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The Dalai Lama’s Cat by David Michie
My Rating: A delightful 4.5/5
First of all, a heartfelt “Thank You” to Namita Verma who recommended this book so strongly to me. I have taken away the half point for one peculiar reason, which may only be due to my own interests in such matters, which I shall lay down later in this review. Had that not been, it was a straight 5/5 book.
David Michie has inordinately driven me to a point where there were tears of happiness glistening into my eyes by the end of this very special and pleasantly written book. (I feel like such an emotional weakling). Maybe it overwhelmed me in a way because it was narrated by an animal. It may not have the same impact on everyone – possibly only me – perhaps because of my perpetual deliberate evasion of heavy advocacy of any spiritual inclination. My initial apprehensions were all debunked when “Rinpoche” – which means “precious” in Lhasa Tibetan – entered my life through this book.
A Himalayan kitten is rescued by His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself while he is returning from an American tour. The story is told through the eyes of the cat, in the voice of the cat and is full of ever-interesting anecdotes, incidents, metaphors which give some ponderous lessons in compassion, mindfulness, conditions and causes of Karma, generosity, acceptance of change and the likes, in as simplified a manner as is possible. This book is a revelation of sorts of how it would be if one is in intimate vicinity of someone as learned and powerful as the Dalai Lama. Each chapter starts with a general speculation of Rinpoche (this is only one of the very many names of hers) about her own life, then extends further to real life tales of some influential visitors (high profile actors, famous authors, kings and queens, presidents of states) who came to the lamas, either with mirth or to seek a revelation, and takes us back to how Her Holiness herself applied that tactfully to her own life to make more meaning of it.
Sometimes, some facts, in spite of we knowing them all, become more significant when found in a black and white print with some small associated narrative. They become even more relevant when they are put forward with some kind of light-hearted humor. Michie’s talking cat is a smart, almost-humane, quirky, sarcastic little being, who, very funnily falls for a Tabby Tiger and calls it “animal magnetism”, and manages to hurl these lessons at us very efficiently. Of course there are some lessons which may not be immediately agreeable and would need more deliberation especially for an aggressive person like me nonetheless the experience of reading the book was quite amazing.
I took away the half point because in some places the book became quite loaded with heavy duty stuff and I had to struggle through those one or two chapters, but that was only me. It is a must-read for all those who wish to be spiritually advised in the subtlest, amusing, if not the easiest undertones.
Some quotes that I loved:
“If we are wise, the greatest problems can lead to the greatest insights.”
“Envy and resentment were demanding emotions that had disturbed my own peace of mind.”
“If we focus too much on ourselves, we become sick”
“Though one man may conquer a thousand men a thousand times in battle, he who conquers himself is the greatest warrior.”
“Anyone who had believed a word he had taught them was a fool – unless they had tested it against their own experience”
If you have read The Dalai Lama’s Cat, would love to hear your views.
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