In my next book, The Competitive Buddha, I include as one of the vital values of championship teams the idea of COMPASSION. Here is a small excerpt from that section of the book.
We need compassion and human affection; they are the ultimate sources of success in life.
The Dalai Lama
Compassion is a major theme throughout Buddhist teaching; it brings us inner strength with less fear and increases self-confidence leading to our success in sports and life. It is something that can be taught and therefore learned through consistent conscious intentional practice.
According to Buddhist thought, compassion is a state of mind of wanting others to feel free, happy, confident and successful. Isn’t this what we all crave for each other in athletics? Coach Phil Jackson agrees and believes that compassion had been the most integral, important aspect to his coaching. He found that a few kind, thoughtful words can have a strong, positive, transformative effect on an entire team. He considered it one of several elements responsible for his championship cultures. When Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant became compassionate leaders, they transformed the Bulls and Lakers into two of the greatest teams of all time. Compassion for Phil, Michael and Kobe, was the key foundational building block in their competitive sports world. Compassion is an essential characteristic of the Mamba Mentality.
It’s no accident that coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors has thoughts about compassion in sports, as Phil was his mentor while playing with the Bulls. One of Steve’s core values for the Warriors is compassion. Steve believes that the most powerful leaders in the world are the ones who have enormous compassion for others. Coach Kerr also experienced compassion with head coach Gregg Popovich, as a player on the San Antonio Spurs. I’ve talked with Steve about compassion as a cultural value. He believes, as does Jackson, that players respond wholeheartedly to such an environment by their actions, such as when they play or don’t, and understanding their roles, as well as understanding each other. Being a great communicator, Kerr actively demonstrates his understanding of his players’ concerns, issues, and what matters most to them. Because of this approach, all the Warriors feel that they are valued, that they are important, and that they are relevant, regardless of their talents.
Buddhism’s teaching of compassion is extremely compelling in athletics. The Buddhists’ culture is intent on cultivating an open, unlimited heart toward humanity. The Chinese ancient book, TAO TE CHING, states that “leaders whose positions are lasting are those who are most compassionate; when two armies meet, the one with compassion is the one who tastes the “victory.”
Such thought is extremely relevant in the current world of sports. Where there is compassion, there is courage within, giving a person a sense of comfort and security, knowing that if risks are taken, regardless of outcome, all will be fine. For example, compassion helps you to not worry about mistakes, failures or loss. Compassion helps athletes to learn from setbacks and move on. Compassion also empowers you to be brave, fearless and tenacious.
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