He was born on December 17, 1952, and is widely recognized as the first American to receive the title of “Geshe,” a degree in Tibetan Buddhism equivalent to a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy.
- Key Achievements
- Early life and education
- Geshe Michael Roach as a Musician
- Main Teachings
- Geshe Michael Roach is Yoga Master
- Global Impact
- Spiritual Master
- Philanthropic Activities of Geshe Michael Roach
- Books by Geshe Michael Roach
- Geshe Michael Roach is the founder of Asian Classics Institute
- Translator
- Michael Roach’s Business Career
Key Achievements
- Received his Geshe degree after 20 years of rigorous study at Sera Mey Monastery in India.
- Co-founded Andin International, a successful jewelry company, applying Buddhist principles to business management.
- Authored several influential books, including The Diamond Cutter, which explains how ancient wisdom can be used to achieve success in business and life.
- Founded the Diamond Cutter Institute and the Asian Classics Institute, offering teachings on Buddhist philosophy and meditation globally.
Early life and education
Geshe Michael Roach was born in 1952 in Los Angeles, California to Phillip H Roach and Elizabeth Earle Roach. His father was a builder, and his mother was an elementary school educator and volunteer for social welfare organizations such as the Red Cross.
The family moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1958, and Geshe Michael received his elementary and high school education here.
Growing up he attended All Saints´ Episcopal Church, where he served as an altar boy, sang in the choir, and became president of the Episcopal Youth Group. He was a member of the church boy-scout troop and completed the Eagle Badge, also receiving the God & Country Medal and the Order of the Arrow.
In 1970, he received the Presidential Scholar Medal from US President Richard Nixon in a ceremony at the White House
In 1970 Geshe Michael was accepted on a full scholarship to Princeton University. He majored in the Department of Religion, and also completed advanced Russian-language studies. He graduated in 1975 with an honors BA in Religion.
During his high school and college years, Geshe Michael devoted much time to social activism. In high school he wrote a new school constitution which was accepted by the school administration and allowed the students greater rights. He spent several years as a volunteer for Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers, helping immigrant laborers from Mexico.
At Princeton, Geshe Michael served as a student member of the board of the Procter Foundation of the Episcopal Church at Princeton and helped write a revised church liturgy. He lived at the church parish house and was scheduled to attend seminary after graduation. At this point, his mother became gravely ill with breast cancer. Thrown into doubt about the very purpose of life, Geshe Michael in 1973 applied for and took a year off of his studies to travel to India, in search of answers.
Geshe Michael Roach as a Musician
Geshe Michael grew up playing rock & roll with his brothers, and helped pay for his first trips to India by playing Arab fusion jazz with the Tarbouche group at Princeton.
Main Teachings
- The Law of Karma: Everything we experience is a result of our past actions and intentions.
- Emptiness: Understanding the lack of inherent existence in all phenomena is key to transforming life and achieving happiness.
- Practical Application: Bridging ancient spiritual teachings with real-world challenges, particularly in business and personal relationships.
Geshe Michael Roach is Yoga Master
As for other practices meant to transform the inner body, Geshe Michael received empowerment into the “unsurpassed yoga” (anuttara) systems of the Tibetan tradition–including Bhairava, Vajra Yogini, Chakra Samvara, and Kalachakra–beginning in the early 1980´s, from some of the highest Lamas in the world at that time, including Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tharchin (1921-2004), Kyabje Ling Rinpoche (1903-1983), and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche (1905-1984). Read more… >>>
Global Impact
Geshe Michael Roach has inspired countless people around the world by demonstrating how traditional wisdom can be applied to modern challenges. Through his teachings, books, and organizations, he has brought Buddhist philosophy to the global stage in a practical and accessible manner.
Spiritual Master
Geshe Michael Roach has spent most of his adult life as a monk in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and has been meditating for over 30 years.
Philanthropic Activities of Geshe Michael Roach
In 1975 Geshe Michael began a lifetime of service for Tibetan refugees, collecting contributions and clothing in the Princeton area and shipping them to the refugee camps. In 1978 he assisted his teacher Khen Rinpoche in founding a formal charity to help refugee monks. Due in part to the help of income generated by the … Continue reading
Books by Geshe Michael Roach
- The Diamond Cutter: The Buddha on Managing Your Business and Your Life
- Karmic Management: What Goes Around Comes Around in Your Business and Your Life
- How Yoga Works (co-authored with Christie McNally)
More books – https://geshemichaelroach.info/books-by-geshe-michael-roach/
Geshe Michael Roach is the founder of Asian Classics Institute
In 1993, near the end of his Geshe studies, Geshe Michael determined that he would try to make the entire Geshe program available to westerners in their own language. In that year he worked with Lama Thupten Pelma, a Tibetan Buddhist nun from the Caribbean, to open the Asian Classics Institute in New York.
Translator
Geshe Michael is one of the most prolific modern translators of ancient Asian manuscripts, having completed more than 40 ancient texts of Tibetan and Sanskrit (for more detail see The Knowledge Base), totaling at present some 10,253 pages.
Michael Roach’s Business Career
In 1981, his teacher Khen Rinpoche directed him to begin a business in Manhattan in order to help support Tibetan refugees.
Following a meditative vision and the text of an ancient Buddhist classic, The Diamond Cutter Sutra, Geshe Michael helped Ofer and Aya Azrielant–two entrepreneurs from Israel–to start the Andin International Diamond Corporation.
