Nationalist MP Franco Debono said this afternoon he has had The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, which he took with him to Parliament yesterday for years and it was a constant reference for him, especially in difficult times.

The book, by Sogyal Rinpoche, led bloggers this morning to wonder whether Dr Debono was conveying a message by taking that particular book with him to Parliament.

"I did not take the book with me to send any message but if anyone wants to take a message it should be that Tibet is a country of peaceful people which the international community has unfortunately tended to turn a blind eye and not show enough commitment to," Dr Debono said.

"I am a Catholic. The book is about Buddhist philosophy, but it is very close to my heart. It is a source of constant reference to me and sits on my bedside table alongside the Bible and works by the Dalai Lama. These books are all about peace and peaceful sentiment, about humanity.

"Most parts of the book are valid to all religions. It deals also with religious tolerance and respect."

Dr Debono said he was very different from what people thought they had the right to portray him as, even taking unfair advantage of libel laws.

"I write haiku and had some of it published in a book in aid of Japan earthquake victims."

Dr Debono said that meditation was something that always gave him strength in difficult times.