One of the many famous traits about Phil Jackson known by the public is his affinity for books. In his countless biographies and autobiographies, Jackson has written about giving players on his teams books, oftentimes personalized for each member.
Jackson is no longer coaching (directly, anyway) but as the New York Knicks’ president, the Hall of Famer is still partaking in this tradition. This time, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, Jackson is giving everyone a copy of “Mindfulness on the Go,” a pocket-sized meditation book.
The book — “Mindfulness on the Go” — follows Jackson’s Zen philosophies, listing 25 meditation exercises meant to be easily incorporated in everyday life.
Examples of the exercises include: the three-breath practice, the mindfulness of entering rooms, offering compliments, tasting your food one careful bite at a time, using your non-dominant hand for everyday tasks and placing awareness in the bottom of your feet.
The author, Jan Chozen Bays, is a meditation teacher who lives in a Zen monastery in Oregon.
Phil Jackson has always been a firm believer in meditation and Zen philosophies. Not every player will agree with him (Bondy reports that nearly everyone he asked hadn’t read any of the book since Jackson read a passage with them) but for some, it can actually be useful. Notably, Kobe Bryant has spoken about meditating during his own NBA career, something he learned from the coach he won five championships with.
Anything to turn the Knicks season around, right?
