I'm Oprah Winfrey. Welcome to Super Soul Conversations, the podcast. I believe that one of the most valuable

gifts you can give yourself is time, taking time to be more fully present.

Your journey to become more inspired and connected to the deeper world around us

starts right now.

Born in 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana, Phil Jackson grew up in a strict religious home.

His parents were both Pentecostal ministers and the family spent all of their

free time practically at church. As a teenager sports and particularly basketball

became an escape for Phil and he excelled at it. Already 6-5 by his junior year

Phil became his high school's most valuable player so it was no surprise when he got a

basketball scholarship to the University of North Dakota.

It was there that Phil began his journey as a seeker, learning about and experimenting with Christian

mysticism, Native American rituals, and Zen meditation, all later used as principles for his coaching.

In 1967, he was drafted by the New York Knicks, where he earned two championship rings in the early 70s

and learned the value of awareness, selfless team play, and the importance of forging a deeper

bond between players.

As head coach, he promoted these same values,

guiding some of the greatest sport superstars of our time

to play for something greater than themselves.

Players like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neill, and Kobe Bryant.

Dubed the Zen master for introducing players to meditation,

Yoga and Tai Chi, Phil was able to use his spiritual influences

as a motivator to success. It's the subject of his latest memoir, 11 Rings, which

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