The Dalai Lama's Cat

Product Information

She was doing that yesterday, too,” observed Tenzin. The two of them stood, watching me for a few moments before they met each other’s eyes. They reached the same diagnosis in unison: “Fleas!”

First I had a mixed feelings as to what was the target audience of this book - was it balanced for teens, grannies or crazy cat ladies like me, since the cat's POV is a bit... specific, let's say. And after finishing the book I am still not sure, but I don't give a f***. I really liked the heart warming tone of it with some major principles of one of the greatest religions explained in a simple and encouraging way. There's some humour in it and a lot of wisdom too.Moments later, the itching stopped as abruptly as it had begun. Had it all been something in my imagination? Some perverse quirk of karma originating from who knew where?

As my eyes and ears adjusted to my surroundings, I became aware of a scratching noise— sporadic but insistent gnawing. I paused, nostrils flared, as I searched the air. For along with the sound of incisors chomping came a pungent whiff that set my whiskers tingling. My reaction, instantaneous and powerful, triggered a reflex I hadn’t even known I possessed. Cine dintre noi nu se desfată cu o masă delicioasă? Cine nu își dorește să doarmă într-un pat sigur și confortabil? Fie că suntem scriitori, călugări - sau pisoi fără adăpost -, toți suntem egali din aceste puncte de vedere." Compassion filled not only His Holiness’s face but the whole room. It was as though his concern could not be contained; it seemed to flow outward, touching every living being in Namgyal and far beyond. Among the unexpected joys I have felt, writing this series, has been to discover how much little HHC, Snow Lion, or Rinpoche – she is a cat of many names – and the cast of characters around her, have engaged reader’s hearts as well as minds. This is important because both our compassion as well as our wisdom are necessary if we are to live truly purposeful lives.

We cats are the most habitual of creatures. Preferred sun loungers, meal times, hidey holes, and scratching posts are among the considerations in which we take daily satisfaction. And it is exactly because many humans embrace routine that we even consider allowing them to share our homes, let alone retain them as members of our staff. (c) I also enjoyed observations of daily life in Dharamsala where the self-styled Tibetan government in exile works in a town full of hippies, scholars, and tourists. The idea came about one sunny Himalayan morning. There I was, lying in my usual spot on the first-floor windowsill, the perfect vantage from which to maintain maximum surveillance with minimum effort, as His Holiness was bringing a private audience to a close. It is a joy to read the ongoing spiritual journey of HHC. As in the 3 previous books the author carefully crafts buddhist teachings into the stories that are conveyed through such a beautiful cat. If you are not interested in buddhism per se do not let this put you off but perhaps instead think about the words of His Holiness the Dalai Lama who said "Don't try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a good Buddhist; use it to learn to be a better-whatever-you-already-are".