Sacred Hoops (Revised): Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior

Picture this: NBA season is in full swing and atmosphere in the stadium is electric as the crowd Favorite Lakers are playing, the noise is deafening and players are all pumped up…amidst all this, one person looks unperturbed, radiating Zen like calmness and taking it all in, even though so much is at stake…That is the Legendary coach Phil Jackson, who made LA Lakers win many Championships and also molded champs like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O Neal to name a few players.That is precisely why I wanted to pick this memoir, as I wanted to know what goes inside Mr. Jackson’s mind, who helped win New York Knicks 5 NBA championships, 6 with LA Lakers and as a coach – 11 times!!! (The only person till date)As you read through this memoir, you will witness Phil Jackson’s love for Basketball as a player and also as a coach.After his team, New York Knicks won the NBA championship against formidable LA Lakers in 1971-72, the moment he has been striving for with all his heart since he was a kid. Yet after 2 days of celebration with family n friends the thrill was gone.“Instead of being overwhelmed with joy,I felt empty and confused”As he was born into an orthodox Pentecostal family, he could not find what he was yearning for, even though his mother made him cram all Bible verses since childhood.Turning point came when he read “The varieties of Religious Experience” after he read the book he has filled with a quiet feeling of inner peace, that he was longing for since a teenager.“It also gave me a deeper understanding of my Pentecostal roots and helped life the curtain of guilt that had shrouded me most of my life”what he was missing was spiritual direction as his devout childhood left an emptiness and he was filled with a yearning to reconnect with the deeper mysteries of life.To fill this yearning he turned to various paths - Eastern traditions, practicing yoga, attending lectures and reading countless books and then he came upon Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shunryu Suzuki which made him turn to Zen and he also introduced Zen to his players.He brought in a holistic approach to coaching that was heavily influenced by eastern philosophy. He also applied native American spiritual practices and Zen principles, bcz of which he is also referred as “Zen Master”We also get to know about his approach to teach Michael Jordan and making them play as a team and also come to read about Jordan Era and many talented players like Shaq, Derek Fisher and other LA team members and also about NY Knicks teams and the championships won under his tutelage.As Phil Jackson says“If you have a clear mind & an open heart,you wont have to search for direction.Direction will come to you”After finishing the book, you come away knowing the importance of having a balance in your life – once you have a clear mind and an open heart, regardless of the path you choose, the whole world becomes your Oyster.Read it!!! It will give you a Spiritual Direction to your life.Amazon: I got a 2nd hand book and it was delivered in a good condition.

Another beautiful classic which you will love to read specially if your interests lies in deeper psychology.

Libro da leggere. Tante storie personali sui CHICAGO Bulls e grandi lezioni di leadership.

Libro fundamental para entender la figura de Michael Jordan y cómo se forjaron sus míticos Bulls. Phil Jackson es un maestro del liderazgo, y su gestión de grupos tan heterogéneos es prácticamente un arte.

Amazing read a great insight into a fantastic coach It was so great learning his story. I can’t get over how far he is ahead of his time, so impressive. Couldn’t put this book down.

Este artículo cumple las expectativas que tenía.

Great book! Highly recommend it!