GoodNight Book Club: A Life-Changing Habit
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Geshe Michael Roach found himself watching television for the first time in his life. Having never owned a TV and considering TV watchers as “suffering people,” he started watching NFL highlights on his computer. Eventually, he got addicted — spending hours daily, watching increasingly violent and disturbing content. It began to disrupt both his meditation and sleep.
To overcome this, he created the “GoodNight Club.” At 10 p.m., he gives his phone and laptop to his assistant Rob, who returns them at 6 a.m. This system helped restore his sleep quality and mental clarity. Now, he reads a very boring paper book — a classic version of King Arthur — each night to fall asleep quickly. This habit led to a new initiative.
They created a special briefcase, called the “valis,” designed to hold your laptop, phone, and TV remote — humorously nicknamed “the three jewels.” Once the electronics are locked away, you take out a paper book for spiritual reading. The briefcase has a time lock: it closes at 10 p.m. and reopens at 6 a.m. If someone tries to break it open, they’ll just need to buy a new one.
Profits from the briefcase sales, after covering salaries, are donated locally in the country where the purchase was made. For example, in Vietnam, proceeds support Mr. Ben’s house-building project, which has already completed 900 homes. In China, donations go toward preserving ancient texts in Dunhuang.
Monthly Book Subscription and Translation Team
To support the Diamond Cutter Classics project, subscribers can now receive monthly books — some as long as 700 pages. These are historic translations being done for the first time in centuries. Subscriptions are priced differently across seven world regions, considering the economic realities of each — for example, lower prices for Slavic-speaking countries due to current war conditions, and higher prices in wealthier regions like Singapore.
Those who subscribe not only receive a spiritual book each month but also become part of the translation effort. Subscribers get 20 pages of a translated text in their own language (Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian, Ukrainian, etc.) and are asked to review and correct it. Their names will be included in the final published books.
Even those who can’t afford a full donation will receive smaller teachings or ACI course materials monthly. Participation also grants access to free weekly translation classes (three per week). Additional content is available for specific regions such as Europe, America, and Central Asia, and includes rebroadcasting and life tool creation activities.
The project is supported by major organizers across Asia — including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Japan — who help deliver books and subscriptions. The core message: better sleep leads to better productivity and clarity in life.
To join, scan the relevant QR code shared in the session based on your region.
Read also:
