Pilgrimage to Java: An Esoteric History [Paperback]

Olivia de Haulleville (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2000

In 1982, Olivia entered Indonesia as member of the entourage of H.H. The Dalai Lama during His consecration of Borobudur. She continued her pilgrimage there by the name of "Tara" and was requested to write the History of Buddhism in Indonesia by the ethnic Javanese Buddhist teacher, pak Sumarsoeno. Hesitatingly, she agreed only to discover that he was to pass away several days later. Feeling compelled to keep her promise to him, she undertook the task and soon found out that the materials needed, necessary visas to remain in the country, and persons able to convey historical information were uncannily providedso that she was able to gather the following information for future readers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Olivia Melusine de Haulleville, daughter of Belgian PoetBaron Eric de Haulleville, emigrated to America as a Wold War II refugee to be near her uncle and aunt, Aldous and Maria Huxley, who were residing in the Mojave desert. After graduating from the Happy Valley School in Ojaia private school centered around Krishnamurtishe settled on the island of Hydra with Yorgo Cassapidis, father of her two children Melina and Michael.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (November 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595148611
• ISBN-13: 978-0595148615
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,888,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Javanism revisited, February 5, 2001

By 

Peter Trompetter (Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pilgrimage to Java: An Esoteric History (Paperback)

I discovered Olivia-under her Buddhist name Tara-in the center of the old Indonesian religion in Solo. From the beginning, our encounter was that of soulmates. When I had to receive special initiations, she always knew the exact location of the sacred places, due to her long and intensive research of Javanese mysticism. She did not conduct the research in a western, scienctific manner but in an intuitive, personable female way of complete involvement. I remember visiting Boroboudour with her. As soon as we arrived, it started to rain so all the tourists disappeared and we stood all alone there at the top. Suddenly I heard a very low sound, becoming higher and higher until it transformed into pure light! I then experienced the manifestation of all the gods as transformed into One. Since that time, I stay in close contact with Indonesian mysticism.

Peter Trompetter - Initiate and founder of Foundation Ophraeis, an arcane school in Amsterdam

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars AT LAST A BOOK ON JAVANESE BUDDHISM!!!, May 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Pilgrimage to Java: An Esoteric History (Paperback)

How wonderful that someone has taken the trouble to document the secret history of the remaining ethnic Javanese Buddhist tantrayana lineage holders who give credence to the fact that Islam is merely a recent cultural veneer and that the heart-essence of ancient Hindu-Buddhism continues to beat strongly in the secret heart of Central Indonesia. Western historians have documented Indonesia as taken over by Islam, are herewith proven wrong by the ethnic Javanists who continue to commune with their ancient rulers in the paranormal way which is natural to them. Buddhism, which has been predicted to reappear in this region, shows itself in an unfamiliar manner and the important opening of Borobodur in 1982 by H.H. The Dalai Lama may have been the signal of its rebirth. Borobodur is one of the most important archaeological sites, one of the most mysteriously beautiful sites, one of the most symbolic sites of Buddhist spirituality in the world. This is a fundamental manual that any student of South-East Asian studies or Javanese & Balinese who value their own religion should not be without.The book is rich in quotations from the original sources. Interestingly enough, as an aside, Ms de Haulleville is the daughter of the Belgian poet, Baron de Haulleville, the neice of Aldous Huxley, and her only son has entered a life-vocation as a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan tradition, having attained perfect fluency in the Tibetan language, living most of his life in Asian monasteries within the direct lineage of the Dalai Lama.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating source book of esoteric Javanese Buddhism., May 23, 2001

By 

Rachel M. Rosenberg (Manhattan, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pilgrimage to Java: An Esoteric History (Paperback)

I found this book to be a fascinating source book in esoteric Javanese Buddhism. It quotes extensively from European esoteric scholars, theosophical thinkers, Buddhist scholars, as well as from Javanese sources. It attempts to undercover the underlying Buddhist culture of the country now called Indonesia, showing that the Islam overlay is a recent phenomena which has not eradicated the taproot of classical tantric Buddhism imported from India. It is also a personal spiritual voyage by the author, with great sincerity and humility. The central focus of the book is the great monument of Borobudur, which was visited and blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the 1980's. I think readers interested in South East Asian culture, in Java and Bali, and in Buddhism will find the book very interesting.