The Diamond Sutra has changed my life! Making money is my deepest practice!

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Michael Roach Gesse is an American with a peculiar experience, born in 1952 and graduated summa laude from Princeton University. He then went to India to become an ordained Buddhist monk, devoted himself to Buddhist studies for 25 years, and became the first American in history to receive a Geshe (Doctor of Buddhist Studies) degree. When he returned to the United States, he applied the emptiness he realized in the Diamond Sutra to his business operations, taking out loans and friends to found Anding International Diamond Company, which started with $50,000 in funds, and since 1998 Anding has become a global large company with an annual turnover of more than $200 million.

Later, Michael, known as the "Buddhist businessman", wrote his business experience into the book "The Diamond Cutter", which was well received as soon as it was launched. The book has been reprinted and translated into 25 languages. He often said: "One of my favorite books is the Diamond Sutra, which changed my life." ” 

Mike's way of "happy business"

A few years ago, a business report attracted much attention from the world, which raised several very sharp questions: China is a big manufacturing country, why is there no top international brand in the world? China accounts for 59 of the world's top 500 companies, but there is no place in the global Top 100 brand list? The final summary of this report is that Chinese businessmen want to get rich too much and ignore social responsibility and cultural inheritance.

While his diamond company was pouring in, Michael Rochgesi retired and began to teach Buddhism, write books, give lectures, and also study Sanskrit, Tibetan and Russian, and his translations were equal. He set up an organization called "Enlightened Business Organizations" to teach business people how to increase their creativity and wisdom through meditation, and to strengthen the power of the good side of karma. In addition, he also actively carried out the reconstruction and renovation of the Sera Monastery in Tibet. This is the way of "happy business" that Michael has been preaching all over the world, he has not only helped countless people earn wealth, but also inspired them to reap happiness.

Mike's Diamond Game

Play a mini-game first, close your eyes and envision a situation in your mind:

You are a monk, and after 20 years of penance in the temple, Master said to you: "You have completed your retreat, and now you should go down the mountain and continue your practice in the world, it is best to be a businessman." "The master's order is hard to disobey, you packed your bags and walked out of the pure Buddhist gate, into the hustle and bustle of the world, you suddenly found that there was an unusually shiny little thing under your feet, you remembered the "Diamond Sutra" you read in the temple before, you concluded that this is the legendary diamond, it is a very valuable diamond, at this time, you are faced with 3 choices:

1. Turn a blind eye to diamonds and continue on your way.

2. You remember the temple where you lived for more than 20 years, because the temple is remote, you are too poor to open the pot, so you pick up the diamond, return to the temple, and hand it over to Master.

3. You picked up this diamond, took it with you, and accompanied you in the red dust.

Michael often talks about the above story at the beginning of the interview. He said that his choice was the third, and the situation depicted in the mini-game just now was almost a portrayal of his real experience. He explained: "If you choose to turn a blind eye, it means that you have understood the truth of the emptiness of all things; Your choice to return it to Master means that you not only understand emptiness, but also know how to use it in practice. As for the meaning of the third option, I am about to share it with you. Remember, there is no right or wrong, good or bad in your choice, the so-called right and wrong, good and bad, will always be just the judgment of your 'heart'. Don't regret making a choice, have the courage to take responsibility, and be a warrior in the world. ”

Let's have a heart-to-heart talk with Michael.

Q: Do you like China? What is your deepest impression of China?

I love China so much that I come here once a year. I have lived in temples in Tibet, China for many years, and have a deep connection with China. My deepest impression of China is that this is a very great nation, with the most shining classics in the history of world culture, including my favorite "Diamond Sutra".

Q: Where did you first read the Diamond Sutra?

I graduated from college at the age of 20, and in the year I graduated, my favorite parents passed away, and then I lost my younger brother, and the changes in my family hit me particularly hard, and I couldn't figure out why people died? Since people will eventually die, what is the point of me studying diligently and winning a medal? During that time, my world was particularly gloomy, and I kept denying myself and not knowing the meaning of life. Later, when I heard that there was a meditation institute in India, I packed my bags and flew there to start a monastic life and receive very systematic Buddhist studies. The first time I read the Diamond Sutra was in class, although I couldn't understand Chinese characters, I had an inexplicable good impression of it.

Q: What do you think the Diamond Sutra is about?

Dependent origination is empty.

Q: Why did you choose to return to the United States to do business?

After I had a solid foundation in Buddhism, my teacher encouraged me to return to the United States to do business, saying, "Although the monastery is the ideal place to learn Dharma wisdom, the busy American office is the real life and the best laboratory to test the results of your studies over the years." "At first, I didn't care at all about his words. I don't like the greedy and indifferent image of American businessmen. Master saw through my thoughts and one day gathered a group of highly educated students and gave a lecture on "Buddhism and the business world", which made me understand the principle of "small seclusion in the mountains and forests, big hidden in the city". So I said goodbye to my teachers and went back to the United States.

In 1975, during a meditation session, I realized that I would work in the diamond industry in the future, so I tried to find a job in the diamond trade. However, the jewelry industry was very family-oriented at the time, and no one wanted to apply for strangers, and the result can be imagined. However, a kind person suggested that I take a few gem identification courses at a gemological institute in New York to gain professional knowledge and network. After listening to his words, I really met my later business partners at the Gemological Institute.

Q: Many people say that "there is no corruption and no business", does doing business go against the Buddhist scriptures you follow?

I have three principles in business:

First, to do business, you must succeed and make money. In the classics, there is nothing wrong with money itself, especially if those who have more resources do more good than those who do not. The key to the question is how to make money, where the money comes from, how to make it flow, and the mentality towards money. In fact, making money can also be part of the practice.

Second, we should enjoy money. In other words, we should know how to make money while maintaining physical and mental health. A businessman who exchanges his health for money does not understand the purpose of doing business at all.

Third, if a person looks back on his career at the end, he can say very calmly: "These years of struggle are meaningful to me and the world." "Then he is really a very successful businessman.

Whether it is doing business to make money or practicing ancient Tibetan wisdom, it is to enrich our lives and achieve harmony between the inner and the outer. People who only know how to make money, but disregard their own interests and the interests of others, are not worthy of being called businessmen at all.

Q: How to use classic wisdom in business to make more money?

This is an interesting question. If you had $100,000 now and wanted to turn it into $1 million, what would you do? Deposit in the bank? The safety factor is very high, but it is estimated that on the day you die, you will not be able to get 1 million, and the bank interest rate is too low. Open a restaurant? A few years ago, a friend of mine happened to have $100,000, and he used the money to invest in a very magnificent restaurant, but it didn't take long for him to close the door, and the $100,000 was wasted. Then invest in real estate, right? I have a friend who bought a small apartment for $100,000 in New York's most valuable neighborhood more than a decade ago and is preparing to resell it in the future. It's right next door to the World Trade Center. As a result, the "911" incident occurred in 2001, and his house had been resold for more than ten years, but he still didn't make a move. Investing in stocks? Alas...... It's not as good as the first three options.

…… As long as you keep asking like this, you will find that whether you make money or not has nothing to do with whether you open a restaurant, invest in real estate, or invest in stocks, restaurants, houses and stocks themselves are not wrong, its nature is "empty", "empty" is not nothing, but it can have infinite possibilities, it can make you make money or make you lose money, so we have the opportunity to take advantage of it. So when you wake up one night, 100,000 becomes 1 million...... This is not impossible, as long as the principle of emptiness is used correctly.

Q: What are some easy ways to do this?

If we compare our mind to a video recorder, it turns on 24 hours a day and continuously records everything that is perceived through our eyes, ears, and mind. When you see yourself reaching out to help a subordinate in trouble, a good seed is planted in your heart; When you see that you have lied to a customer or supplier, you plant a bad seed in your heart. If you keep planting "bad seeds", you will only be able to eat bitter fruits in the future; Only by constantly planting "good seeds" can we reap the fruits of success and happiness.

For example, the company's financial situation is unstable and has been in a state of long-term loss. To solve this problem, you should give as much profit as you get to those who help you create profits, and never take ill-gotten gains. Remember, how much you share profits is not the point of the matter; The heart you are willing to share (which is a very powerful "good seed") is the key to the whole thing.

For example, you see a mature business opportunity earlier than others, but you don't have enough funds and you can't raise money everywhere. The solution is simple, and from now on you will no longer play the role of a dime miser. You have to keep giving and giving to create a win-win situation. The only thing that matters is whether you are really willing to share and are really happy to see everyone succeed. The more sincere you are, the more powerful the seeds you plant in your heart, and the fruits must be particularly sweet. Franklin was a famous American politician, scientist, and businessman with a noble personality. His way of dealing with market competition is to invite all competitors to join an emerging society called the "Chamber of Commerce" to jointly develop the market and make every member of the association richer and richer.

To give another realistic example, business people are most worried about natural and man-made disasters, the newly built villa community has encountered mudslides, and the seafood seedlings that have just been released have encountered typhoons...... We always think that it is external force majeure that hinders career success, but in fact, all problems are caused by ourselves. If you want to stay away from natural disasters, you must learn to stick to your commitments and adhere to the rules of life in life. Climate, transportation, environment and other factors are essentially "empty" or "neutral". Even when some sections of traffic are the most chaotic, some people can still enter the city smoothly and smoothly from other sections; When it snows heavily and rains heavily, some people make a fortune, such as mechanics who handle ski slopes and umbrella manufacturers. It can be seen that there is no right or wrong thing itself, and the positive or negative impact it brings to you comes from your perception. These perceptions are not created out of nothing, they are the external results (effects) of your past actions.

Q: How to sow more "good seeds" in daily life?

There are 6 simple methods, as long as you practice repeatedly, you can make yourself and the people around you come true:

1. If you want to have a prosperous career and abundant financial resources, you must maintain a generous attitude.

2. If you want to have a harmonious and happy family, have a good mood every day, you must follow the ethical life.

3. If you want to be healthy and charming, you must avoid anger, less or no tantrums.

4. If you want to sit in a high position and become a leader, you must be helpful.

5. If you want to concentrate, you must keep meditating.

6. To achieve what you want, you must understand the meaning of emptiness and be more kind.

This is the diamond that I carry with me and accompany me in the red dust!

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