'Oh! How adorable! I didn't know you had a cat!' she exclaimed. I am always surprised how many people make this observation. Why should His Holiness not have a cat?' If only she could speak, ' continued the actress. 'I'm sure she'd have such wisdom to share. 'And so the seed was planted . . .I began to think that perhaps the time had come for me to write a book of my own--a book that would convey some of the wisdom I've learned sitting not at the feet of the Dalai Lama but even closer, on his lap. A book that would tell my own tale . . . how I was rescued from a fate too grisly to contemplate to become the constant companion of a man who is not only one of the world's greatest spiritual leaders and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate but also a dab hand with a can opener.

Starving and pitiful, a mud-smeared kitten is rescued from the slums of New Delhi and transported to a life she could have never imagined. In a beautiful sanctuary overlooking the snow-capped Himalayas, she begins her new life as the Dalai Lama's cat. Warmhearted, irreverent, and wise, this cat of many names opens a window to the inner sanctum of life in Dharamsala.

A tiny spy observing the constant flow of private meetings between His Holiness and everyone from Hollywood celebrities to philanthropists to self-help authors, the Dalai Lama's cat provides us with insights on how to find happiness and meaning in a busy, materialistic world. Her story will put a smile on the face of anyone who has been blessed by the kneading paws and bountiful purring of a cat.

The Dalai Lama regarded their flushed, animated faces, his forehead wrinkling. The materialist approach, he nodded. Seeking to change what you believe to be entirely outside you. It has many problems. For example, why must you constantly postpone your happiness? India's Top Ten Social Influencers Under 30 were taken aback by this question. Staring at him, their eyes filled with consternation. Postponing happiness was something they most definitely wanted no part of.

For example, if our happiness depends on having the new diamante sunglasses, he chuckled. Or the perfect boyfriend, he beamed from the girl dressed in crimson to the one in emerald green. Or having ten million followers, he nodded at the woman in the yellow sari. What do we do until then? If we are constantly yearning for material things that we don't have yet, then our happiness is always around the corner. Or at the top of the next mountain. Why do you not wish to be happy here and now? Without needing anything else. Happy as I am?

In a chance encounter with India's Top Ten Social Influencers, the Dalai Lama is asked to how to use the 'law of attraction' to manifest abundance. He points out that material wellbeing was never the goal of such practices as he begins to explain their true purpose.

It is a purpose that His Holiness's Cat goes on to explore with her usual warm-hearted and wonky-legged aplomb. Is the world much more a projection of our mind than we suspect? Can a few, precious insights transform our reality? In a drama of intimate revelations as well as panoramic visions, of encounters with much-loved friends along with intriguing newcomers, the Dalai Lama's Cat comes to discover that The Claw of Attraction holds the key to a more sublime transcendence than she ever believed possible. Stretch out your own talons, dear reader, and you may too!

The Dalai Lama's Cat is back: irreverent, vain--and as delightfully insightful as ever

If you're wondering how being in the presence of an enlightened person may be communicated on the pages of book written by a flawed and complex--if extremely beautiful--cat, let me confess that my only job here is to offer you a mirror. A looking glass of a particular kind. One that reflects back not the contours of your nose or the arch of your brow, but which provides a much deeper reflection of who and what you are.

Look closely, dear reader, there's no need to be afraid. For what you will discover, if you ever doubted it, is that your own true nature is quite different from whatever flecks and imperfections may temporarily obscure it. At heart you are a being whose pristine nature is nothing other than pure, great love and pure, great compassion.

Mine too

When the Dalai Lama's inner circle is set the task of providing His Holiness with a book he can give his visitors, an unexpected volunteer stretches out her paws. The book is to summarize the four key elements of Tibetan Buddhism--and, importantly, to communicate how it feels to be in the profoundly reassuring presence of His Holiness. Who better to do this than his much-loved feline?

Through encounters with celebrity visitors and her own intriguing adventures, the Dalai Lama's Cat explains all four key themes, not so much as ideas but as practices to be embodied. Along the way she even gets a new title: Therapy Cat.

If you have ever sought a summary of Tibetan Buddhist wisdom, albeit from an unusual and whiskery source, this may just be the book to get you purring

What makes you purr?Of all the questions in the world, this is the most important. It is also the great leveler. Because no matter whether you are a playful kitten or a sedentary senior, a scrawny alley Tom or a sleek-coated uptown girl, whatever your circumstances, you just want to be happy. Not the kind of happy that comes and goes like a can of flaked tuna but an enduring happiness. The deep-down happiness that makes you purr from the heart. Before leaving for a teaching tour to America, the Dalai Lama poses a challenge to his beloved feline, HHC (His Holiness's Cat): to discover the true cause of happiness. Little does she know what adventures this task will bring A hair-raising chase through the streets of McLeod Ganj leads to an unexpected revelation about the perils of self-obsession. An encounter with the mystical Yogi Tarchen inspires a breakthrough discovery about her past--one with dramatic implications for us all. And overheard conversations between ivy-league psychologists, high-ranking lamas, and famous writers who congregate at the Himalaya Book Caf help her explore the convergence between science and Buddhism on the vital subject of happiness. Sparkling with wisdom, warmth, and a touch of mischief, The Dalai Lama's Cat and the Art of Purring is a charming reminder of why HHC is becoming one of the most-loved cats around the world.So what is the true cause of purring? The Dalai Lama whispers this secret on his return--only for the ears of HHC and those with whom she has a karmic connection . . . that, dear reader, means you

As kittens we feel it often. All it takes is a wind-blown feather, an unexpected delicacy, or the alluring rush of water and instantly we are caught up in it: Wonderment. Enchantment. Being fully absorbed in the here and now.

By the time we reach senior status, way beyond the point of being impressed by such trivia, we have become knowing and indifferent.

But we have lost something, have we not?

Which begs answers to some intriguing questions. Is it possible to recover the unaffected zest for life which once came to us so naturally? To become un-blasé? Can you and I, dear reader, awaken the kitten within?

The Dalai Lama's Cat is confronted by a most unpleasant truth: she is getting old.

A routine visit to the vet confirms this. But is a future of decrepitude and senior cat biscuits inevitably a cause for despair? As it happens, she soon finds that a startling reminder of life's transience is exactly what's needed to renew our gratitude for life. To lighten up, accept ourselves, and value what truly matters.

With irrepressible mischief, the Dalai Lama's Cat explores the intriguing insight that reality is a projection of our mind. In so doing, she comes to discover that awakening the kitten within is not just possible - it is our purpose! For when we do so with a particular wisdom, we catch a glimpse of our own sublime nature. With a benevolent energy that reaches from the pages, this is the Dalai Lama's Cat at her most tender, irreverent, joyful best.

If you ever doubted that your feline companion has her own inner life, just watch what happens when she falls asleep, and loses conscious control of her physical being . . . a twitching of limbs, a quivering of the jaw, sometimes, perhaps, a snuffling noise or a meow.. . . Cats may indeed be capable of great mindfulness, but we are thinking beings too. In my own case, unfortunately, a being who thinks rather too much.

In the latest installment of the Dalai Lama's Cat series, His Holiness's Cat (HHC) is on a mission: to think less, to experience more, to live in the moment. She soon learns the proper phrase for this, being mindful, or, a concept better known to her as the power of meow. What ensues is a journey to discover her own true nature, to gain a deeper understanding of her mind, and to experience life's greatest joy, the here and now.

Throughout, there are encounters with familiar inhabitants of Dharamsala, as well as a whole new cast of characters: a senior exec from one of Silicon Valley's most famous social media companies (hint: the name rhymes with litter), the Pope's beloved dog (who shares a shockingly similar title: HHD, His Holiness's Dog), and a public health inspector who threatens to have our poor narrator banned from the Himalaya Book Café.

In this follow-up to the Dalai Lama's Cat and the Art of Purring, readers escape to the enchanting and exotic world of the Dalai Lama's monastery in the Himalayas, and take a peek inside the mind of a delightfully imperfect creature on the path to enlightenment. By accompanying HHC on her journey, you will learn new ways to relate to your own mind: slowing down, finding peace, and abiding in the boundless radiance and benevolence that is your own true nature.

The bonds we share with our pets go beyond words and are often deeper than many of our human relationships. What is the nature of these close connections? And what if our influence on pets, both in life and especially through sickness and death, is far more powerful than we ever conceived?David Michie draws on ancient Buddhist wisdom, supported by contemporary science, to provide fascinating insights into animal consciousness. He proposes that the pets with whom we share our lives are not there by accident. Whether your animal companion has fur, feathers or fins, he offers a treasury of practical tools to enhance your relationship with them in everyday life, as well as during times of challenge.Written with humour and compassion, and including extraordinary true stories from around the world, Buddhism for Pet Lovers reveals how our animal companions may indeed be among our most precious partners. For in helping them, our own lives are incomparably enriched too.'If you have ever deeply loved an animal, this is, without doubt, the book for you.' Gail Pope, BrightHaven'Our pets offer us one of our greatest opportunities to add compassion to the world. This book helps direct us to a path toward the blossoming of that opportunity.' Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words, and What Animals Think and Feel

In this simple and accessible but beautifully written book, David Michie opens the door to the core teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, and shows us how he himself first began incorporating Buddhist practices into his daily life.

What does it take to be happy? We've all asked ourselves this question at some point, but few of us have found the path to lasting fulfillment. David Michie thought he had achieved his life's goals--the high-level job, the expensive city apartment, the luxury car, the great vacations--but a small voice was telling him he wasn't really happy. A chance remark from a naturopath sent him to his local Buddhist center. There he began the most important journey of his life. In Buddhism for Busy People Michie explains how he came to understand the difference between the temporary pleasures of ordinary life and the profound sense of well-being and heartfelt serenity that comes from connecting with our inner nature.

Why doesn't everyone believe in karma? Lama Tashi repeated the question with a mischievous twinkle. The answer is very simple.

He gazed at where his students relaxed on their meditation cushions in the candle-lit room. It's because karma isn't instant. If cause was followed immediately by effect, there would be no question, no doubt.

A wave of recognition passed, palpably through the room. And along with it, a surge of possibilities.

Imagine if karma went instant? said Anton. How crazy would that be?

What if we all woke one day to discover that every act of generosity was followed, soon after, by an unexpected windfall? If theft or betrayal led to rapid calamity? Within minutes, the effects of instant karma would be felt by each one of us. Within hours it wouldn't just be ordinary folks trying to figure out the new order-it would be everyone from the President down.

Instant Karma is the story of that day. An extraordinary vision, by turns hilarious and poignant, early adopters are quick to capitalize on the new dynamics while karma change deniers vehemently dig in their heels. A food poisoning contagion arising from factory farming sees the world go vegetarian by lunchtime. A little-known Buddhist monk, Lama Tashi, suddenly becomes TV's go-to man, sought out for the wisdom he imparts with such oceanic benevolence.

Amid the roller coaster of events, Instant Karma takes us to unexplored places. How much would human behavior change if we had to live with the immediate consequences of our actions? Is reality much more a product of our minds than of circumstances? And does focusing on the wellbeing of others truly hold the key to our greatest flourishing?

Zesty, subversive, warm-hearted, Instant Karma is David Michie at his thought-provoking best.

Story-telling is a gift, and David Michie imaginatively creates interconnected pictures of lives and situations that we all recognize to bring about an understanding of karma, and through these stories we learn how a recognition of this can help us live better lives. Human drama and romantic comedy are combined with Buddhist wisdom, science, and philosophy into an inspirational and joyful read that is a life lesson.

Instant Karma is optimistic, funny, provocative and transforming. It deserves to find a wide audience-may all sentient beings find Happiness. There is no more important message.

-Duncan Baird, Publisher

When novice monk Tenzin Dorje is told by his lama that the Red Army is invading Tibet, his country's darkest moment paradoxically gives him a sense of purpose like no other. He accepts a mission to carry two ancient, secret texts across the Himalayas to safety. Half a century later, in a paradox of similarly troubling circumstances, Matt Lester is called upon to convey his own particular wisdom as a scientist, when Matt's nanotech project is mysteriously moved from London to a research incubator in Los Angeles. Tenzin and Matt embark on parallel adventures which have spine-chilling connections. Tenzin's perilous journey through the Himalayas, amid increasing physical hardship and the ever-present horror of Red Army capture, is mirrored by Matt's contemporary, but no less traumatic challenges, as his passionate relationship with his fianc e, Isabella, and his high flying career undergo escalating crises. It is at the moment when both Tenzin and Matt face catastrophe that their stories converge, spectacularly transforming our understanding of all that has gone before.

David Michie is the internationally best-selling author of a number of books about mindfulness, meditation and Buddhism. These include the non-fiction titles 'Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate', 'Hurry Up and Meditate' and 'Buddhism for Busy People', as well as his popular novel series 'The Dalai Lama's Cat'. His books are available in 25 languages in over 30 different countries.

David is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer and coach on mindfulness and meditation. He has extensive experience presenting to a wide variety of different audiences in several different countries.

In 2015 he established Mindful Safaris, leading groups to Africa - where he was born and brought up - encouraging people to visit unexplored places, outer and inner, through a combination of daily game viewing trips and mindfulness sessions.

David's blog on mindfulness and related subjects at www.davidmichie.com attracts a global audience of thousands of visitors each week. His recorded guided meditations are used in-flight by Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand. Free guided sessions are also available on his website: www.davidmichie.com

In a remote, Himalayan monastery, Matt Lester has devoted five years of spiritual preparation for this moment: it is his destiny to open an ancient, sealed scroll containing prophetic wisdom the world urgently needs. But when his time comes, violent assailants steal the scroll. Matt is caught up in a dangerous, high-stakes hunt to recover it, turning him from the pursuer to the pursued.

On the other side of the world, the results of scientist Alice Weisenstein's mind-body healing research are about to be revealed. Things take a sinister turn when her supervisor goes missing - and she realizes she is being followed. Guided by the lamas, Matt's search for the scroll takes him to Alice. The pair become caught between powerful influences and escalating threats. Together they must decide who they can really trust.

The Secret Mantra weaves breakthrough science and spiritual insights into a heart-stopping storyline. It won't just have you turning the pages. It will shake up your whole idea of who you are, and the transformation of which you are capable.

'Wouldn't it be wonderful if newspapers did more to share stories and insights that were really meaningful? Things that might help people lead more purposeful lives.'The Queen glanced over at him, uncertainly. 'Tricky business, persuading the media to lift their sights from terror and trivia. Every one of us has tried.'Pushing myself up so that I was balancing on my rear end, I fixed Kate with a pleading expression. She was a soft touch when it came to scones.There was a pause while the family glanced in my direction. Before Kate said, 'Well, not every family member.'

Rescued from unscrupulous breeders who plan to destroy him because of his floppy ear, when the Queen's littlest corgi arrives at Windsor Castle, he finds himself in a world of red carpets, gilded chambers - and not a pile of dirty laundry to be seen.

Charming his way into the affections of the royal household, Nelson offers a dog's-eye view of life with the Queen. He eavesdrops on her encounters with celebrities, philanthropists and advisers, catching rare insights into the secrets of a purposeful life. Through one of Her Majesty's most mysterious advisers, he discovers how the ancient ways and powerful symbols continue to exert a transformative presence. He also becomes familiar with the Queen's most surprising quality: her gentle but firm expectation that everyone she encounters is striving to be the best that they can be.

The Queen's Corgi bursts with zest, humour and adventure. Romping through the litany of Nelson's misdemeanours are a warm-heartedness and deep wisdom sure to delight anyone who has known the smiling face and warm tongue of a dog. It is not by chance that you hold this book in your hands.

Whatever dreams he was having, Jason knew they had nothing to do with his physical body. His eyes were firmly shut and his consciousness withdrawn from his senses when all this was going on. Yet in his dreams he experienced sights, sounds and even visceral sensations much more intensely than when he was awake.

From this he understood that you didn't need a physical body to see, or smell, or endure any kind of experience with an acuteness that was more real than reality. From an early age he deduced that heaven or hell need not be material places so much as states of mind--and no less glorious or horrifying because of that. There were no limits to a mind untethered from form.

What if you could re-live the enchantment of childhood bedtime--but with magic that is real? What if you felt the wonder you once sensed when you believed that anything is possible? Or were inspired to see the world through fresh eyes?

In this compendium of delightful short stories, David Michie draws us into the extraordinary experiences of everyday people as they encounter those tell-tale cracks exposing reality as not quite what it seems. Four female book club members are unexpectedly propelled, by the same black and white photograph, to discover a shared purpose beyond their wildest imaginings. An earnest young seeker finds that drawing aside the veil to an immeasurably more wonderful reality, doesn't depend so much on the arcane books he reads as on a source much closer to home. A cat-doting woman, who wishes her beloved felines would talk to her, is shaken when she realises what they have been trying to communicate all along.

Distractions are everywhere these days. Our thoughts drift to what we need to do tomorrow, or what went wrong yesterday. Even pleasurable things--like eating chocolate--don't receive our full attention. We miss out on joy that is easily within reach!

In Mindfulness Is Better Than Chocolate, David Michie gives us the tools to rewire our brains for happiness. Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment, deliberately and nonjudgmentally--and science has shown that those who practice it experience a wealth of benefits:

• Reduced stress
• Stronger immune systems
• More ease in breaking bad habits
• Improved self-esteem
• Enhanced mental clarity
• Sharper memory
• Overall well-being
• . . . and better-tasting chocolate!

As Michie explains, the way we see the world is our own creation. Drawing on both Buddhist teachings and contemporary science, he teaches us how to experience a mind free of stress and dullness. By harnessing the power of mindfulness and meditation, we can find everything we need to be fulfilled, productive, and content!

Essential reading for those seeking life-changing psychological tools and transcendent wisdom, Enlightenment to Go provides a lively and accessible introduction to the 'best of' Shantideva. With warmth, humor, and stories of his own experiences, author David Michie shows how modern psychological science confirms Shantideva's insights, and he explores powerful antidotes to contemporary problems, including stress, anxiety, and depression. Whether you are a newcomer to Buddhism or a seasoned practitioner, Enlightenment to Go offers a glimpse of a radiantly different reality right here in your busy life.

If meditation were available in capsule form, it would be the biggest selling drug of all time. It has been scientifically proven to deliver highly effective stress relief, boost our immune systems, and dramatically slow the aging process. It has also been shown to make us much happier and more effective thinkers. Given all the physical and psychological benefits, why aren't more of us doing it? In this thought-provoking and entertaining book, David Michie explains the nuts and bolts of meditation. As a busy professional and a long-term meditator, he also gives a first-hand account of how to integrate this transformational practice into everyday life. Combining leading-edge science with timeless wisdom, Hurry Up and Meditate provides all the motivation and tools you need to achieve greater balance, better health, and develop a more panoramic perspective on life. The idea of infusing our daily schedule with newfound tranquility may sound appealing, but not everyone is temperamentally suited to sitting around in the lotus position chanting Om. Not to mention the fact that some of us just have very active minds. We'd like to meditate, but we're just not capable of switching off. The the amazing thing is that it's exactly the people who use the too busy, 'too hard, and too hyper justifications who stand to gain the most from meditation.

Why doesn't everyone believe in karma? Lama Tashi repeated the question with a mischievous twinkle. The answer is very simple.

He gazed at where his students relaxed on their meditation cushions in the candle-lit room. It's because karma isn't instant. If cause was followed immediately by effect, there would be no question, no doubt.

A wave of recognition passed, palpably through the room. And along with it, a surge of possibilities.

Imagine if karma went instant? said Anton. How crazy would that be?

What if we all woke one day to discover that every act of generosity was followed, soon after, by an unexpected windfall? If theft or betrayal led to rapid calamity? Within minutes, the effects of instant karma would be felt by each one of us. Within hours it wouldn't just be ordinary folks trying to figure out the new order-it would be everyone from the President down.

Instant Karma is the story of that day. An extraordinary vision, by turns hilarious and poignant, early adopters are quick to capitalize on the new dynamics while karma change deniers vehemently dig in their heels. A food poisoning contagion arising from factory farming sees the world go vegetarian by lunchtime. A little-known Buddhist monk, Lama Tashi, suddenly becomes TV's go-to man, sought out for the wisdom he imparts with such oceanic benevolence.

Amid the roller coaster of events, Instant Karma takes us to unexplored places. How much would human behavior change if we had to live with the immediate consequences of our actions? Is reality much more a product of our minds than of circumstances? And does focusing on the wellbeing of others truly hold the key to our greatest flourishing?

Zesty, subversive, warm-hearted, Instant Karma is David Michie at his thought-provoking best.

Story-telling is a gift, and David Michie imaginatively creates interconnected pictures of lives and situations that we all recognize to bring about an understanding of karma, and through these stories we learn how a recognition of this can help us live better lives. Human drama and romantic comedy are combined with Buddhist wisdom, science, and philosophy into an inspirational and joyful read that is a life lesson.

Instant Karma is optimistic, funny, provocative and transforming. It deserves to find a wide audience-may all sentient beings find Happiness. There is no more important message.

-Duncan Baird, Publisher

Chris Treiger would never forget the eight words that changed his life.

As soon as he heard the ebullient voice at the other end of the phone, he'd wondered how to cut short the call. Bill Brewster, a high-pressure PR head-hunter, had been hounding him for weeks about a phenomenal career opportunity, paying vast sums of money, for which he was ideally suited. Chris had heard it all before. Telling Brewster he didn't have time to run all over town, Brewster told him he wouldn't have to. Before coming out with eight words to which Chris had returned many times in his head, marveling at the perverse logic of them. Eight words in the form of a question to which there was only one possible answer: Isn't your career worth a hundred-yard walk?

Chris Treiger is offered the job of a lifetime. The chance to work with charismatic sportswear billionaire Nathan Strauss comes with big money and a smart car attached. But on the day Chris celebrates his new role, Strauss sends shock waves through the business world by falling off the balcony of his ninth-floor hotel suite.

It's too late for Chris to back out of the job with Lombard, the UK's most powerful PR firm. Reporting to Jacob, Nathan's brother, is definitely not what he signed up to. And when his ex-girlfriend, journalist Judith Laing, reveals damaging evidence about his new bosses, he is torn between disbelief and outrage that he is part of a multi-national cover-up. Powering to an adrenaline-pumping climax, David Michie's debut novel from the year 2000, has more dazzling twists and turns than a spin-doctor avoiding the truth.