Explanation 1: Things come from nothing, everything’s just random, there are no patterns or logic at all to how and why things happen. This is the scientific “big-bang” approach.Explanation 2: God(s). The world around you is the result of the conscious effort of a very powerful being basically beyond our immediate experience. Explanation 3: Nothing is random, nothing is accident & we have no one outside ourselves to blame for our own world. Things occur to us in exact accord with how we treat those around us, not by the decision of any outside person but in exact compliance with a moral law.

Why things are the way they are?

In Buddhism, one is reaping the harvest of seeds sown by actions (karma) of past experiences, while at the same time planting new seeds to ripen in the future. Michael Roach calls these mental imprints.These seeds for “good” or “bad” experiences are planted in 3 different ways. They happen whenever <ol><li>we do something,</li><li>say something, or </li><li> when we think something</li></ol>When the imprint plane takes off—that is, when the impression in the mind comes up to the conscious mind—it colors (even determines) our entire perception of whatever event we are undergoing at the moment.

Karma & Mental Imprints

How to figure out which imprint we can plant in our minds to see the world as we want it. This depends primarily on maintaining certain:<ol><li>states of mind</li><li>standards of behavior</li><li>knowing how to call on the power of what we call an “act of truth.”</li></ol>Your attitude to life, your actions and your connection to truth will change how you experience your life, how successful your business is or how fulfilling your relationship is. The way you embrace the now, how you act now are going to determine how you see tomorrow. If you are angry you will see anger. If you don't give, you will stay poor etc...

How to Bend Reality

Is a day, usually Wednesday, that is reserved for taking care of yourself. Instead of work use the day to meditate, exercise, nap, practice a hobby or read.It may seem like slacking off work, but we are invigorating our souls and intellects. Not only by spending a day away from our repetitive patterns of business thinking but also by concentrating on ourselves.The Circle has to be a space of complete silence and concentration. No telephones, no TV, and none of the other kinds of noise that keep you from hearing the great ideas you have in your mind: no radio, music, magazines, etc...

The Circle

<ol><li>In order to see yourself do well in business plant imprints for this in your subconscious by maintaining a generous state of mind. </li><li>For happiness, maintain an ethical way of life.</li></ol> <ol><li>For health refuse to get angry.</li><li>For leadership be helpful to other.</li><li>For peace, meditate.</li><li>For freedom, learn about imprints.</li><li>To get everything you want, be compasionate. </li></ol>

The 7 Main imprints

Set the tone for an entire day by spending a few quiet moments in the morning. In Tibetan the expression can be translated by “shooting an arrow.” This daily morning quiet time, sitting silently by yourself to prepare your thoughts for the day, is like the six-time book: absolutely essential for you to pull off the task of creating complete personal and business success for yourself in the years to come.You should actually begin the night before. Before sleep first review the day just past, reviewing the negatives and most importantly, the positives.

Setting the day

The Diamond Sutra is an ancient Buddhist book, containing conversations between Buddha and his disciples. It is considered the oldest printed book ever.The modern book ... tells the story Michael Roach, an American Tibetan monk, who built a 200M diamond cutting business. His claim is he did it all using the wisdom in the ancient sutra and translated all of it into a business focused advice book. His premise is that problems are created by seeds or imprints you have planted in your mind in the past. By controlling your attitude and actions you can bend reality and become prosperous.

The Diamond Cutter

The author of Diamond Cutter, was studying at Princeton when his mom got seriously ill. He travels to India in search of meaning and stays for 20 years being trained as a monk by the Tibetan refugees. He is sent back to NY, where he enters the diamond business. His company, Andin, will get to 200M in revenues being acquired by Warren Buffet. Roarch is now a business coach, teaching the ancient Buddhist wisdom.He is controversial for getting married, unorthodox teachings and was accused of sexual misconduct ... losing the support of Dalai Lama.

Michael Roach

In Buddhism the foundation of reality is blank or neutral. And yet we do experience some things as good & other things as bad. However ... the way we see things is coming from ourselves. ex: A pen is a pen to us, a chewing stick for a dog or a toy for a kid. Our mind makes it a pen. This means our minds create our experiencing reality through the stories and worldviews we fashion to explain who we are and the world we live in. Our subconscious biases trained over many years are shaping how we see the world.

Emptiness

Your world is a creation of your integrity, or lack of it. ﻿Your ethical way of living and doing business must be driven by a clear and conscious awareness of what kind of imprints this behavior will plant in your subconscious, and how this will determine the very reality of the rest of your business career.

"When we speak about the Buddha nowadays, we tend to think of an oriental man with a bump on his head... But think rather of a tall and graceful prince, traveling quietly through the country, speaking with knowledge, conviction & compassion of ideas that every man or woman can use to succeed in life & to make this life meaningful." His followers were also royalty or successful businessmen of their age. Buddhism is not anti-business. On the contrary, the very people who are attracted to business are exactly the ones who have the inner strength to carry out the deeper practices of the spirit.

Buddhism is not about poverty

Can Buddhism be used to find success in business? This book, offers a practical interpretation of karma, as a way to bend reality and find success. 

The now classic work on Buddhism and business from the foremost American teacher of Tibetan Buddhism—reissued in a tenth anniversary edition with compelling case studies that showcase its principles in action around the globe. With a unique combination of ancient and contemporary wisdom from Tibetan Buddhism, The Diamond Cutter presents readers with empowering strategies for success in their personal and professional lives. The book is presented in three layers. The first is a translation of The Diamond Sutra, an ancient text of conversations between the Buddha and his close disciple, Subhuti. The second contains quotes from some of the best commentaries in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. And the third layer, the main text, is the practical application of Buddhist philosophies to the world of business, based upon Geshe Michael Roach's seventeen-years of experience as an employee of the Andin International Diamond Corporation, a company that grew during his tenure from four employees to a world leader in the jewelry industry. Roach’s easy style and spiritual understanding make The Diamond Cutter an invaluable source of timeless wisdom for those familiar or unfamiliar with Tibetan Buddhism. His focus on practical personal and business applications has resonated with and changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals the world over since its original publication.

mindfulness

Mindfulness

business

Business

books

Books

meditation

Meditation

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

The now classic work on Buddhism and business from the foremost American teacher of Tibetan Buddhism—reissued in a tenth anniversary edition with compelling case studies that showcase its principles in action around the globe. With a unique combination of ancient and contemporary wisdom from Tibetan Buddhism, The Diamond Cutter presents readers with empowering strategies for success in their personal and professional lives. The book is presented in three layers. The first is a translation of The Diamond Sutra, an ancient text of conversations between the Buddha and his close disciple, Subhuti. The second contains quotes from some of the best commentaries in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. And the third layer, the main text, is the practical application of Buddhist philosophies to the world of business, based upon Geshe Michael Roach's seventeen-years of experience as an employee of the Andin International Diamond Corporation, a company that grew during his tenure from four employees to a world leader in the jewelry industry. Roach’s easy style and spiritual understanding make The Diamond Cutter an invaluable source of timeless wisdom for those familiar or unfamiliar with Tibetan Buddhism. His focus on practical personal and business applications has resonated with and changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals the world over since its original publication.