American-born Geshe Michael Roach, a fully ordained Buddhist monk, is in Varanasi for a discussion on ‘How to Use the Great Ideas of the Bhagavad Gita for Business and Personal Success’.
Before heading towards Banaras Hindu University, Roach spoke to iamin about the influence of the Bhagavad Gita in his life. He said that the Gita is one of the greatest classics of world literature which can change a person making them calm, focused and successful.
He added that despite being an American, he has personally experienced changes in his life after following the Gita.
Speaking further, Roach said, “During my childhood, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, which was a difficult phase in my life. That time, an Indian girl in my class advised me to visit India. In 1973, when I was 21, I visited India and studied the classics of India for 25 years.”
“After reading the Gita, I realised the need to promote its teachings and formed the Andin International Corporation in association with three friends. The Corporation’s profits soared to 250 million dollars and had over 10,000 workers. After reaching this high, which I sold it to American business magnate Warren Buffet in 1999. With the money received, I formed the ‘Diamond Cutter Institute’ to fulfill my dreams of promoting the teachings of the Gita. The Institute now has various centres across the globe,” he said.
The beginning of the Asian Classics Input Project
In 2006, Roach used the profits of his business to establish the Asian Classic Input Project to promote and protect Tibetan language and manuscripts. Under the project, various Indian and Tibetan manuscripts were translated into English. Until now, as many as 20,000 manuscripts have been translated and put them online for free.
His best-selling business and personal success book, The Diamond Cutter, has been translated into more than 30 languages around the world.
