Michie - Buddhism for Busy People: Finding happiness in an uncertain world

... enjoyably practical advice on transforming our everyday thoughts and actions into a spiritual adventure

Venerable Tenzin Palmo, the Westerner who became a Tibetan Buddhist nun, subject of the bestselling biography

Cave in the Snow

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Michie condenses the virtues of Buddhism into a reasonable easy-to-navigate text that may go some way to answering the big question, or at least provide a starting point for introspection.

Herald Sun

It is an immensely readable book filled with wry, self-deprecating humour.

Post Newspaper

Michie demystifies Buddhism for the novice lay reader, revealing it not so much as an escape mechanism, but as a life-transforming process for better appreciating and enjoying career, family and the fruits of success... Buddhism for Busy People is a beautiful guidebook to finding happiness in an uncertain world from someone who has actually done it.

Travel Scene International

Buddhism for Busy People shows us, with refreshing clarity, how we can make big changes taking small steps.

Sophie Cunningham, author of Geography

Ive read at least five books on Buddhism so far, and I would highly recommend this as the best introduction to Buddhism for Westerners of any of them... Im reading it for the second time and still finding gems of wisdom. Great book!

A. Clancy

Guess what Your book has been the final countdown on my blast off into the path of enlightenment. For that I will be eternally grateful.

Brett Drinkwater

Your book touched a chord with me because you wrote it from my perspective. Your analogies are fabulous and as I read I knew, finally, that meditating and beginning to follow a Buddhist path was something that I could actually achieve.

Lyndal Carbery

Ive just finished reading Buddhism for Busy People and I just wanted to let you know that it is one of the best introductory books on Buddhism that I have read.

Michelle Anderson

An essential read for stressed executives seeking peace and harmony in a demanding world... dip into this book. It may just change your life.

Doubleday Australian Book and Music Club

[Michies] profound and uncomplicated suggestions, such as meditation and cultivating compassion, provide strategies for a heartfelt serenity that comes from connecting with our inner nature.

Healing Headquarters

I enjoyed the book enormouslyit gave me an understanding of Buddhism that I have been unable to glean from other books... it certainly is helping put more smiles on little (and big) faces around here.

Emma Chodak

This helpful guide to Buddhism teaches how to understand the difference between temporary pleasure and lasting fulfilment by dismantling the idea that success equals satisfaction.

aznewage.com

Thank you for what has become my favourite bookBuddhism for Busy People! Im currently reading it for the third time and have bought copies for friends and acquaintances as well.

Rod Reynolds

FINDING HAPPINESS IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD

DAVID MICHIE

This edition published in 2007

First published in 2004

Copyright Mosaic Reputation Management, 2004

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of this book, whichever is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) under the Act.

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Cataloguing-in-Publication entry:

Michie, David.

Buddhism for busy people: finding happiness in an uncertain world.

2nd ed.

Bibliography.

Includes index.

ISBN 978 1 74175 213 7.

1. Religious lifeBuddhism. 2. HappinessReligious

aspectsBuddhism. 3. BuddhismDoctrines. I. Title.

294.3444

Index compiled by Russell Brooks

Typeset in 11/13 pt Stempel Schneidler by Midland Typesetters, Australia

Printed in Australia by McPhersons Printing Group

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Books by David Michie

Fiction

Conflict of Interest

Pure Deception

Expiry Date

Non-fiction

The Invisible Persuaders

David Michie is a corporate communications consultant specialising in strategic planning. He holds a PhD in Communications Management and advises both ASX-listed and private sector organisations.

David has been interested in Buddhism since university. He is a student of the Tibetan Buddhist Society (TBS) established by Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, with centres in Australia and the USA.

Born in Zimbabwe and educated at Rhodes University, South Africa, David has lived and worked in both Johannesburg and London. He is now based in Perth, Western Australia.

Author website: < http://www.davidmichie.com/ >

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated with heartfelt gratitude to my dharma teachers: Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, Founder of the Tibetan Buddhist Society, and Les Sheehy, Director of the Tibetan Buddhist Society in Perth, Western Australia, whose kindness I can never repay, and without whom this book could never have been written.

I gratefully acknowledge Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden from whose comprehensive book, Path to Enlightenment in Tibetan Buddhism (Tushita Publications, Melbourne, 1993), I have drawn many of the translated verses of Shantidevas great classic Boddhicharyavatara.

I would also like to acknowledge HH the Dalai Lamas The Path to Enlightenment, edited and translated by Glenn H. Mullin, (Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York, 1995) from which I have sourced direct commentary by His Holiness.

A poor man, Depa, once found an enormously valuable jewel. Being a person of little desire, and content with his small income, Depa pondered to whom he should give the jewel. He tried to think who was most in need and suddenly was inspired to give the jewel to King Prasenajit. The king was astounded as there were many poor and needy people, but Depa said, O King, it is you who is the poorest, because you lack contentment!
Nagarjuna, Letter to a Friend

What does it take to be happy Of all the questions in the world, this is the most universal. It is also the great leveller because all of uscomfortably off or financially struggling, single or in a relationship, awkwardly overweight or elegantly slimare equal in our desire to achieve true happiness. Not the happiness weve all experienced which comes and goes depending on circumstance, but a happiness which endures regardless of change. A happiness we feel deep down inside.