Phil Jackson And Buddhism Essay example -- essays research papers fc

Buddhism is a major Asian religion studied and dependable in countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Although Buddhism is a growing religion throughout the world, in particular, the practice of meditation is spreading in the West. The United States has a nerve center for Buddhists in Hawaii and New York and also a Buddhist community has been established in California. (Hewitt, 13-14) But even closer to home for most is the practicing of venereal infection Buddhism on the basketball court by former Chicago Bulls and present Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil capital of Mississippi. In this essay I allow for discuss how Jackson has bodied some of the practices of Zen Buddhism into his and the players of his teams lives and how it has been effective for the game and the lives of those involved. I will also touch on his use of combined Zen and Christianity along with his extended pursuit in the Lakota Sioux.The Chicago Bulls Buddha-like guru Phil Jackson inks the r ichest coaching deal in N.B.A. history ($6 million for one last season with the Bulls) (Notebook, 11). There may be some sound reasoning behind this. Michael Jordan was quoted on how some team members are starting to use Jacksons religion to help them win, Its that Zen Buddhism stuff. Were practicing smiling when we may be frustrated inside so we can relieve some tension. Its an art form (Quotables, 1). Jackson speaks in depth to his team about ejecting selfishness and egotism (Eckman, 3). He describes Jordan in the late 80s as a player who tried to overcome the other team by himself (Zen Teamwork). He not nevertheless helped lead Jordan to play like a star but led the Bulls to be a winning team. He and several of his former players believe that this is partially due to what they practiced in the years Jackson was coach. Not only did they study basketball, as writer Frank Deford for Sports Illustrated noted in a cover story on Jackson, they took part in group meditations and prega me nap time (84). Not to reference point poetry and assigned books (83). These things may sound odd but as one of the beliefs of Zen says, Dont get caught up in only one way of doing things and dont look at things from just one point of view. If you try another way, or change your point of view, the results will always be different (Chung, 99). Jackson definitely looks at and coaches basketball from a different point of view then most coach... .... As an solicitude getter to his team before a big game when they are wondering if the meditating and poetry will pay off or if they are just waste their time, Jackson reminds them of his awareness by saying, Its like youre going along at 65 miles an hour, listening to your hip-hop music, and your cell phone is ringing, and youre eating a Big Mac, and you spill ketchup on your shirt. You look down. And when you look back up right ahead of you, its all red lights. Theres just too much going on in your lives (Deford, 84)Works CitedChung, Tsai Chih. Wisdom of the Zen Masters. New York Doubleday, 1998.Deford, Frank. Father Phil. Sports Illustrated 1 Nov. 1999 82-91Eckman, Dr. Jim. Issues in Perspective. 2 April 2000. Grace University Zen and the Art of Teamwork. Fortune 25 Dec 1995Hewitt, Catherine. Buddhism. New York Thomson Learning, 1995.Jackson, Phil, and Hugh Delehanty. Sacred Hoops Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior. New York Phil Jackson, 1995.Notebook. Time 4 Aug. 1997 11Quotables. Home page. 26 April 2000.