Buddhism may be an ancient tradition, but it’s a difficult one to categorise from a Western perspective. Is it a belief based religion? Or a practice-based psychology? Many of the trappings and rituals may make it look similar to some of the more orthodox Christian denominations. But there is no Creator or omnipotent deity in Buddhism, much less a requirement...
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A few words on Medicine Buddha
Medicine Buddha is an extraordinary and precious healing meditation practice found in Tibetan Buddhism. The purpose of this blog is simply to share a few resources and links I hope you may find helpful if you are investigating this practice. As with all tantra practices, it is recommended that you receive proper initiations and teachings on Medicine Buddha, in person,...
If Buddhists are non-theistic, why do they have deities?
Buddhism is a non-theistic tradition. Whether or not it can be termed a religion is debatable—the etymology of the word ‘religion’ refers to God. Many of us think of Buddhism as a practice-based psychology rather than a belief-based religion. Nevertheless, Buddhism has some of the outward trappings of a religion, such as temples, iconography, prayers and incense. Tibetan Buddhism also...
Why does our time on Mindful Safari touch us so deeply?
For the past few years it has been my very great privilege and joy to lead groups of people on Mindful Safaris to Africa. On these trips we combine daily meditation sessions in nature, along with game viewing. None of us has any idea what will happen from one day to the next, but the overall response of the group...
Is this the Queen’s favourite disguise? A Royal Insider reveals all!
I had such a lot of fun writing The Queen’s Corgi: On Purpose. Like The Dalai Lama’s Cat series, what I’ve tried to do in the book is to offer wisdom – in this case about how to lead a purposeful life – packaged in an entertaining and heart-filled format. Chapter Three introduces the theme of impulse control, and I’d...
The Gifts offered by Pets on our Inner Journey
For a long time it has been my conviction that we are by far the greater beneficiaries in the lives we share with our pets. I’d like to offer this brief excerpt, from the very end of my book Buddhism for Pet Lovers, which I hope may explain just how much they can help us – and we them. Gifts and beneficiaries As pet...
Could the concept of ‘resonance’ help explain the power of meditation?
Resonance is a fascinating concept, especially for those who practise meditation–mantra recitation in particular. The term offers a possible explanation for how memory and habit become engrained in nature. It has been shown that actions undertaken in the past become easier and more effective for different living beings to carry out in the future. For example, if rats are taught...
How the world looks, sounds and smells different to our pets
We share the same world as our pets, yet we do not perceive the same reality. Both cats and dogs have only 20 per cent of the cone photo-receptor cells of humans, meaning they can only see the colours blue and yellow. All other colours are shades of grey. Dogs and cats also can’t focus on far distant objects. If...
How we can best help our pet in the seven weeks after death
The weeks leading up to and after the death of a beloved animal companion can be very difficult. In my new book, Buddhism for Pet Lovers, I provide a full account of how we can best help our pet through the most important transition of their life. Here, I’d like to share a passage about how we can best be...
Try this experiment: be mindfully present for your pet
I am happy to share the following excerpt from my new book, Buddhism for Pet Lovers. Sometimes, even the most warm-hearted pet lovers need to be gently reminded that communicating with other sentient beings is a two way street. We may be very good at talking to our pets, but how much do we listen? I hope you find the following...
How our pets have a capacity for spiritual growth
I am pleased to share some of the key themes explored in my book, Buddhism for Pet Lovers. These short excerpts provide a flavour of the book as a whole – I hope you find them helpful! It is my heartfelt wish that this book may be a cause for many people to enjoy deeper and richer relationships with their animal...
Buddhism for Pet Lovers. Read the introduction here!
I am delighted to share the Introduction of my book, Buddhism for Pet Lovers: Supporting Our Closest Companions through Life and Death. This chapter sets the scene for a book that is very close to my heart. In this blog I have also included in a few very personal photos from the family archives – my apologies that the quality of...
