Thirty Years with Geshe Michael Roach: Interview with Venerable Jigme (Part 2)

This is the second part of the interview with Venerable Jigme, Geshe Michael Roach’s closest student and long-time assistant. You can read and watch the first part here: https://geshemichaelroach.info/interview-with-venerable-jigme-geshe-michael-roach-s-closest-student-part-1/

Early Years and the Circle Around Geshe Michael

In the mid-1990s, Jigme joined the early ACI community. She helped format course materials and was given access to Geshe Michael’s personal letters and documents. Around that time, key students began to gather: Lama Pelma (then Annie), Elizabeth (later Trisoma), Ora, and Christie.

“She was pretty much his closest student at that point… organizing everything.”
[00:08:38]

— Venerable Jigme

Being Asked to Leave and the Pain of Rejection

Despite her loyalty, Jigme was asked by Geshe Michael to leave the group indefinitely. She wasn’t told if or when she could return. She followed the request, moved back to Santa Cruz, lived alone, worked part-time, and studied materials from his old computer.

“I finally found my teacher and he doesn’t even like me… it was horrible.”
[00:17:20]

— Venerable Jigme

Return, Exclusion, and Trust

She was later allowed to return but was excluded from in-person classes. She received tapes instead. Two students asked for her removal. She believed Geshe Michael had rejected her, but found out much later it wasn’t his decision. Despite this, she never confronted him about it due to pain and fear.

“I thought that was coming from him… and I never asked him.”
[00:27:30]

— Venerable Jigme

Three-Year Retreat and PTSD

During the first three-year retreat, Jigme served as one of three people supporting the retreatants. There was snow, no electricity, limited water. Meals were cooked outdoors. Afterward, she went into a ten-month retreat of her own to recover.

“Most of that ten-month retreat I did afterwards was just to process my PTSD.”
[00:41:45]

— Venerable Jigme

Lama Christie and the Public Fallout

After the retreat, the public learned that Christie had become Geshe Michael’s partner. Jigme was not informed in advance. She stayed loyal even as sponsors reacted negatively.

“He’s never let me down.”
[00:51:35]

— Venerable Jigme

Ian’s Death and the Second Retreat

During the second retreat, the death of retreatant Ian brought international scandal. Jigme, then on the Board, helped arrange their removal for safety. But Ian and Christie returned secretly. Ian died. The media blamed Geshe Michael. Jigme says he remained silent, took no revenge, never blamed anyone.

“How can you have a retreat when people are stabbing each other?”
[01:05:00]

— Venerable Jigme

Jigme’s Loyalty and Final Words

Jigme has remained by his side all these years, still supporting him today. She continues helping with books, publishing, errands, and logistics. She believes his influence on modern culture is massive and mostly unrecognized.

“He’s extremely compassionate. Quietly, he helps people all the time.”
[01:48:34]

— Venerable Jigme

Key Moments