Let's Pile Rocks

In my book "I Came to Win" there is a chapter on the two monks who had to pile rocks. When I was in my basement for three years I did this exercise over and over until it seemed like the shots were shooting themselves on their own. It is a remarkable exercise.

I assign the students in The Masters of Art in Pocket Billiards this task. We need to learn to shoot without thinking.

Once you are free from the preoccupation with numbers, you are free to perform. This sense of freedom will enable you to reach the numbers you desire. If you are concerned about anything other than the shot you are facing, you are not free. You must be willing to work hard on your skills. Nothing comes easy.

I received a brilliant essay from one of my students. Let’s check on what he is going through in his efforts to find his freedom.

He writes: Thank you for the study work. I read chapter 26 in “I Came to Win” today. I piled rocks for one hour. 300 Rocks. I don't remember how many I missed. I just knew that sometimes I'd drop a rock when I was going across the road, and I'd just have to pick it up. Crying does not pick the rock up, anger does not pick the rock up, self loathing does not pick the rock up, wondering why the rock fell does not pick the rock up, I cannot try to pick up the rock, I choose to pick it up and get it across. So I just piled rocks.

It seemed like time stopped, I couldn't tell if it was a long time, or a short time and probably the only thing that reminded me of where I was at was knowing how many racks of rocks went to the other side of the road and how many were left. If I could have forgotten about that, I'd probably still be piling rocks and not writing you this email. SO in my training, I'm learning to pile the rocks without thinking. I suppose this leads me to my purpose...

I will work on the course work, and my essay. The strokes are coming to me. I used a snap back draw stroke on a follow shot last night...and it was beautiful. By the way, I made it to 7-8th last night. And yet, as good as that feels, I know the only reason I did not advance to the next match, is because I became emotionally attached, I WAS INSANE, but it was not to the game that I became emotionally attached to, or the match for that matter, or even the tournament, I became emotionally attached to my concentration and did not want to lose it...and thus I lost it...and came home smiling.

I am so very happy for you and Bonnie. I read her story on www.themonk.com tonight. Very wonderful indeed...two energies come together to form one...I could see in my mind her tying the rope to her and her boys during that terrible storm. Her story is amazing. Maybe I will get to visit with both of you sometime.

I have a question regarding the power point presentation you sent me. It said I should find a mentor or a coach. In my heart, I say you are my coach and mentor. Your teaching and your books the philosophy, that is what I seek. As I piled rocks, I thought, what is my purpose, why am I piling rocks. When the tournament is over, when the match over, when the game is over, then what will I have? I will have to find something else to conquer...if that was my purpose. But I think my purpose is to just find enlightenment and the only thing that brings me that close to that Universal Mind, that Collective Unconsciousness, is facing the man in the mirror, and Pocket Billiards puts that mirror up to me and shines that light on every little corner. It is wonderful. I smiled when I dropped a rock tonight. Because I knew it didn't matter. I would put the rock where it went, and I would move on. So I say again, my purpose is to be in balance. The whole of the universe strives for this, and so shall I.

“Don’t rush to the pool hall and play endless matches. Work on your stroke. You will be surprised by how quickly you can get back to form.”

What to do after taking time off from this game

Don’t rush to the pool hall and play endless matches. Work on your stroke. You will be surprised by how quickly you can get back to form.

For me it is key ball that presents my biggest problem when I am away from the game for more than one week. I miss vital shots in key situations. I choke, melt down and fall apart. This is normal for me so I don’t worry about it. I pay the fiddler in missed shots and blown opportunity and let it go away on its own. I do not spend time fighting the key ball problem.

What I focus on, I strengthen so I focus on my stroke, my rhythm and my aiming. It takes one day of practice for each week I miss. If I miss a month I need four strong days of training. If you’ve missed all summer, you will need to put in the time before the league begins so you will be ready. Tell your room owner that The Monk recommends you get a special table rate so you can get yourself back in shape for the long season ahead. Many room owners will give you time to get your game back.

The first thing you want to do in your comeback training is to master the four strokes of pool. Set up a series of punch stroke shots and pay close attention to the cue tip and cue ball. Makes sure the cue ball stops dead on a straight-in shot. Then move on to the follow stroke. Then the four draw strokes and of course the spin stroke. Master the four strokes before you go on to cue ball speed work.

The next thing you will to do is master cue ball speed. So spend some time working on speed shots and table position. They you are ready for competition. Work on Mastery of Self during you matches and now you will be ready for real matches. I am going to look for you in the finals.

Monk Billiard Academy News….

I am also filming six new dvd’s. I am also touring New Zealand with five workshops. I will be in Australia as well as Singapore. So it will be a busy six months.

The Maine Event in Vegas

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The Monk