When we read a book, or listen to a teaching about personal transformation, we are doing something out of the ordinary. We are not simply wishing to acquire information or be entertained – although both of those things may happen. Instead, we are seeking insights to help us experience life differently. To bring an end...
Last month our Mindful Safari group visited one of the most extraordinary wildlife sanctuaries in Southern Africa, the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery (ZEN). Established by Roxy Danckwerts in 2012, ZEN is situated within Wild is Life Trust (1998), taking care of orphaned elephants as well as many other animals who cannot be returned to the wild....
One of the special aspects of our Mindful Safari visits to Africa is meeting kindred spirits from around the world. There are usually participants from USA, Australia, UK, and other countries, and while we have very different backgrounds and lives, we come together in our deep appreciation of nature, our practice of mindfulness and meditation...
I am thrilled to be revealing the chosen cover of the fourth Dalai Lama’s Cat book! My sincere thanks to each and every one of you who voted, commented and offered insights on the different options I shared a month ago. Although most people liked this cover, a number of you will have voted for...
In Buddhism, sutras are records of the actual teachings of the Buddha. Like other spiritual teachers, he sometimes offered metaphors to make a point with sufficient power to shift our perspective. And when it came to explaining the rarity of our lives – yours, and mine – he used a metaphor so mind-boggling that it...
We have reached that fun part of the publishing process where we get to choose a cover of the new book! Once again, I’d like to ask for your help please! Our wonderful book designer, Sue Campbell, has come up with five fantastic options for development. But which one is the winner? Rather than try to decide...
I am thrilled to announce that The Dalai Lama’s Cat & The Four Paws of Spiritual Success is to be published on the 19th November 2019! For years, Dalai Lama’s Cat fans have been asking if there’s to be a fourth book – and HHC (His Holiness’s Cat) has been working her paws to the bone...
If you had to choose the single quality most closely associated with Tibetan Buddhism, it would probably be compassion. In the words of my precious teacher, Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden: ‘If you were to ask: “What is the essence of the Buddha’s teachings?” the answer must be great compassion, because that is the foundation of...
I was brought up in a church-going Presbyterian family, and during my formative years I developed a view of Jesus which remained pretty much constant. Until recently. It’s only late in life that I’ve come to discover how a number of important messages, which I took to be core to Christianity, may actually be much...
If you decide that Tibetan Buddhism is the path for you, and you wish to formalise your commitment, you may choose to take part in a ceremony called ‘Taking Refuge.’ (I have previously written about this concept in my blog: https://davidmichie.com/what-is-a-buddhist-a-definition/) The refuge ceremony is often short, and as well as taking refuge in the...
