Monday, February 25, 2008
Posted by Miss Neddy at 10:19 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
Categories: Tea Related

From Tibet to Japan, tea is inextricably associated with Buddhism. As monks were not allowed to eat during their meditation, tea was found to be a excellent beverage for staying alert during the long silent hours of meditation. Especially with Chan or Zen (禅) Buddhism, tea became a strong component of the philosophy and everyday routine. Unlike liquor, which intoxicates, tea mildly stimulates but the drinker retains their sobriety. Buddhism and tea travelled together from China to Japan, and one can see the clear mirroring between the formal, ritualised ceremony of Chado (茶道) or Chanoyu (茶の湯), and the formalisation of everyday routines by monks practising Zen Buddhism. By rendering action into ceremony, one no longer needs to spare thought into the form of the action, but concentrate on the spirit.

Even though the Chinese tea ceremony seems more free-flowing and casual than the Japanese version, tea masters can tell you about the quietude or 静 (jing literally “quiet” or “serene”) behind the tea ceremony. This is also a word often used in Buddhism. A quiet heart and mind is able to contemplate the philosophy of Buddhism clearly, and likewise able to expertly make tea. Without distractions in the mind, one is able to clearmindedly judge the optimum conditions when making tea. One may be a regular tea drinker for decades, and never achieve this quietude. In Zen Buddhism, there is the concept of a sudden enlightenment or satori (悟). In Chinese, this word is known as Wu, or understanding. I believe that an understanding of the spirit of tea appreciation can gradually grow within a person, or may suddenly emerge, a blossoming of understanding.

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