ACI | V Houses
BRIDGE TO THE DIAMOND WAY 6
Geshe Michael Roach
& others
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
July 7–12, 2026
IN-PERSON & ONLINE
BRIDGE TO THE DIAMOND WAY 6
The Final Gathering
WELCOME
This Is It. The Final Gathering. The Last Step Before the Diamond Way. There are moments in life that you feel before you fully understand them. Moments that carry a quiet weight—because something is ending, and something much more extraordinary is about to begin. This is one of them. After five transformational courses with the V Houses, we are arriving at the sixth and final gathering in this series—the final opportunity to come together in-person before stepping into the advanced teachings of the Diamond Way. This is not just another event. This is the culmination. The bridge. The threshold. And Kuala Lumpur is where we cross it—together, in the final preparation for entrance into the Diamond Way in October 2026.
What We’ll Study
(And Why It Matters)
Geshe Michael Roach—master translator, teacher & international best-selling author—continues to guide us in the Bridge to the Diamond Way series through two powerful texts that lead us down steps of the path in a clear and concise way. We will also explore extensive instructions on how to incorrectly (and thus correctly) meditate on emptiness—the fact that nothing is not coming from how we treated others in the past.
A Song of My Spiritual Life
by Je Tsongkapa (1357–1419)
We complete our study of this extraordinary text, arriving at the final stages of the path, preparing us for advanced study and practice. These final sections will load our toolbox with all the necessary skills, instruments, & instructions to plant and ripen our seeds for what’s coming next.
These sections reveal:
How to develop true concentration
How to cultivate deep insight
How to bring everything together into a complete system
This is where the path becomes practical, precise, and transformative.
The Devil Debates an Angel
by Lobsang Chukyi Gyeltsen (1567–1662)
We continue our study of this text, exploring one of the most fascinating inner experiences, the debate happening inside your own mind where the “devil” is your negative thoughts, doubt, confusion & misunderstanding, and the “angel” is your positive thoughts, clarity, & wisdom.
And the real question: Who will win, in your own mind?
Through this study, we’ll learn:
How to meditate on emptiness correctly by learning what is incorrect
How to avoid the common mistakes that have derailed practitioners for centuries
How to move toward the direct experience of reality
BRIDGE TO THE DIAMOND WAY 6
SAMADHI HOUSE PRESENTS
Master Classes with V Houses Global Teachers + GBOCS Returns
Training the Mind at the Highest Level
What if the biggest obstacle in our life isn’t the world around you…but an untrained mind? At the heart of this final gathering is a new Master Class series—a deep, structured exploration of meditation as a precise method for transforming how you experience reality. These sessions offered by the Samadhi House are built on the classical teachings of Foundation Course 3 and Pabongka Rinpoche’s Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand, focusing on the two pillars that define real meditation:
Concentration (Shamatha)
Insight (Vipashyana)
This is not about relaxing. This is not about “having a good session.” This is about training your mind—systematically, deliberately, and effectively.
Across this series of master classes, we’ll learn:
How attention actually works (and why it slips)
How to build stable concentration, full of enlivening energy and clarity
How to diagnose and fix meditation problems in real time
How to use a trained mind to investigate reality itself
By the end, meditation stops being vague…and becomes a repeatable, measurable skill with the capacity to make great, quick transformations in our lives.
GBOCS (Great Books Oral Commentary Series)
One of the most exciting parts of this program continues with a unique collaboration with Diamond Cutter Classics (DCC). The DCC ancient language translation team brings ancient wisdom to life in a way that’s dynamic, engaging, and deeply practical. If you experienced previous sessions at a V Houses event, you already have met:
Ben Kramer & Kendra Rickert, who taught us about clear thinking and the art of debate
Gibson Chang & Rob Haggerty, who taught us about the “pot on the stove” and how to create the conditions that unfold into an incredible peak experience
These weren’t just lectures—they were mind-opening experiences. And now…A brand new installment is coming in Kuala Lumpur, with teachers being announced soon…
Daily Practice: Yoga, Meditation, Integration
This isn’t just about learning. It’s about integration.
Every day, you’ll have the opportunity to:
Practice guided meditation
Build concentration step-by-step
Join daily yoga sessions to connect body and mind
These practices are designed to:
Stabilize what you’re learning
Make it usable in real life
Create lasting internal change
Because insight without integration… doesn’t last.
Real Conversations with Global Teachers
Some of the most powerful moments don’t happen in formal classes. They happen:
Between sessions
Over tea or coffee
In spontaneous conversations
Throughout the event, there will be opportunities to:
Connect with V Houses’ international teachers
Explore ideas in a relaxed, open way
Ask real questions about your practice and life
Nothing forced. Nothing scripted. Just genuine human connection around ideas that matter.
Powerful Live Ceremonies
We’ll also experience traditional ceremonies that are both symbolic and deeply transformative:
An offering to our teachers
A fire ceremony to purify negative seeds and promote peace
Renewal of commitments to live with wisdom and compassion
These are not just rituals; they are intentional moments that shape your inner world.
Meet the Teachers:
A Global Community of Wisdom
(To be announced soon)
This series brings together a unique group of teachers from around the world—individuals who have spent years (and in many cases, decades) studying, practicing, and living these teachings.
We’ll be learning from voices shaped by:
Different cultures
Different experiences
Different approaches to practice
And yet they are all grounded in the same ancient wisdom. This creates something rare: a learning environment that is both deeply traditional and highly relevant to modern life.
Our teachers are:
Practitioners who have tested these ideas in real life
Translators who have worked directly with ancient source texts
Teachers who know how to make complex ideas clear, practical, and usable
Humans who have touched the wide range of the joys and sorrows of that life has to offer, and share those experiences and all they have learned and integrated through the lens of applied wisdom
Beyond the
Classroom
What makes this event truly special isn’t just what happens during formal sessions, but rather it’s the access. Throughout the event, there will be opportunities to:
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Engage in informal conversations
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Ask questions about your personal practice
✦
Explore how to apply the teachings in your own life
These moments often become the most meaningful part of our experience at the V Houses. Because this is where the teachings stop being abstract……and start becoming yours.
Can’t Attend In-person?
Join Online
While this is the last in-person event of this series, we’ve designed a powerful online experience as well.
Online participants will have access to:
All classes with Geshe Michael Roach
Available in up to 12 languages
Flexible scheduling, with live streams and rebroadcasts for international time zone differences
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One of the most exciting parts of this program continues with a unique collaboration with Diamond Cutter Classics (DCC). The DCC ancient language translation team brings ancient wisdom to life in a way that’s dynamic, engaging, and deeply practical. If you experienced previous sessions at a V Houses event, you already have met:
Ben Kramer & Kendra Rickert, who taught us about clear thinking and the art of debate.
Gibson Chang & Rob Haggerty, who taught us about the “pot on the stove” and how to create the conditions that unfold into an incredible peak experience.
These weren’t just lectures—they were mind-opening experiences. And now… A brand new installment is coming in Kuala Lumpur, with teachers being announced soon…
-
We’ll also experience traditional ceremonies that are both symbolic and deeply transformative:
An offering to our teachers
A fire ceremony to purify negative seeds and promote peace
Renewal of commitments to live with wisdom and compassion
These are not just rituals; they are intentional moments that shape your inner world.
-
This isn’t just about learning. It’s about integration.
Every day, you’ll have the opportunity to:
Practice guided meditation
Build concentration step-by-step
Join daily yoga sessions to connect body and mind
These practices are designed to:
Stabilize what you’re learning
Make it usable in real life
Create lasting internal change
Because insight without integration… doesn’t last.
-
Building on the success of previous programs, we’re continuing the Life Integration Series—a practical, modern approach to meditation and daily life.
These sessions go beyond theory and answer real questions like:
Why isn’t meditation working (yet)?
How do I build a practice I can actually maintain?
What do I do when my mind won’t cooperate?
How do I use meditation during stress, conflict, or strong emotions?
We’ll learn:
How meditation really works (habit training)
How to overcome distraction and inconsistency
How to integrate awareness into daily life
How to work with emotions in real time
How to reshape your inner dialogue
How to build a sustainable system that fits your life
This is where ancient wisdom meets modern reality.
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One of the most beloved experiences returns.
Bring your tea. Bring your snacks. Log in from anywhere.
These informal sessions offer:
Real conversations with teachers
Practical guidance for daily life
A relaxed space to ask questions
It’s simple, human, and surprisingly powerful.
Online Costs
ACI | VH's Diamond Package is $499 and gives you some extra goodies, plus the virtue of knowing you will help other students attend with scholarships and contribute to ACI | VH 's ongoing ability to offer the dharma free to everyone.
The Gold Package price is $149, and we encourage everyone who can, to help support the dharma by paying that amount. We honor and thank you for your contribution; it will go a long way to help us with the increased costs of technology, staff salaries, travel, and communications.
If you can't afford $149, we are offering the full Gold Package for the donation amount of your choice. Even $1 works! If you can't afford even a $1 donation, just put $0 in the donation box, and someone will pay it forward for you. We rely on our generous Diamond participants and other donors to support our ability to offer this option.
ABOUT GESHE MICHAEL ROACH
Geshe Michael Roach grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was an honors student with an interest in religion and social issues. He was awarded a scholarship to Princeton University and after graduation he went to study and live at Rashi Gempil Ling, with Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tharchin. In 1995 he completed his studies with Khen Rinpoche and at Sera Monastery in India, and became the first American to be awarded the Geshe degree. While completing this work, he also developed and taught the seven-year ACI Foundations Study Program, which parallels the same core information taught at the Tibetan Buddhist monastery. That original program of 18 courses captures the essence of the six Great Books of Buddhism, as a means to train the next generations of western Buddhist teachers. Asian Classics Institute began with the mission to provide the recordings online, live teachings and by correspondence for anyone who would like to pursue these studies.
WE TRULY APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE!
By joining us for the Steps on the Path retreat, you're not only investing in your own spiritual growth but also supporting the continuation of these precious teachings.
As a not-for-profit organization, we also are asking for financial support to make this event as affordable as possible for anyone to attend. With your help, we can offer scholarships and work-study positions.
Additionally, we have sponsorship opportunities to cover major expenses during the event:
Ceremonies (Fire Offering, Offering to the teachers??)
Goal: $2,000Technology fees (like equipment, zoom fees, and dedicated staff)
Goal: $5,000Teacher support (food and transportation as ACI teachers, including Geshe Michael do not get paid for their teaching services)
Goal: $20,000Scholarships (for online attendance and in-person)
Goal: $15,000