The Dalai Lama's Cat and the Power of Meow Read Online Free PDF

other,” he said, beaming. “This is a very useful kind of mindfulness. We cultivate the awareness behind thoughts and feelings. We become the observers of our thoughts, not their slaves. Little by little, over time, we can take control of our mind-stream and let go of mental patterns that don’t serve us well.”
    As often happens when people speak to the Dalai Lama, the simplest turn of conversation led to an observation so profound, so insightful, I could feel the effect on his visitor as a visceral force. It was as though a thrill of understanding passed through her.
    At that same moment, I began to purr directly into her lapel microphone, broadcasting subtle yet contented sound waves into the homes of the show’s viewers. For a short while it felt as though time was somehow suspended, and we were all absorbed into a state of understanding that transcended space and time.
    Then the famous interviewer smiled and said, “Well, I can’t think of a better moment to meditate for just a few minutes. Your Holiness, would you like to lead this meditation?”
    The Dalai Lama gave a short invocation to all those joining in the global session. He asked that the session be a direct cause for all living being to have happiness, to be free from suffering, and to attain complete and perfect enlightenment.
    A time of quiet followed.

    As I sat, purring very gently on the visitor’s lap, it seemed to me that His Holiness’s room, filled with TV lights and crew members, was becoming rather stuffy. The heat was making me feel positively dry-mouthed. And, following my lunchtime meal, I could do with a little drink. A customary glass of water had been provided for His Holiness’s visitor on a side table, only a few steps away.
    Without further ado I got up and stretched my front paws in front of me briefly. I stepped off the visitor’s lap, onto the arm of the sofa, and down onto the side table. There, I got down on my haunches and proceeded to lap the water with relish.
    I’d been doing this for only a short time when I became aware of a snorting noise from behind the cameras. Within moments there came another, similar sound. I looked up briefly, unable to perceive anything but darkness behind the glare of the lights. Things went quiet for a while, but as soon as I resumed my drinking—I was thirstier than I realized—there came the sound of breathless laughter, followed by a peculiar wheezing.
    Then came a full-blown attack of the giggles. One of the female members of the crew was unable to contain herself any longer. It was as though the importance of not laughing during a live, global meditation broadcast led by the Dalai Lama made it impossible to do anything but that. Once one person was giggling, it became like a contagion. It seemed soon everyone in the room was snuffling, choking, emitting all manner of noises.
    His Holiness and his famous interviewer raised their heads at the exact same time. The two of them glanced toward me, brows furrowed, before dissolving into laughter. The laughter was so infectious the interviewer had tears running down her cheeks. The Dalai Lama was laughing with unfettered amusement, both hands on his tummy.
    Having finished drinking, I made my way off the side table and back onto the arm of the sofa. Then I walked across the interviewer’s lap to the other side of the sofa. This provoked another round of laughter. What was so hilarious?
    His Holiness gestured to her glass. “Would you like to have a drink?” he offered, prompting yet more hilarity.
    â€œI think it’s clear to everyone,” the celebrity interviewer finally managed to say through her chuckles, “that the meditation session didn’t go quite as planned.”
    â€œBut very good medicine.” His Holiness laughed.
    I was conscious that the cameras, as well as many pairs of eyes, were trained on me at that particular moment. I looked up, an imperious