A CLENT man has promised to donate May sales of his book Buddha Late Than Never to help survivors of the Nepal earthquake.

Paul Webb’s book details his quest for happiness and lessons learned along the way.

The 60-year-old author, a freelance financial controller and part-time finance director who runs FD Services, says a low point in his mid 20s led him to meditation and the study of Eastern philosophies, beliefs and faiths, particularly Buddhism, and he says he has concluded that "happiness and suffering are states of mind".

The book tells how he started to question conventional lifestyle choices and Western beliefs in life's priorities and transformed his situation from one of confusion and fear to one of freedom and fulfilment.

He said: "Sometimes suffering can be a gift and provide the motivation to find an escape from a perceived world of problems, worries and pain.

“Everyone has the ability to maximise their potential, improve their lives, reduce problems, find more happiness and make a greater contribution to their world.

"This is how my life has evolved, from the lowest and darkest point, into a life of ambition, achievement, meaning and finally purpose.”

In his book, Paul - a qualified accountant - encourages people to set a daily goal each morning to perform two or three acts of kindness without looking for a result for oneself.

He said: "If you concentrate only on making others happy, you reduce the impact of dwelling on your own perceived problems. This will lead to a happier, calmer and more peaceful mind. Also, you create the causes for people to repay your kindness.

"Happiness can seem to be as elusive as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

"This book is an advocate of the need to control the mind, the creator of our world."

Paul says for every copy of Buddha Late Than Never sold before the end of May he will donate £15 (including Gift Aid) to charities helping victims of the Nepal earthquake - the Disasters Emergency Committee and Nepal in Need.

He said: "Nepal is, after all, the birthplace of the Buddha."

The book, priced £12.99, is available online from www.buddhalatethannever.com; a free download of the synopsis and introduction is also available on the website.