THIS ZEN BUDDHIST STUFF REALLY WORKS

 The other day I introduced you to THE COMPETITIVE BUDDHA, my next book that

will be published by Mango Publishing in the Spring. Here is another excerpt that will catch your interest.

It was during the Finals of the 1998 NBA playoffs when Michael Jordan, calm, relaxed and focused in the moment, hit “the shot’ with seconds left on the game clock to win the World Championship for the Chicago Bulls. Recounting that moment, George Mumford, author of the brilliant book, THE MINDFUL ATHLETE, remembers Jordan’s words: “that Zen Buddhist stuff really works.” Mumford, the master of mindfulness training with the Bulls, had used Buddhist teachings with sport to help the athletes unlock the competitive game. Michael received, perhaps, one of his most endearing, charming compliments from his arch rival, Kobe Bryant, who chided Michael as “Buddha at the top of the mountain.” As most of us know, having been coached by Phil “Zen Master” Jackson along with Mumford, Kobe embraced the Buddha through consistent daily meditation practice. So have thousands of other athletes from throughout the world who have experienced the competitive Buddha Way for the mastery of sport.

For example, here are a few of those superhuman athletes who have gravitated to the teachings of the Buddha to achieve mastery and competitive acumen in their sport. Understand first, that Buddhism is all about the mind and the thoughts and perceptions it manufactures. It is the mind that separates the good from the great athletes. It is the mental and spiritual talents that make the difference for all of us, regardless of one’s physical talent. The following athletes combine their sports with Buddhist mindful meditation to help create inner calm and peace to focus on extraordinary competitive performance. These athletes I refer to as true athletic Buddhas.

There is Lebron James who uses meditation to prepare well and has been known to quiet his mind during timeouts with “Buddha breathing.”

Then there is Derek Jeter, one of the greatest shortstops ever to play baseball. As a New York Yankee, he would meditate for an hour at a time.

Another iconic baseball athlete, LA Dodgers right fielder Shawn Green studied Zen Buddhism which, according to him, made him a better person and better athlete. His Buddhist approach helped him to have one of the greatest performances in major league baseball history. The LA Dodgers were facing the Milwaukee Brewers in the finale of a three-game series. Green went 6-for-6 that day with 6 runs, 7 RBI’s and a record 19 total bases.

Olympians Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh, two of the best volleyball athletes of all time on a team, practiced yoga and considered meditation as their secret weapon.

The all-time leading scorer in Major League Soccer, Chris Wondolowski of the San Jose Earthquakes, is aligned with the Buddha Way. Having intimately worked with Chris, we have had many conversations about a Buddhist approach to his game and how specifically to implement such wisdom on the pitch as a team captain during practice and in games. This work we did together had a

transformational effect on his experience as an athlete, captain and person becoming what he hoped to be.

The late, great iconic NBA baller, Kobe Bryant, learned from Phil Jackson and George Mumford how to use meditation prior to a game. Kobe has said, “George helped me to understand the art of mindfulness. To be neither distracted or focused, rigid or flexible, passive or aggressive...I learned to just be.”

I learned that he continued to meditate in his retirement each morning. I understood that Kobe read my book, THE WAY OF THE CHAMPION and claimed he used it and how it really helped him. This book is solidly based on Eastern thought, gathered from both Chinese and Buddhist wisdom.

When the Seattle Seahawks won the 2014 Super Bowl, coach Pete Carroll claimed that it was the practice of meditation that helped them on that remarkable journey.

And, I want to mention from my experience with athletics over the past 30 years alone that this Buddhist stuff does really work. As a coach, mentor and teacher, I have guided over 100 teams to world, national, state and conference championships in a multitude of sports at all levels of play. I’ve successfully employed this refreshing approach to help others to develop confidence, mental tenacity, spiritual strength, inspiration and mastery for competitive athletics and the navigation of challenges in all of life.