Seeds & Savings: Ancient Wisdom for True Wealth

In this talk, Geshe Michael Roach explores the hidden connection between generosity and wealth, offering a fresh perspective on financial planning through the lens of mental seeds. He encourages listeners to invest in “the bank of other people,” highlighting how acts of kindness and support for those in need plant powerful seeds for future abundance.

The more honest you are, the more seeds you plant. The more seeds you plant, the more money comes in.
(00:00)

Addressing the most searched financial questions, Geshe Michael begins by explaining that saving money effectively starts with being generous. Rather than hoarding every cent, he advises to put aside money regularly—such as quarterly contributions to a retirement or savings account—while maintaining generosity with everyday income.

He emphasizes that generosity and savings are not mutually exclusive. A practical balance can be achieved: continue helping others while consistently setting aside a portion of income for long-term goals like retirement or purchasing a home.

Saving for Retirement with Career Breaks

For those, especially women, who may experience career breaks, Geshe Michael recommends increasing the percentage of income saved during active work periods. At the same time, he stresses the importance of not compromising one’s spirit of generosity. Retirement funds can be protected while still contributing meaningfully to others.

He suggests keeping special savings untouched and being generous from current income, reinforcing the idea that seed planting should not be halted due to financial caution.

Using Virtual Accounts

Geshe Michael explains his use of virtual accounts—not separate bank accounts, but mental or documented reserves for specific purposes within a general budget. This system helps maintain clarity, honesty, and purpose in financial decisions, especially when managing funds designated for particular projects.

Virtual accounts are a great idea. A little more bookkeeping, but definitely worth it.
(04:48)

Investment Strategies for Women

Considering women’s typically longer life expectancy, Geshe Michael recommends careful financial planning to ensure post-retirement stability. He reiterates that generosity does not conflict with saving for the future and mentions the possibility of supporting women-focused funds, such as those offered by the Grameen Foundation, which empower female entrepreneurs.

He notes that a long lifespan can lead to outliving one’s savings and encourages realistic planning to avoid hardship in later years.

Diversified Investment Advice

When asked about general investment strategies, Geshe Michael emphasizes the importance of diversification. He shares that he invests in land, restaurants, and stocks—selecting stocks based on companies that contribute positively to the world. Yet, the strongest investment, he insists, is in generosity: giving to others in need is equal to investing in property or financial markets.

We should invest in the bank of other people.
(08:05)

Saving for Children vs. Retirement

Balancing savings for children’s education and one’s own retirement requires thoughtful planning. Geshe Michael warns that failing to plan for retirement often leads to children bearing the financial burden later. He advises carefully reviewing monthly expenses, planning for retirement first, and then allocating support for children’s future needs as well.

Safe Investments for Children’s Future

To ensure investments for children truly benefit them, Geshe Michael recommends teaching children to plant their own good seeds. According to him, parents can’t harvest karmic seeds on their behalf. Children must develop their own habits of generosity to safeguard any financial legacy left to them.

Cryptocurrency & Modern Technologies

On the topic of Bitcoin and digital assets, Geshe Michael acknowledges the risks and opportunities of new technologies. While he personally avoids investing in Bitcoin due to volatility, he stresses that the success of any investment depends more on karmic seeds—acts of generosity—than on the asset class itself.

It’s not the kind of investment you choose—it’s the seeds you’ve planted.
(14:30)

Managing Debt Wisely

Geshe Michael strongly discourages borrowing money, emphasizing that debt often leads to poor financial decisions. He acknowledges that borrowing may be necessary in rare cases, such as launching a capital-intensive business, but only if it’s done transparently, with a solid repayment plan and ongoing honesty with investors.

He warns against the cycle of borrowing without control and highlights the karmic danger: debt makes people less generous, which in turn leads to fewer resources and deeper debt.

People who tend to get in debt tend to get in worse debt.
(25:49)

Influencers, Luxury, and Financial Wisdom

Addressing the rise of influencer culture and extravagant lifestyles, Geshe Michael cautions against excessive consumption. While he doesn’t condemn wealth or being an influencer, he warns that chasing luxury often distracts people from generosity—cutting them off from the karmic roots of true wealth.

He shares examples of people who accumulate cars or multiple homes but eventually face financial collapse because they’ve forgotten to “invest in the bank of other people.” True wealth, he explains, must include mindful support for those in need.

Simple Lifestyle by Choice

Despite opportunities to earn large sums, Geshe Michael chooses to live in a legally minimal home in Arizona. He explains that he only uses two chairs a day—one at the kitchen table and one at his desk. He doesn’t seek to appear modest, but simply doesn’t desire material complexity.

This minimal lifestyle helps him focus on meaningful work, like writing and service. He adds that even accepting too many gifts becomes inconvenient, as the maintenance and clean-up take time away from helping others.

Recovering from Personal Debt

Reflecting on his time in the diamond industry, Geshe Michael recalls borrowing small amounts from his teacher to cover daily needs while donating most of his income to preserve ancient wisdom. His approach to debt was always urgent: cutting unnecessary expenses, avoiding new obligations, and paying back quickly.

He believes debt should only be taken on for meaningful projects—and only if the borrower is willing to radically reduce other expenses and never borrow more until the first debt is cleared.

Why Debt Blocks Generosity

Debt is dangerous not just financially but karmically. When people are in debt, they tend to share less. That lack of generosity stops the flow of wealth and deepens the debt trap. Therefore, he insists, getting out of debt must be a top priority to restore one’s generosity and future income.

Paying Taxes with Integrity

Geshe Michael is unequivocal: always pay your full taxes. Avoiding taxes is both illegal and unwise. Governments use those funds to support the very infrastructure and services we all rely on—from the internet to education to public safety. He considers it an honor to contribute, even choosing to overpay his taxes at times.

The government’s not stupid. Don’t try to cheat the government—pay your full taxes.
(27:05)

At the same time, he supports using legal tax deductions—especially when those savings allow for even more generosity, such as helping disaster victims or those in great need. The key is to use any savings with karmic intelligence.

When You Disagree with Government Spending

What if your government uses tax money in ways you morally oppose—such as supporting violence or war? Geshe Michael acknowledges this concern and shares his own experience protesting peacefully and even being jailed for opposing violence.

He advises using all available legal methods to express disagreement—writing to elected officials, voting, and participating in legal protest. But even while protesting, he insists that one should still obey the laws of their country and pay required taxes.

Remaining silent, he explains, could result in karmic responsibility for harmful actions done in your name with your tax money. Therefore, it is wise to speak up while staying within legal boundaries.

How Much Money Do You Need to Retire?

Planning for retirement starts with brutal honesty. Geshe Michael recommends writing down all current monthly expenses, stripping out non-essential subscriptions, and then padding the total by 25% to account for inflation and uncertainty.

This total monthly amount should then be multiplied by expected years in retirement. People are living much longer today, and underestimating life expectancy can lead to financial trouble.

He warns against cutting generosity out of fear of future scarcity. The true determinant of future abundance is not the size of your savings, but the spirit of giving you cultivate now.

The amount you will have in the future is very largely determined by your generosity.
(36:43)

Even great masters of the past could not eliminate all poverty—but they continued to give. We must do the same, giving freely and joyfully, regardless of the current state of the world.

Protecting Income in Divorce or Widowhood

Addressing income protection for women, Geshe Michael stresses the importance of equal rights in marriage. He believes that both partners deserve an equal share of all income and assets accumulated after marriage—especially considering that women often devote years to raising children or caring for aging parents.

He encourages open conversations before marriage about financial equality. If a partner isn’t willing to share equally, that’s a red flag. Women should feel empowered to walk away and seek a partnership based on fairness and mutual respect.

Setting aside part of one’s share as a safety net for possible future separation or loss is not only acceptable, but wise. Even those funds, he says, should be shared with others in need as part of an ongoing spirit of generosity.

Closing the Gender Pay Gap with Seeds

Geshe Michael addresses the persistent global gender pay gap, recognizing that it has existed for thousands of years. He recounts a striking memory: a plane full of women each adopting baby girls from a country where girls were historically unwanted. Over time, this bias is shifting—people are realizing that daughters are often more supportive of their families than sons.

He shares that, in his business experience, he prefers hiring women—especially mothers—because they tend to be more emotionally stable, resilient, and reliable. He credits women with better pain tolerance and a lower tendency toward emotional volatility.

Though laws in his country prohibit employment discrimination, he personally believes that female employees bring exceptional value. If a woman experiences gender discrimination in a workplace, his advice is simple: quit and find a company that respects her skills and worth.

Women are often more dependable, more stable—and less prone to war.
(46:47)

Final Thoughts

As the interview concludes, Geshe Michael reaffirms the core theme: lasting financial success comes not from fear or accumulation, but from planting mental seeds through honest, generous, and wise action. Whether dealing with taxes, retirement, investments, or inequality—karmic intelligence remains the foundation of true wealth.

He encourages everyone to apply these ancient tools to modern challenges and to see money not as a goal, but as a means to help others and create lasting peace of mind.