Geshe Michael Roach - ACI

The Asian Classics Institute, a Project of Geshe Michael Roach

Geshe Michael Roach began teaching Buddhism in New York in the early 1980s. From these teachings, the Asian Classics Institute was born, and their curriculum to this day comprise of his new York teachings over a period of some years.

It would seem that being a teacher, or Guru has always been a goal of Geshe Michael Roach (as should be, with the right motivation, for all Buddhist practitioners), however he has also openly admitted to jealousy directed towards other teachers as well as his intense dislike of being “disrespected” by others. This may actually point to the possibility of an unhealthy motivation for his drive to become a renowned and respected Lama.

Alternatives to ACI

ACI offers a series of courses taught by Geshe Michael Roach in New York several years ago. The courses themselves are quite comprehensive, and many have found them valuable.

Having completed nearly all of the material offered by ACI, we have found it to be badly structures, full of mistakes, and in the important areas of emptiness and valid perception, to be taught in an incorrect and misleading way.

More importantly, studying the ACI courses creates a connection with Geshe Michael Roach, which we believe has the potential to cause harm due to his behavior and teachings.

There are many alternatives to ACI courses. Please consider these as an alternative if you are considering studying Buddhism on any level.

Alternatives to Geshe Michael Roach Teachings

ACI and Geshe Michael Roach Teacings - The Party Line...

The Asian Classics Institute is dedicated to the serious study and personal practice of the original teachings of the Buddha. The Institute was established by Geshe Michael Roach under the spiritual direction of Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tharchin, a distinguished scholar and master of Buddhism from Tibet.

The Institute is staffed by volunteers and offers a wide range of programs for spiritually minded people of all levels, from beginning to advanced. We welcome all comers, all our teachings are offered without charge, and our teachers are well trained and experienced in the authentic Tibetan tradition. The purpose of the Institute is to provide a thorough, accurate Tibetan Buddhist education to anyone interested.

Upon completing this full program of teaching, Geshe Michael Roach entered a three year isolated retreat, which will conclude in 2003. The teachers that Geshe Michael trained over a period of seven years continue to teach and conduct classes in person for the New York City community. For more information on the wide variety of classes offered in the New York City area, please see the classes in person pages. There are also study and meditation groups located in various cities around the world that are using materials from the Asian Classics Institute listed in the classes outside New York section.

Thousands of people have received Buddhist study materials from the Asian Classics Institute ACI by mail. To help satisfy the demand, and to make it more cost-effective for the growing number of students outside the United States, we have launched on-line availability of the teachings. Shipping printed materials and tapes around the world is too slow and expensive for many people. The on-line teachings make the audio and text from the original classes that Geshe Michael Roach taught available for download onto your own computer. You can now burn your own audio CD's of the teachings, or print out your own class texts.