View source for Alexandra David-Néel

'''UNDER CONSTRUCTION'''<br>
'''UNDER CONSTRUCTION'''<br>
[[File:Alexandra David-Neel.gif|right|160px|thumb|Portrait in her youth]]
'''Alexandra David-Néel''' (1868-1969) was a French explorer and writer, known particularly for her writings about Tibetan Buddhism. In 1892 she became a member of the [[Theosophical Society]].

== Early years ==
Louise Eugénie Alexandrine Marie David was born in Saint-Mandé, a suburb of Paris, on [[October 24]], 1868.

== Theosophical Society connections ==

In her early twenties she was introduced to [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Madame Blavatsky]], whose esoteric ideas had a significant influence on Alexandra.<ref>[http://www.mysteriouspeople.com/Alex_David-Neel.htm# Occult - A Mystic in Tibet - Alexandra David-Neel] at MysteriousPeople.com</ref> She formed a close allegiance with [[Annie Besant]] and joined the European Section of the Theosophical Society in London on [[June 7]], 1892.<ref>[http://www.theosophyforward.com/index.php/theosophical-encyclopedia/439-david-neel-alexandra-1868-1969-.html# David-Neel, Alexandra (1868-1969)] at Theosophy Forward</ref> In 1893 she went to the Theosophical Society's [[Adyar (campus)|Adyar headquarters]] and spent much of the year there studying [[Sanskrit]].<ref>[http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/David-N%C3%A9el,_Alexandra# David-Néel, Alexandra] at Astro Databank</ref>

In a 1941 letter to [[Theosophical Society (Adyar)|Theosophical Society]] President [[George S. Arundale]], David-Neel sent "Greetings from Tibet":
<blockquote>

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT,

When, in 1893, after having joined the T.S. I stayed at Avenue Road, London, I often heard my friends there say that to become a member of the T.S. is to bind oneself with a tie that is never broken. I think there is some truth in this opinion. Since then, events have brought me again and again in close relation with the T.S. I have made long stays in Adyar and in Benares and keep the best remembrance of my pleasant rooms in Blavatsky Gardens (Adyar), and in the European Quarters (Benares), and the happy days I spent there. Then when re-turning to France from Lhasa, I have had two books published by the “Edition Adyar” in Paris, and lectured several times at Square Rapp.

Now I am again in Eastern Tibet (Kham Province, under Chinese control). There, after having fully experienced in China, the horrors of the war, I think of the many members of the T.S. who are suffering on account of the European war, and I would like to send them, at the beginning of this year, my best wishes for their safety and welfare.

I would feel much obliged: if you would kindly convey these good wishes to those members of the T.S. with whom you are in touch and accept the same for yourself.

Yours sincerely,<br> 
ALEXANDRA DAVID-NEEL<br>
12 January 1941<ref>Alexandra David-Neel, "Greetings from Tibet," ''The Theosophist'' 62.4 (April, 1941), 14.</ref>
</blockquote>

[[File:Alexandra David-Neel in Lhasa.gif|right|180px|thumb|Traveling in Lhasa in 1924.]]

== Travels ==
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== Writings ==

Mme. David-Neel wrote at least 30 books, many published in both French and English simultaneously.

* '''''The Lama of the Five-Fold Wisdom'''''.
* '''''Magic and Mystery in Tibet'''''. 1929. Available from [https://theosophy.world/resource/ebooks/magic-and-mystery-tibet-alexandra-david-neel Theosophy World Resource Centre].
* '''''My Journey to Lhasa". London: William Heinemann, 1927. Available at [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.40184/page/n17/mode/2up Internet Archive].
[[File:Alexandra David Neel reading.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Reading a palm-leaf manuscript]]
== Influence ==
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== Additional resources ==
=== Articles ===
* [http://www.mysteriouspeople.com/Alex_David-Neel.htm# Occult - A Mystic in Tibet - Alexandra David-Neel] at MysteriousPeople.com,
* [http://www.theosophyforward.com/index.php/theosophical-encyclopedia/439-david-neel-alexandra-1868-1969-.html# David-Neel, Alexandra (1868-1969)] at Theosophy Forward
* [http://gutenberg.us/articles/alexandra_david-n%C3%A9el "Alexandra David-Neél" biography] at Project Gutenberg, sourced from World Heritage Encyclopedia. 
* [https://www.theosophy.world/encyclopedia/david-neel-alexandra David-Neel, Alexandra] in Theosophy World
* [https://explorersweb.com/great-explorers-alexandra-david-neel-traveler-opera-singer-monk-free-spirit/ Great Explorers: Alexandra David-Neel - Traveler, Opera Singer, Monk, Free Spirit] by Chasing Dreams Travel. May 13, 2022.

=== Books ===
* Earle Rice, Jr., ''Alexandra David-Neel: Explorer at the Roof of the World'', (USA: Chelsea House Publishers, 2004)

=== Horoscope ===
* [http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/David-N%C3%A9el,_Alexandra# Natal Chart of Alexandra David-Néel] at Astro Databank

== Notes ==
<references/>

[[Category:Writers|David-Neel, Alexandra]]
[[Category:Nationality French|David-Neel, Alexandra]]
[[Category:Sanskrit scholars|David-Neel, Alexandra]]
[[Category:Tibetan language scholars|David-Neel, Alexandra]]
[[Category:Musicians|David-Neel, Alexandra]]
[[Category:Explorers|David-Neel, Alexandra]]
[[Category:Associates of HPB|David-Neel, Alexandra]]
[[Category:People|David-Neel, Alexandra]]