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Pg 71 - The Greatness of Little Things
How to use the ancient principles of the tea ceremony to create your own sacred space.
By Belinda Recio
To get to the teahouse, I walked through a small Japanese garden on a path of stepping stones. I stopped to wash my hands at a bamboo fountain that tumbled water into a rock basin. Just outside the teahouse, I removed my shoes and then silently entered through a small door, on my knees. The teahouse floor was spread with tatami mats and the light was pleasantly subdued. My host, Mr. Aso, awaited me inside, also on his knees. After all the guests had entered, we bowed in greeting and then, staying on our knees at all times, took the place appointed to us by the tea apprentice. A painting of an apple-a symbolic honoring of the onset of autumn-was hung in the tokonoma-an alcove dedicated to the display of art.
The preparation of the tea began in silence. Time slows down during a tea ceremony, and nothing seems to exist except each moment. My senses seemed sharper than usual, and I noticed the most minute sounds, scents, and motions of the tea preparation. Watching the skilled movements of Mr. Aso's hands, it became apparent that every aspect of tea was truly art. The way he held, dipped, and released the bamboo dipper, the folding and unfolding of the cloth napkin, the sharp tap of the scoop against the tea bowl-all of these movements were part of a graceful choreography that held my attention and kept me centered in the moment. Although the bowl of tea that awaited us was an important part of the ceremony, its preparation was equally significant. One of the lessons that tea teaches us is that a mundane task, such as the making of tea, can become an expression of beauty.
Just prior to serving the tea, Mr. Aso served us small Japanese pastries, providing a lingering taste of sweetness that would soon be balanced by the tea, which is slightly bitter. Most full-length tea ceremonies include the serving of a thin tea, followed by a thick tea. Our host began the thin tea preparation by pouring a dipperful of water into the tea bowl, vigorously stirring it with a bamboo whisk, and emptying the water into a jar. He wiped the tea bowl clean with the carefully folded cloth napkin and opened the pot of tea. Using a small bamboo scoop, he placed the powdered green leaf into the bowl and then added water from the stove using the bamboo dipper. He whipped the mixture into a frothy broth-often described as the color of liquid jade-with a small bamboo whisk the size of a shaving brush. The bowl was then passed to the first guest, who lingered over it for a moment, took several sips, wiped it clean with her napkin, and passed it to the next guest. In this way a single bowl of tea was shared by all three guests. After a bit of restful conversation, the thick tea was served.
Our host used an ancient coal stove to heat the water. The faint hissing and whistling of the stove suggested sounds of nature-a distant rainfall or a light wind rustling through leafy branches. At one point, I told Mr. Aso that I enjoyed the sounds created by the stove, and he warmly responded by saying how glad he was that I liked it. This simple but heartfelt exchange inspired a feeling of friendship despite the fact that I had known Mr. Aso for only an hour or two. It was then that I recalled a piece of calligraphy hanging at the entrance of the teahouse. It translated as "one moment full of friendship." This is part of what the tea ceremony is all about-the greatness of little things and the sacredness of simple acts. In that brief exchange, we were both fully present in the moment, in the enjoyment of the whistling kettle. That presence doesn't happen often enough in daily life.
The Origins of the Tea Ritual
Buddhist monks introduced the ritualized drinking of tea to Japan, often using tea as an antidote to drowsiness during meditation. Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, is credited with establishing the drinking of tea as a tradition. Later, Zen monks would drink tea out of a bowl while sitting before the image of Bodhidharma. This is thought by many scholars to be the origin of the tea ceremony. The altars in Zen monasteries-upon which flowers are offered and incense is burned-evolved into the tokonoma, the alcove in a tea room where art and flowers are displayed for the pleasure of the guests. The tea ceremony expresses many aspects of Zen Buddhism, as embodied in the Japanese saying, chazen ichimi, or "Zen and tea are one."
There is also a strong link between Taoism and tea. Tao means "path" or "way." In Japan, "ways" are the means by which tradition, art, and wisdom are learned and transmitted. Chado, the way of tea manifests through Chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony. The way of tea embodies four principles: wa (harmony), kei (respect), sei (purity), and jaku (tranquility). Wa exists through the graceful blending of art forms, such as painting, flowers, incense, and tea, as well as through the harmonious engagement of all our senses. Kei is expressed in the bowing of guests and hosts, through the careful and reverent handling of the utensils, and through the ceremony itself, which honors nature, art, and tradition. Sei begins with the ritual purification at the fountain and continues through the public cleansing of the bowl before the making of the tea and the wiping of the bowl before it is passed to the next guest. Sei also manifests through purity of mind, which is achieved by guests quieting themselves internally. This way they can be present to what is happening in the moment-the taste, aroma, and appearance of the tea; the sweetness of the pastries; the art displayed in the tokonoma; and other aspects of the ceremony. Sometimes, Zen philosophy is included in the conversation, but rarely is the outside world mentioned, keeping the hearts and minds of host and guests pure. Finally, jaku manifests through the various silences, the leisurely pace of the ceremony, and the gentle demeanor of the host and guests.
Nearly every gesture in the tea ceremony has meaning. Walking through a garden before entering the teahouse allows guests to collect their thoughts and center themselves in the moment. The washing of hands at the fountain is a purification ritual in which one washes away the outside world. Bending and entering the teahouse on one's knees, as well as the subsequent kneeling and bowing, creates an atmosphere of humility. The tokonoma, with its display of paintings, calligraphy, and flowers, reminds one to appreciate beauty. But, more than anything else, the tea ceremony helps to sanctify the moment by inspiring us to be present in it. Many faiths tell us that every moment can be a source of grace and an opportunity to connect with the sacred. Tea reminds us that the sacred is always present-in a steaming bowl of liquid jade, in the admiration of a painting, in a moment full of friendship.
Creating A Ceremony
The tea ceremony takes years of practice to learn and even longer to master. Nonetheless, it can serve as an example of how we can invite the sacred to the table.
When setting out to create a ceremony around food and drink, think about what you can bring to it. You can inform and shape your ceremony with your cultural and religious background, as well as your interest in and appreciation of other cultures, art, and even nature. Whether you implement only a simple act, such as having a moment of silence or sharing a blessing before a meal, or choreograph a ritualized harvest feast on the night of an autumnal full moon, consider the lessons of tea as you think about your ceremony. Be present in the moment, concentrate fully on what you are doing, and cultivate an awareness of beauty. View each and every task-from folding napkins to selecting the vegetables-with "tea mind," that unique quality of awareness that is infused with harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. Tea Masters teach that when you fold a cloth napkin, you are folding the universe. So, approach every aspect of your ceremony as if you might experience the world in it. You will discover that there can be a profound peace in simplicity. Tea mind tells us that there is a greatness in little things. Believe it.
Here are suggestions for how you might use the four principles of tea to create sacred space for your ceremony or special occasion.
Harmony, or Wa
Try to engage all the senses in your ceremony. Bring your visual artistry to the table: Arrange flowers, fruit, branches, or other items to make a centerpiece, fold origami cranes as place tags, or create another type of artwork for the occasion. Burn incense, scented candles, or simmer potpourri to fill your space with fragrance. Select appropriate music to be played during your gathering, or arrange for a guest to perform before or after the food is served.
When planning your menu, carefully consider how the various foods you serve will complement and enhance one another. Consider serving fresh seasonal foods as a way to celebrate nature's rhythms.
Respect, or Kei
Honor your guests, yourself, and the occasion with reverence. Treat each and every aspect of the ceremony as important. In this way you will help yourself and your guests to recognize the sacredness of simple acts. For example, send creative invitations, greet your guests formally when they arrive, deliver a toast that honors them, or send them home with a small homemade gift.
Purity, or Sei
Remember the saying: "Cleanliness is next to godliness," and make sure the place where you have your ceremony is clean and uncluttered. Consider the principle of purity from intellectual and spiritual perspectives as well. Try to clear your mind and heart of distracting thoughts and emotions so that you can be fully focused and present.
Tranquility, or Jaku
If possible, try to maintain a relaxed atmosphere by having most of the meal prepared in advance. In this way you will be able to spend more time with your guests and less in the role of a frenzied host or hostess. Play music that soothes the soul and use lighting that is easy on the eyes. Don't rush through anything; let the ceremony unfold gracefully, at its own pace.
Belinda Recio is our editor of nature and psyche. She has published several books on topics ranging from nature to sacred arts.