Re: Is tea a spiritual activity for you?
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 1:17 pm
...And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Tea Knowledge & Friendship
https://www.teaforum.org/
bentz98125 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:51 amHope so. If so, I'll post it here!
(I think the writer is Guy Munsch. Didn't see his email but posted a request for more info. about the proverb in the comments below the article. Since he is a published tea and spirituality writer, I should be able to contact him eventually.)
But it’s not just tea. It’s literally anything that can be sensed. Tea has as much merit in this as an autumn leaf or a maggot on a dead cat.Tor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:14 pmSpeaking of which, just saw this one the other day.
"If the tea becomes real, we become real. When we are able to truly meet the tea, at that very moment we are truly alive." - Thich Nhat Hanh
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 8401438031
That is true. However, I also believe that there’s something in tea that makes Zen Buddhist often uses it as a ‘tool’. More often than, say, a maggot or a dead cat.Baisao wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:24 pmBut it’s not just tea. It’s literally anything that can be sensed. Tea has as much merit in this as an autumn leaf or a maggot on a dead cat.Tor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:14 pmSpeaking of which, just saw this one the other day.
"If the tea becomes real, we become real. When we are able to truly meet the tea, at that very moment we are truly alive." - Thich Nhat Hanh
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 8401438031
Nicely worded.
I think just about anything is a Dharma Gate.Tor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:46 pmThat is true. However, I also believe that there’s something in tea that makes Zen Buddhist often uses it as a ‘tool’. More often than, say, a maggot or a dead cat.Baisao wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:24 pmBut it’s not just tea. It’s literally anything that can be sensed. Tea has as much merit in this as an autumn leaf or a maggot on a dead cat.Tor wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:14 pmSpeaking of which, just saw this one the other day.
"If the tea becomes real, we become real. When we are able to truly meet the tea, at that very moment we are truly alive." - Thich Nhat Hanh
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 8401438031
The first part is what interests me. I apprecitate your Zen Buddhist perspective because your description of it matches my own sensibilies. But what intrigues me is the possiblility that somewhere, sometime there was or is a community of people for whom tea drinking was or is so important that they really did or do seriously believe tea monopolizes the true and the beautiful. Much as many in western civilization (and eastern too, I imagine) have felt literacy is a necessary precondition for a meaningful life. Or speaking a particular language, or being a member of a particular race, etc.. Imbuing tea with that level of importance strikes me as exotic and romantic. But of course on the other hand nothing kills pleasure in something quicker than taking it too seriously!Baisao wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 12:58 pmThere are two parts to the proverb."Maybe it is as simple as the ancient Japanese proverb that someone without tea in them is incapable of understanding truth and beauty. To chajin, this is the way (and the why) of tea
The first part asserts that “ someone without tea in them is incapable of understanding truth and beauty”. Speaking as a Zen Buddhist, there are ten thousand ways to understand truth and beauty. Tea is not the only way. This is silliness masquerading as profundity. The kind of overstatement you might read from Sei Shōnagon.
The second part of the proverb states that to the Chajin, this is the way/why of tea. This may be true. For me it can be a gate, amount countless gates, to enter through. It doesn’t necessarily need to be formalized either. “Dharma Gates are boundless, I vow to enter them”. Sometimes I drink tea. Other times I drink tea.
I don’t remember the period but people in the samurai class would have friendly competitions of tea tasting. Groups would develop a friendly rivalry and attempt to ascertain the region a tea was grown in, the host having procured teas from various locations. I assume this was matcha made from what we now call zairai. It was a festive activity. This is the same class of people who wrote poetry competitively and had incense identification contests. It all reminds me variously of games of chivalry and parlor games among upper class Europeans.bentz98125 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:18 amThe first part is what interests me. I apprecitate your Zen Buddhist perspective because your description of it matches my own sensibilies. But what intrigues me is the possiblility that somewhere, sometime there was or is a community of people for whom tea drinking was or is so important that they really did or do seriously believe tea monopolizes the true and the beautiful. Much as many in western civilization (and eastern too, I imagine) have felt literacy is a necessary precondition for a meaningful life. Or speaking a particular language, or being a member of a particular race, etc.. Imbuing tea with that level of importance strikes me as exotic and romantic. But of course on the other hand nothing kills pleasure in something quicker than taking it too seriously!
I think this is romantic wishful thinking... and also rubbish, pardon my French. While it is a nice idea, the majority of people at all times had likely more urgent things to do than to contemplate over a cup of tea: survival, work hard to get the crops in, fight wars for their lords, just get on with their daily lives and probably too tired to think anything when they did not had to slave away. All the while their master were sipping decadently on a cup, prepared by their servants, whe were carrying the items up to the pavilion, making and keeping a fire going and so on.JustinBlack wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2020 10:04 pmAccording to the ancients, during the ‘tea ceremony’ people could find a deeper meaning within themselves.
Tea can trace back its origin to China and has accompanied its ancient civilization for about 5000 years. However, the most significant aspect of this tradition, built around this amazing plant, has been forgotten.
Nowadays, people don’t take their time to savor a cup of tea and connect with their spirituality. This is also because of how fast-paced modern life has become. People no longer have the time to sit still and devote their time to drink their tea slowly, while contemplating and reflecting on life.
The tradition of drinking tea, which was conceived by the ancients as a part of everyday life, was considered a way of nourishing and purifying the body on a deeper level. During the process of preparing tea, the mind is purified. While you enjoy it, appreciate the aroma, and drink it, wandering thoughts are restrained, friendships are strengthened, and manners and virtue are cultivated.
In addition to the spiritual benefits, drinking tea helps to calm oneself down and soothe the mind, which reconciles itself to ancient China’s life philosophy.
Now that you know about all of its benefits, how about stopping for a moment to reflect while enjoying a delicate cup of tea?
Well said! 'Spirituality' often camoflages and rationalizes suffering. For 'have nots' seeking anesthesia or escape, it is reasonable to see short term relief as a spiritual blessing while tea as an effete indulgence. For prosperous 'haves' wrestling with the boredom that accompanies physical needs being met with little to no effort on their part, opiate addiction and raging alcoholism are deplorable vices while appreciating fine tea can be a wholesome, bordering on 'spiritual', prestige. Claims for the 'spirituality' of tea drinking should be restricted to those living a credibly ascetic lifestyle, if then. The rest of us are better off to check our privilege than preach 'spiritual' enlightenment through tea or anything else.Bok wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2020 10:42 pmI think this is romantic wishful thinking... and also rubbish, pardon my French. While it is a nice idea, the majority of people at all times had likely more urgent things to do than to contemplate over a cup of tea: survival, work hard to get the crops in, fight wars for their lords, just get on with their daily lives and probably too tired to think anything when they did not had to slave away. All the while their master were sipping decadently on a cup, prepared by their servants, whe were carrying the items up to the pavilion, making and keeping a fire going and so on.JustinBlack wrote: ↑Mon Jun 22, 2020 10:04 pmAccording to the ancients, during the ‘tea ceremony’ people could find a deeper meaning within themselves.
Tea can trace back its origin to China and has accompanied its ancient civilization for about 5000 years. However, the most significant aspect of this tradition, built around this amazing plant, has been forgotten.
Nowadays, people don’t take their time to savor a cup of tea and connect with their spirituality. This is also because of how fast-paced modern life has become. People no longer have the time to sit still and devote their time to drink their tea slowly, while contemplating and reflecting on life.
The tradition of drinking tea, which was conceived by the ancients as a part of everyday life, was considered a way of nourishing and purifying the body on a deeper level. During the process of preparing tea, the mind is purified. While you enjoy it, appreciate the aroma, and drink it, wandering thoughts are restrained, friendships are strengthened, and manners and virtue are cultivated.
In addition to the spiritual benefits, drinking tea helps to calm oneself down and soothe the mind, which reconciles itself to ancient China’s life philosophy.
Now that you know about all of its benefits, how about stopping for a moment to reflect while enjoying a delicate cup of tea?
This was never a daily activity by the ancient masses, but an elitist luxury as it mainly remains today(at least for the highest quality tea and tools). You know how much Wuyi Yancha cost back in those good old times? 3 times of what a lifetime servant was sold for! Definitely not an everyone’s drink…
Sorry, this kind of rose-tainted theories give
me the rashes...