gandi,...) are very interesting. Some parts are full of humor.
But still a nice read.
May 6, 2022
Moi qui m'attendait à un récit d'aventures trépidant, à connaître les péripéties d'une exploratrice si moderne pour son temps, qui a rencontré tant de figures, qui a parcouru l'Asie comme personne auparavant (et encore moins une femme !), qui a assisté à des choses incroyables... J'ai été déçue. Ça partait pourtant plutôt bien ! Les premières pages m'ont plongée dedans, c'était prometteur... Et puis c'est devenu lourd. Intéressant, passionnant, mais lourd. Je ne pensais pas avoir entre les mains un essai sur l'hindouisme. Je l'ai terminé pourtant, car le sujet m'intéresse, mais j'y ai passé de douloureuses heures à lire et relire certains passages plusieurs fois, à compléter les informations avec Google car je suis néophyte. Heureusement, l'écriture fluide d'Alexandra David Neel sauve la lecture, en contraste avec la difficulté des thèmes abordés. Je ne renie pas le travail qu'elle a effectué, loin de là, je l'admire et j'ai même envie de découvrir plus d'elle et de ses périples. Cependant celui-là ne rentre pas dans mon coeur de lectrice et de femme.
November 22, 2020
O frumoasă introducere in hinduism, cu accentul pe ritualurile mistice pe care autoarea le observă și le notează minuțios. Nu lipsesc povestirile amuzante dublate de aerul sceptic menținut pe tot parcursul scrierii. Este o introducere frumoasă deoarece sunt explicate într-un mod accesibil concepte de bază cum ar fi idolatria, trinitatea, zeii principali împreună cu cultele din jurul lor, sistemul de caste, ordinul asceților, și multe, multe ritualuri. Am descoperit asemănări cu sufismul!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews