Secret Oral Teaching in Tibetan Buddhist Sects: Amazon.ca: Alexandra David-Neel, Michael Lally: Books

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This is an account of the Madhyamika (Middle Way) school of Buddhism, a method of mediation and enlightenment that was developed by the great Indian teacher Nagarjuna. In a collaboration between the Frenchwoman Alexandra David-Neel and her friend, the Tibetan lama Aphur Yongden, these teaching are presented clearly and elegantly, intended for the layman who seeks a way to practice and experience the realization of oneness with all existence.

Alexandra David-Neel was born in 1868 in Paris. In her youth she wrote an incendiary anarchist treatise and was an acclaimed opera singer; then she decided to devote her life to exploration and the study of world religions, including Buddhist philosophy. She traveled extensively to in Central Asia and the Far East, where she learned a number of Asian languages, including Tibetan. In 1914, she met Lama Yongden, who became her adopted son, teacher, and companion. In 1923, at the age of fifty-five, she disguised herself as a pilgrim and journeyed to Tibet, where she was the first European woman to enter Lhasa, which was closed to foreigners at the time. In her late seventies, she settled in the south of France, where she lived until her death at 101 in 1969.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, Oct 6 2000

By

Jessie (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secret Oral Teaching in Tibetan Buddhist Sects (Paperback)

In order to understand this book you must have some knowledge on Buddhism or else you will be completely lost. The book has many eye opening thoughts that will make you say, "Wow, that is so true about society." I think it was a great book and recommend it to anyone who wants to understand a little more to what they already know. This is a great mind-opening book that will make you think twice about all those beliefs you've been taught, for example religious.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Alan Watts also recommended this book., Sep 6 2008

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Christopher Hoare (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Secret Oral Teaching in Tibetan Buddhist Sects (Paperback)

Secret Oral Teaching in Tibetan Buddhist Sects

While I had first read this account of the Tibetan version of Buddhism in a very worn and dog-eared copy of the first edition; located only after an extensive search of the inter-library system; I was delighted to find copies of the current reprint were easily available. This, as Alan Watts states in the foreword, is a classic description of Mahayana Buddhism from the Tibetan perspective.

This is a valuable addition to David-Neel's other books on Tibet; her account of her journey to reach Lhasa and her description of "Magic and Mysteries in Tibet". When I read my first book of hers I assumed that she must have been one of the indefatigable Victorian ladies who spanned the globe in the 19th century. Imagine my surprise to find the good lady was French and broke through the veil of secrecy to reach Tibet only in the 1920s.

Tibetan and other Buddhist authors are usually too reticent to describe the esotericism of the blend between the Mahayana and the old Bon religion of Tibet, but David-Neel bares everything; all the strangeness and outright superstition of a world-view entirely alien to the West. You should not only read this book, but you should seek out her others if you want to explore the entire richness of the Tibetan culture. Lama Anagarika Govinda, a German born traveller, in "The Way of the White Clouds" also introduces the reader to events that can only be described as supernatural. Reading these two authors makes the reader sit and wonder, "Is the Western way of looking at reality the only valid viewpoint?"

Alexandra David-Neel died only in 1969 at the age of 101; seeming thereby to bridge our modern world and the mysteries of the ancients. While writing from the more solid heritage of Buddhist thought and teaching than other writers looking for alternate realities - Carlos Castaneda comes to mind - the author of this book predated most of them. May you read this in the spirit of service to all beings and follow David-Neel's example of opening the world's eyes to philosophies less than respected by modern critics.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, Jun 5 2000

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David Thaler (New York City) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Secret Oral Teaching in Tibetan Buddhist Sects (Paperback)

A great quote from the book "Doubt is an incitement to research, and research is the path to true knowledge."

Paraphrase between A David-Neel and her teacher as reported in the book (Note similarities to dialog of Don Juan and Carlos): "Why are these teachings secret? Does that mean I can't write and tell about them?" "No, Alexandra, these teachings are not called 'secret' because it is forbidden to talk about them. They are 'secret' because so few who hear them understand."

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars An old primer.
This was probably a nice little introductory book for those unacquainted with Buddhism, Tibetan or otherwise, thirty years ago, but there are much better primers available now... Read more

Published on April 11 1999 by whiltz@mindspring.com

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible
I am noticing the similarity of present day quantum physics and some old world theories. I loved what Alan Watts had to say. Read more

Published on Oct 17 1998