Dharma The Cat : Philosophy With Fur [Paperback]

David Lourie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2000

On the rocky road to Nirvana with a Buddhist cat, a novice monk and a mouse who doesn't care for anything but cheese...Available for the first time in book format, DHARMA THE CAT: PHILOSOPHY WITH FUR is a collection of cartoons that have appeared on the award-winning 'Dharma the Cat' website. The three characters featured in the cartoon strips are Bodhi, the novice monk; Siam, a cheese loving mouse; and Dharma, a cat who searches for meaning and truth, and looks fondly at the foibles of his human companion. The cartoons offer a rare blend of spirituality, philosophy and humour, with a Buddhist tone. The humour is based on a 'how not to' approach o spiritual practice, as the young novice Bodhi stumbles into every pitfall along the path to enlightenment, highlighting the foibles and universal tangles that people recognise in their own lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A cat takes a novice Buddhist monk through the big questions . . . Cute, funny and the kind of book that would make a good Christmas present. -- FROM THE CITY WEEKLY (SYDNEY) NOVEMBER 16th, 2000

From the Author

Welcome to the HOW NOT TO school of gaining wisdom -- a subject in which I have acquired some measure of expertise.

Many of these cartoons are autobiographical. I actually live with Siam The Mouse and Dharma The Cat. This coolest of cats teaches me how to be fully absorbed in the now, while Siam the cheese-chaser reminds me that one's spiritual development is always balanced by call of the mundane.

So, in these cartoons I am represented by Bodhi, the novice monk who stumbles so earnestly along the Buddha's noble path, while his wise cat Dharma observes from a cool place and offers commentary on my "progress." Meanwhile, Siam continually chases the cheese, and is forever laughing over her shoulder at both of us.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (October 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073181035X
• ISBN-13: 978-0731810352
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #576,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most Enlightening!, November 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Dharma The Cat : Philosophy With Fur (Paperback)

These really are good cartoons, whether you're interested in Buddhism or not. If you are, then they introduce the concepts behind Buddhism gracefully and if you're not, then they will raise a smile at minimum.

Not laugh-out-loud funny, they'll just make you smile. A good gift for anyone, old or young.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We should all have the wisdom of Dharma the Cat, December 24, 2000

By 

Barb Hadley (Boulder, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dharma The Cat : Philosophy With Fur (Paperback)

If you are a cat lover or a student of Buddhism this is a great book to read. It is very easy to understand and it applies to our current way of life. The illustrations have detail that capture the essence of the message, and the cartoon format makes it easy to pickup and learn the message of the day. I especially enjoy Dharma's wisdom after each panel. This book would make a great gift as well as a personal reference for today's path through life. Cats are very knowing and this wonderful work by David Lourie proves it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dharma the Cat, December 8, 2000

By 

John Lind (Diani, Kenya.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dharma The Cat : Philosophy With Fur (Paperback)

Wisdom is one thing. Humour is another. When they come together it is especially gratifying. Lourie and Blackall manage to get Bhuddist teachings across so succinctly in both text and artwork. And the novice monk's struggles towards enlightenment feel very human. Each vignette leaves me with a chuckle. I do hope His Holiness the Dalai Lama gets to see it. He is a great chuckler.