In his TEDx talk, Geshe Michael Roach shares a teaching from the oldest printed book in the world — the Diamond Cutter Sutra — on how to achieve everything you want in life, while simultaneously helping the entire world. This method is known as the Four Steps and can be applied to five major goals: financial independence, strong personal and professional relationships, vibrant health and energy, a clear and happy mind, and a meaningful life of purpose.
“Is it possible for each one of us to become enlightened and help the whole world become enlightened? I believe it is.”
Geshe Michael Roach, a Princeton graduate, spent 25 years in a Tibetan monastery, becoming the first American to be awarded the degree of Geshe, or Master of Buddhism. After completing his rigorous training, he was challenged to apply Buddhist principles in real life: he was sent to New York City with just $7 and tasked with building a business using the teachings on karma and reality shifts.
Despite initial hardships, he co-founded a diamond company that grew to 10,000 employees, reached $250 million in annual sales, and was eventually sold to Warren Buffett in 2009. Geshe Michael used the proceeds to launch a project helping Tibetan refugees preserve their ancient texts by digitizing them for free public access.
The Five Goals of a Meaningful Life
- Financial independence — having enough wealth to live freely and help others.
- Beautiful relationships — nurturing happy and supportive connections with loved ones.
- Vibrant health and energy — maintaining a strong and youthful body.
- Inner peace — achieving a calm and happy mind.
- Helping the world — sharing your successes to improve the lives of others.
The Ancient Method: The Four Steps
The core method for achieving these goals is planting karmic seeds through a four-step process:
- Step 1: Decide exactly what you want. Choose one of the five goals or even simply wish to discover your true goal.
- Step 2: Find another person who wants the same thing. For example, if you seek a partner, help a lonely person.
- Step 3: Help them actively and consistently. Spend time with them once a week, offering emotional support, love, and help.
- Step 4: Perform a “Coffee Meditation” each night. Before sleeping, reflect joyfully on the good you did that day, watering the karmic seeds planted in your mind.
“When you open your hand to give to others, the image of that generosity plants a seed in your mind, which blossoms into the reality you desire.”
Understanding the Power of Karma and Emptiness
One of the essential concepts Geshe Michael explains is emptiness. Objects do not have fixed identities from their own side. Whether something is a pen or a chew toy depends on the perceiver. Similarly, reality comes from our own minds — shaped by the seeds we plant through our actions.
By consistently planting positive seeds through helping others with love and intentionality, we can transform our lives and contribute to a global shift toward enlightenment and happiness.
“The lotus grows in the mud — if you want to purify a dirty world, you must begin by planting pure seeds in yourself.”
This powerful teaching offers a clear path: by helping others achieve their dreams, we inevitably achieve our own — and in doing so, we help enlighten the entire world.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.
