The Diamond Cutter

Geshe Michael Roach is a Princeton graduate and asuccess in business. Successful business people have
Buddhist monk. After graduation, he spent seventhe resources to do more good in the world than
years studying the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism. Atthose people without the same resources do. In
the suggestion of his teacher, he joined a fledglingaddition, the very people who are attracted to
diamond business in New York to test his ideals inbusiness are the same people who have the strength
real life. He stayed with the business as a member ofto grasp and carry out the deeper practices of the
the core management team for seventeen years.spirit.
The company grew from a start-up with twoMoney should be made honestly and with absolute
owners and two employees to $100 million in salesintegrity. How we make money matters more than
and five hundred employees in offices around theanything else does. It determines our ability to keep
world. The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha onmaking money as nobody can indefinitely run a
Strategies for Managing Your Business and Your Lifebusiness built on dishonesty or deception. It also
tells the story of how Geshe Michael Roach built thesignificantly affects our ability to enjoy the money
diamond division of this company, using principleswe make.
culled from ancient Tibetan Buddhism as the drivingNothing is good or bad in and of itself; everything has
force behind his decision making.a hidden potential. This is what the Buddhists call
Drawing on lessons he learned in the diamondemptiness. What is bad news for you may be good
business and years in Buddhist monasteries, Roachnews for someone else, and vice versa. We must
shows how taking care of others is the ultimate pathnot leap to conclusions about events, but must stop
to taking care of oneself, even--especially--in business.to consider what potential they really have for us.
As he puts it, you have to engage in "mentalEven competitors can be seen as fairy godmothers
gardening," which means doing certain practical thingschallenging us to find the correct path to greater
that will form new habits that will create an idealaccomplishment. It is a matter of perception. With
reality for you. If this sounds a little outrageous, histhe right state of mind, we can turn our problems
very precise instructions are down to earth andinto opportunities.
address numerous specific issues common to theWe should look ahead to the inevitable end of our
business/management world. Through this practice,days in business, and put ourselves in a position
you will become a considerate, generous,where we can honestly say our years in business had
introspective, creative person of immense integrity,some meaning. The idea here is to anticipate our
and that will be the key to your wealth... Afuture, and move in a direction that will allow us to
Some of the many insights in The Diamond Cutterlook back on our past with total joy and satisfaction.
are as follows:The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Strategies for
A business should be successful; it should makeManaging Your Business and Your Life by Geshe
money. There is no conflict between spirituality andMichael Roach (List Price:$23.