Crazy Wisdom > Playing Pool with Bhagavan Adi Da

Playing Pool with Bhagavan Adi Da

Aniello Panico

Aniello Panico has been a student and devotee of Adi Da Samraj since 1972. Aniello was also instrumental in the establishment of the Dawn Horse Press, the publishing house responsible for the publication of Avatar Adi Da's Teaching. Now in his 80's, and having spent considerable time in Adi Da's Company, Aniello wants to share a lifetime of enjoying the wisdom, energy, blessings and love of Adi Da Samraj — an enjoyment so profound that he considers himself the "luckiest man alive!".

This story was first published on Aniello's Facebook page, My Life With Adi Da Samraj.

In 1974, during one of the periods of Adi Da's Teaching/Submission Work, devotees purchased a beautiful antique pool table for Adi Da. Often, Adi Da played pool, especially with the men, in the evenings. It was always a lot of fun. During these games, Adi Da would joke around a lot. And somehow, also in the midst of the game, He would also address devotees in a serious, direct manner. I came to understand that He was doing it not just as entertainment, but as a way (using the device of fun and laughter) to directly serve devotees in their practice and relationship to Him.

I was a smart-ass, Italian from New York, who would occasionally miss a shot intentionally so that Adi Da could catch up. Looking back, the stupidity of that viewpoint was really something! He knew. He would always know what I was doing. His sensitivity proved itself to me over time. . . hundreds of times over the years. He even would actually know what you were thinking. Of course, as He said, "I am you", so it makes sense that He was able to do all this.

With Him, it was always about the lesson. Sometimes the lesson would be gentle. Sometimes not.

There was one game I played with Adi Da where I stopped missing shots intentionally, and I gave Him no quarter — I played my very best. And even so, He beat me fair and square! It was truly remarkable — like, all of a sudden out of nowhere, He got this burst, and shot a really good game of pool and beat me.

Then He slammed the stick down — bang! — and said, "Screw you, Aniello!".

And we both burst out laughing.

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His spontaneity was also incredible.

One time, just on impulse, I planted the cue, spun my body around and caught the cue. He immediately did a dance back to me, and I did another one back to Him, and then we both burst out laughing. The spontaneity, the split-second timing of me doing that, and Him just responding perfectly. . . it was an extraordinary and joyous moment! And I will never forget it.

* * *

Shortly after this occurred, I accompanied Adi Da on a trip to Hawaii. At the end of each day, I would be responsible for suggesting things to do that evening.

One night He asked, "So what do you have lined up? What can we do?"

"Well, I could make arrangements to get a private room to shoot some pool."

He looked directly at me and said, "You got the lesson of that, did you not?"

I knew He was referring to my strong, egoic pattern of male competitiveness, which I had definitely enacted with Him.

I said, "I did."

"So we do not have to shoot pool."

"No, I guess not."

* * *

I thank my Guru for His patience and His Presence in my life.