The Diamond Cutter

I've put these notes here so I could retrieve as and when. This blog is like my digital warehouse lah.



This book is written by Michael Roach, he is a Buddhist monk (Tibetan) and worked in the diamond industry for many years. He lives in New York City. His recount on his work is both humorous and insightful.

Briefly

Two ways of seeing hidden potential in things. One- "see" this nature by reading explanations about it (eg: from books) and then sitting and thinking hard about the explanation unit you understand the potential and can use it. Two- go into deep state of meditation to "see" the potential in your mind's eye.

The Diamond Cutter is even more ultimate that the diamond, given that the diamond is the hardest element on earth.

Mis-perception about Buddhism, about each person's inner spiritual life in general. Buddhism taught that there us a time and place for taking on the life of a scheduled monk, for living apart from the world in order to learn to serve the world, but serve the world we must. and to do so, we must be in the world. (hence his corporate life).

The very people who are attracted to business are exactly he ones who have the inner strength to grasp and carry out the deeper practices of the spirit- thoughtful, resilient, thorough, insightful. 

You can have your cake and eat it. ie. You can make millions (dollars) and have time to meditate. 

The question is how we make the money, where it comes from, how to continue income, whether we keep a healthy attitude about the money.  A person with greater resources can do much more good in the world than one without.

Nothing in itself is a good thing or a bad thing. It just depends on who's looking. It appears good to some people who benefit from it, bad to people who are hurt by it. It is empty of quality. It is neutral, empty or blank, and emptiness is its hidden and ultimate potential. A bad thing is never bad from its own side.

Be compassionate regardless. 

Your current experience is your (previous) mental imprint. 

Your current choices and actions will form your mental imprint. 

To change or influence your future, arrest your current mental imprints. 

The mind can be impressed in an especially strong way, when something kind or unkind is done to someone who is in great need. The strength with which they are planted depends on the various factors we have outlined, including our intentions, the strength of our emotions, how well we recognise what we are doing, the style with which we act, the degree to which we "own" our actions afterwards (responsibility & ownership), and certain details of the person whom we have acted- eg: someone in great need, someone who has been helpful to us, or someone of exceptional character.

Be wary of your natural reaction to a problem. 

 Pointers

1.  Maintain a generous sate of mind. 
2. Maintain an ethical way of life. (actually, the books says "very ethical")
3. To stay healthy, refuse ever to get angry.  
4. Take joy in constructive and helpful actions. 
5. Practise deep states of concentration, aka meditation. 
6. Learn the principles of hidden potential and mental imprints. 
7. Be compassionate towards others. 

Good results cannot come from an unethical action, any more than a sweet fruit can come from the seeds for thorns. 

Solutions to various, various problems (business & personal)

1. Share your profits with those who have helped you produce them. Be very strict about never making a single penny through any improper action. It is not the amount you share that determines the strength of imprint, it is your willingness to share whatever you've made, even if it is not a lot. 
2. Stop being envious of others and their businesses. Concentrate on making your company and yourself innovative, creative and fun. Don't be unhappy about the success of others. Be happy for their success. 
3. Do not be arrogant, regardless level. Sit with the troops, listen to those who work with you. 
4. Stop comparing yourself to others or others to yourself. Enjoy what you have. 
5. Be really careful never to engage in implicit or explicit talks that aim to split up other people.
6. You fix your world by fixing yourself. 
7. Maintain high integrity of yourself. Your business decisions will be crisp, decisive, effective. 
8. Stop being a cheapskate. Be generous, everybody prospers with creativity. 
9. Keep your promises. Keep your commitments. 
10. Are your priorities in order?
11. Face up to the deficiencies in your own broad viewpoints about why greater things in the world happen. 
12. Help others find a place to stay when they need them. Be generous. 
13. Choose your associates wisely. (integrity)
14. Unpleasant words may be harsh but sarcasm is worse. 
15. Eliminate any unhealthy interest in the woes of others including your competitors. Even the so-call public obsession with the troubles of celebrity or famous people. Do not fascinate in others' problems. Feel empathy. 
16. Think straight. 
17. Stamp out unhappiness in every form. 
18. Do not wish failure upon others. 
19. Be visionary enough to create new wealth, not restrict ourselves to what has existed up to now. 
20. Consciously take joy in the success of everyone around you. 
21. Look out for your employees' health. Do not overwork. 
22. Be honest. 
23.  Be straightforward. 
24. Do not respond to negativity with negativity. Do not respond violence with violence. 
25. Avoid anger at all cost. Do not get upset.
26. Be respectful towards others. 
27. Extend help with others seek from you. Loan them your workers. 
28. Have a gratitude mental attitude. 
29. Eliminate sexual harassment or lewdness at any level including jokes, clean it out.
30.  Be a reliable and responsible spouse. 
31. Do not think "me" or "you",  view others as part of you. 
32. Do not take solo pride in your achievements. There is a team of people who made it possible, including the guards, janitors, anyone even if their roles are limited. Be sensitive. 
33. Do not gossip. Think before you speak.
34. You can't just blindly trust what you grew up with or accept blindly what is popular or legal at any given time in that little part of the world you call 'home'. One man's poison is another man's meat. 

 Others:-

1. Causes come before their results- enjoy your good fortunes and continue your good deeds. 
2. Causes are smaller than their results- a small, good deed goes a long way to those in need. 
3. Growing things takes time- put your mind to thinking good. 
4. It helps to track- do the 'six-time book' tracking system. Track your thoughts & actions. 
5. Understand what you're doing (makes it infinitely stronger)- have integrity ingrained in your subconsciousness. 
6. Always end with the act of truth- and honestly toward everyone you come across. 

Take a "Circle Time" once in a week, take a day off work; rest, pursue a hobby, go sight seeing, go meditate, a restful mind allows creative insights and brilliant ideas for work and personal life.

Take a "Forrest Time" (the book doesn't say how often), two weeks off work, off from mobile phones, mobile devices, off social contacts. off emails. Get in touch with nature. (Forrest time is not the regular vacation time).

Keep yourself healthy. Exercise.

Look at it this way-
For instance, you've got your boss yelling at you over a 'crucial mistake' you've made.
To the boss' wife, that man is not a mad man, in fact she sees him doing something right.
To your colleague who had been competitive towards you, the yelling is pleasant.
To your boss, he is never bad nor wrong from his own views.
Therefore, 'a yelling boss' exists in your perception, by yelling back, you would have made it concrete. To "prevent future yelling bosses", you would refuse to yell back. What you could do is to get creative and solve the problem at hand.