David Michie

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.

"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 His eyes were firmly shut and his consciousness withdrawn from his senses when all this was going on.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.

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.

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

'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.

Helps you to take a peek inside the mind of a delightfully imperfect creature on the path to enlightenment. This book helps you 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.

"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 Caf . 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.

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

Mindfulness practice can help you reduce stress, improve performance, manage pain and increase wellbeing. These are the reasons why elite athletes, performing artists and business leaders are taking up the practice, and why it is being introduced into the world's most successful companies, banks, business schools - even the US Army. David Michie introduces mindfulness practice and offers innovative solutions to common obstacles. Drawing on ancient Buddhist teachings and contemporary science, he also takes us beyond 'mindfulness lite,' offering lucid instructions on how to experience the pristine nature of one's own consciousness directly - an encounter that is truly life-changing. Written with warmth and good humour, Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate is the ultimate guide to self-discovery. It will make chocolate taste better too!

The Dalai Lama's cat is back - older, a bit wiser and as curious as ever." What makes you purr? Of all the questions in the world, this is the most important... Because no matter whether you are a playful kitten or sedentary senior, whether you're a scrawny alley Tom, or 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." In this book, the Dalai Lama sets for his lovable feline companion the task of investigating The Art of Purring. Whether it's the humorous insights gained from a visiting Ivy League Psychology Professor, the extraordinary research of a world-famous biologist, or the life-changing revelations of a mystical yogi, His Holiness's Cat encounters a wealth of wisdom about happiness. And what she discovers changes the way she sees herself forever. With a much loved - and growing - cast of characters from the local community and His Holiness's residence, as well as encounters with intriguing strangers and celebrities from far and wide, The Art of Purring will transport readers in another unforgettable story. Along the way they will come to understand how elements of contemporary science and Buddhism converge. And, once again, they will feel the warmth of compassion and non-attachment that radiate from the heart of the Dalai Lama's teachings about our quest for enduring happiness.

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