Kelsang Pawo was a lively, hard-working young East End boy who loved 'The Arsenal' and grew up during some of Britain's most challenging times. His uncles rubbed shoulders with the infamous Kray twins, and his quiet father kept his thoughts to himself, except on Saturdays when he stood on his soapbox at Speakers' Corner.

Understandably, life could have steered him down a path of struggle and poverty. But from an early age, he knew a wonderful life was waiting just around the corner.

Thanks to his loving, supportive mum, wonderful grandpop, and Mr Wilson – the teacher who made a vast impact on his life - he gleaned enough self-belief and confidence to decide on his own path, one in complete contrast to anything he (and his family and friends) had ever known.

After leaving his roots to sail the seas, Pawo got a taste for a life far away from London. He enjoyed many adventures, made lifelong friends (including such well-known names as Princess Diana, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Goldie Hawne, Jack Nicholson, and Dustin Hoffman) and, despite his young age, vowed to find indomitable happiness.

Join Pawo on his spiritual quest as he travels from London to Bhutan and meets his mentors and some of the kindest people, monks and nuns on the planet. From a simple message from a whale to being arrested in Lourenco Marques because he was outraged by inequality and a random meeting with a mysterious baroness, there is so much more to this one-of-a-kind memoir than you could ever imagine.