Customer Reviews

The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Strategies for Managing Your Business and Your Life

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I had never heard of Michael Roach until I searched out Shoutcast (Internet Radio) and found the Tibetan Buddhist station. Being of that tradition, I was delighted to find the station.

The program that was on at that time was Dharma talks by Michael on The Heart Sutra, a most important Buddhist teaching.

I was so taken with his messages and the way he could get these deep ideas across so easily that I wanted to learn more about him. That's when I discovered that he had a new book out, The Diamond Cutter. So I bought a copy at Amazon.

Michael spent many years in the New York Diamond industry. He explains that he was attracted to diamonds because they are the hardest form in the universe.

This book is about business. It is about the problems that we all encounter in business daily. And it tells us how to handle the problem and why every problem has a cause, perhaps not in this lifetime but in some lifetime.

Michael clearly explains why some people who are greedy and unkind are successful. No, it's nothing they've done in this life but rather they did something of merit in another life that brought the wealth in this lifetime. But in another lifetime they will reap the Karma they're now sowing.

He tells us that if we wish to be wealthy, we need to be generous with our money and our time.

Michael uses his vast knowledge of the diamond industry to teach business ethics from a Buddhist perspective based on the all-important teaching of Lord Buddha in His Diamond Cutter (Vajrachchedika sutra).

I highly recommend this wonderful book to anyone who cares about their business, their relationships, their finances and their life in general.

I'm not Buddhist, but after reading Michael Roach's book, "The Diamond Cutter", I'm devouring everything about Tibetan Buddhism I can get my hot little hands on!

I've searched 52 years for the meaning of this insanity we call life in hundreds of books, tapes, seminars, Martial Arts, a Trappist Monastery, and one on one studying with people who meant well; but Michael Roach explained it all--at least to me--logically and better than anyone ever has! Screw the writing style! That's only someone's opinion anyway. Geshe Roach tells it like it is, and does so in a humble way. Hell, check out any of the organizations the author has created or is involved in. These people spread their message of compassion for free! That's certainly a new one on me! It's my humble opinion that Michael Roach indeed "walks the walk". Sincere people like that are hard to find here in the good old Y2K USA!

Like Roach (and the Buddha himself) said: "Try it and see if it works for you." It's sure working so far for me--very well! Well, I very much hope that it works even weller, er, sorry, I mean better, for you!

By the way, I sought out the book for my personal and spiritual growth more than the business angle. Interestingly enough, I'm more comfortable about my business dealings now which, oddly enough, have taken a decided turn for the better.

Stew Wilkins

This book presents many insights on parts of the Diamond Sutra. (The "Diamond Cutter" name is interestingly new to me, as I have been only familiar with the shorter "Diamond" and the longer "Diamond That Cuts Through Delusions".) The author's interpretations are refreshing, even without the context of business challenges, of which his diamond venture serves as a unique background. It is rare to have aspects of the Dharma presented by a young, life-engaging monk, and an American to boost. In particular, the notion of "mental imprints" is deeply important with respect to how one perceives and constructs the world. As a bonus, I learn a few things about diamond, diamond cutting, and the diamond trade.

Unlike another reviewer, I am supportive of Geshe Roach in his presenting the Diamond Sutra through the particular form of this book -- a manifestation of what Buddhist tradition calls "skillful means".

About the 4 stars: I wish the writing could be tightened up in various places. (But then again, this subjective observation of mine may be the effects of imprints left by my earlier writing courses.)

I first have to say that I did not buy this so much for the business angle--I'm more just on the lookout for any new Buddhist material I can find. This is probably the freshest book in the realm of "American Buddhism" that I've read in the last year. I hadn't heard of Roach before, but I now feel that he truly is one of the most important Buddhist teachers in the U.S. today. (If you haven't already seen it you should look at the interview Amazon did with him.) The writing in Diamond Cutter isn't always so great, but Roach has a superior talent for explaining elements of Tibetan Buddhism in a way that is light years ahead of many other books out there in terms of accessibility. Perhaps that's because he is American born, so he really knows how to communicate with his contemporaries, but even beyond that he appears to have a great mind. This isn't great as a Buddhist primer, but if you are at all familiar with Buddhism you'll probably get some real insights out of this one.

Wow, what a troubling book, wherein the principles of Social Darwinism are twisted with Buddhist philosophy. According to the author, not only does one attain wealth and success by being the smartest, strongest or "fittest"--but by being the most spiritual as well! If only that were true...unfortunately, my life experience in the world of film and business has led me to observe the exact opposite. Let's take this quote from the "Diamond Cutter":

"The greatest business people have a deep inner capacity - they hunger, as we all do, but perhaps more strongly - for a true spiritual life. They have seen more of the world than most of us; they know what it can give them, and what it cannot. They demand a logic in spiritual things; they demand that the method and the results be clear, as clear as the terms in any business deal. Often they have dropped out from an active spiritual life - not because they are greedy or lazy, but simply because no path has measured up to their demands. The Diamond Cutter was literally made for these people - talented, tough and savvy... The wisdom of The Diamond Cutter says that the very people who are attracted to business are exactly the ones who have the inner strength to grasp and carry out the deeper practices of the spirit."

By this rationale, Donald Trump should be one of the most profoundly spiritual human beings on the planet. And the impovershed Buddhist masters of old should be spiritually bankrupt. I am wondering how the author of "The Diamond Cutter" would reconcile his philosophy against the teachings of past Buddhist Masters, such as the following by Ehei Dogen:

"To study the Way, first of all, you learn poverty. After having learned poverty and becoming poor, you will be intimate with the Way. From the time of Shakyamuni, up to the present day, I have never seen or heard of a true student of the Way who possessed great wealth." --Shobogenzo-zuimonki

Or the following from 20th century zen master Kodo Sawaki:

"It's clear what you like: having sex, wining and dining, and making yourself a career without having to make an effort. Running after what you like and running away from what you don't like is what is meant by 'wandering around in the impermanent world'. Even a rat begins to run if you give him an electric shock."

Perhaps that doesn't quite gel with our modern consumerist, "success" oriented culture...and as such, "The Diamond Cutter" may sell more copies by offering needy folks a quick route to fame and fortune. Sad to say, "The Diamond Cutter" is the path to the Dark Side, and directly conflicts with the very foundations of Buddhism. Run a thousand miles from this stuff...

I run a small business for more than 10 years now and have my share of ups and downs, from facing near bankruptcy to hitting big contracts. But whatever the outcome, I am always short of money and I am constantly struggling to make ends meet. That is, until I read this book. It has changed my business. I now find money flowing in without me chasing after it and I work less than before. To all of you out there who are struggling in business or in your personal life, buy this book and follow the principles. They work and they will make you a better person.

And I mean that in the best possible way. It's a refreshing blend of the ancient (the Diamond Sutra) and the contemporary. At first I thought this back and forth would be distracting, but Roach pulls it off incredibly well. Geshe Roach is an amazing person and a gifted teacher. I hope we will hear a great deal more from him in the future. The most helpful thing I can say to other readers is to simply get a copy for yourself. This is a must-read for those interested in Tibetan Buddhism or for those who struggle to follow a Buddhist path in the midst of the modern world.

We all understand cause-and-effect. If we hit our thumb with a hammer, it will hurt. If we get drunk, we will have a hangover. But these "correlations", as the author calls them, also expand to include "positive effects". If you feed a dog, it will respond to you. If you hug your wife sincerely, you will have a more loving relationship. Everything that you are experiencing now is the result of past actions and thoughts. Millions of past actions and thoughts. Negative actions bring negative results. Positive actions bring positive results. Everything, literally everything, is the result of cause and effect. As the author states, "There are no limited resources". And as the Dalai Lama states, "We are all sharing the same karmic experience". In other words, we are here now because we all share similar effects of our actions. It does not matter if it is fair. It does not matter if it is right. It just is. If you drop the hammer on your toe - your toe will become swollen. If you don't soak your toe, it may develop an infection. If you don't take care of the infection, it may spread. Eventually, maybe your leg will have to be amputated. NOTE! This is what the author is stating when he says that karma (actions) are expandable. They expand unless erased. That is the bad news. Positive actions are expandable as well. There is cause-and-effect. And there is the law (just observe) that deeds expand if not attended to. Just put some meat out on your kitchen table for days. It becomes more and more rotten as time passes. First flies. And then all sort of bugs. Fungus. Actions are expandable if not taken care of.

What the author calls "acts of generosity" lead to wealth. And these acts too are expandable. Just like the meat on your kitchen table. Our actions and thoughts make "imprints" on our minds. It doesn't need to be fair. According to the author, when we understand the "hidden potential" of things (everything is really a blank screen) and that we can actually imprint our own minds to deliver certain results, just like I am typing on this keyboard, then we understand true creation. And the "imprinting process" goes much deeper by understanding the process of creation. "Acts of generosity" grow in the subconcious. And they eventually will ripen. This book needs to be read several times in order to understand this process. "Acts of stealing (including cheating on your taxes)" are imprinted in the subconcious and grow. So, you make a billion dollars and then your partner steals it all away from you! This is the result of both generosity and stealing. Everything you think and do comes back at you. Let me repeat that. Everything that you do comes back at you. Now, by giving to the Red Cross, this won't quarantee that you will become a Billionaire. But what happens if all this generosity is harnessed in the subconcious? You tell me. What happens if all the lying (confusion), stealing (poverty), adultery (social disorder and eventually pollution), killing (being murdered) stops. This book tells you how to harness all this energy in business and turn it into an atom bomb. It takes time. We certainly are not all saints. But the author does let us have it. "Tracking" our behavior. Exchanging ourselves with others. Understanding the "hidden potential" of things or "emptiness". Therefore, creating causes, that by law, must be manifested. I have already tried to contact the author's website. EBI (Enlightened Business Institute). I have not received a result yet because of MY past lying and deceit. You will understand what I mean after you read and study the book. Thank you to my teacher, Lama Surya Das. And also to my teacher, Geshe Michael Roach.

This vast website of amazon.com has over a million items. If you found this book it happened for a reason. Read it!

Having recently come from a week of teachings with the Dalai Llama I would share that the teachings in this book are in full alignment. Having worked for a number of organizations I would share that his views on business are also in full alignment.

Here is a person who devoted over 20 years of his life to become fluent in a foreign language and learn teachings of a tradition that is 2,500 years old. Then, rather than staying in that remote region he immersed himself in something we all know about very well: everyday life.

The essence of life should be to integrate the esoteric (uncommon) with the exoteric (common) realms of life. That is what this book is about.

Still not sure if it is for you?

You can go to to listen to some of his teachings at no charge.

Still not sure if this book is for you?

Buy it since 100% of profits go to support Tibetan refugees and put it on your shelf until you know it IS for you or pass it along to the friend it is also really for.

Namaste

This book is not a self-help book in the traditional sense, but in the ultimate sense. Anyone who is interested in material success, without spiritual development would probably not find this book interesting or helpful. But anyone who wants to actualize their full potential will find this book chock full of wisdom and method! This is not a book on how to get rich for the sake of being rich, but how to get rich and be happy. Geshe Michael presents Tibetan Buddhist scripture (The Diamond Cutter Sutra) along with the story of how these ideas impacted, in fact transformed his own experiences. It is an account of a spiritual path playing out in the modern business world--with great success! By the way, profits from this book are all going to assist Tibetan Refugees.