as if it is the axis
on which the world earth revolves
– slowly, evenly, without
rushing toward the future;
Live the actual moment.
Only this moment is life.
~Thich Nhat Hanh
A Zen priest named Sen Rikyu (1521-1591) established the tea ceremony in present form under the protection of a powerful lord, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598). Sen Rikyu had the idea of "Wa Kei Sei Jaku" as the essential ideals of the tea ceremony. This is the embodiment of the Japanese people's intuitive striving for the recognition of true beauty in plainness and simplicity. Such terms as calmness, rusticity, gracefulness, or the phrase "aestheticism of austere simplicity" may help to define the true spirit of the tea ceremony.
The Tea Meditation or Ceremony offers a wonderful chance for the community to come together in a spirit of joy and mindfulness. Several variants of this ceremony have been developed over time including ‘lemonade meditation’ for children and informal tea meditation where many of the formalities listed here are left out. It is a good idea to give advanced notice of a tea meditation so that participants can come prepared with contributions, bring musical instruments etc. Also, contributions from groups of people may need to be practised in advance.
The form of the tea meditation as described here is a very beautiful ceremony which has proved the highlight of many a retreat or Day of Mindfulness. The essential ingredients are joy, mindfulness and the deep reverence of each other’s company. Conforming to the detail of the ceremony helps support this practice. All parts of the ceremony are conducted slowly and with deep awareness of everyone in attendance. We are encouraged to breathe and dwell in the present moment, not worrying about ‘the next stage’ of proceedings. This in itself is a very deep practice.
The Tea Ceremony
The hosts for the Tea Ceremony will need to come together as a team well in advance. They will need to prepare the tea and biscuits, the meditation room and themselves in mindfulness in order to welcome their honoured guests.
Hosts:
Tea Master, Bell Master, Incense Offerer, Tea Offerer (who offers tea to the Buddha), Tea Servers (depending on numbers, usually two are needed), Assistant Tea Servers (one for each Tea Server)
Items needed: Incense, candles, matches, small bell, large bell, napkins (leaves can be used), biscuits, tea and teapots, milk/sugar/spoon, trays, plate with flower, tea and biscuit for offering to the Buddha
Welcoming the Guests
The hosts for the tea meditation stand in two rows each side of the entry door and bow individually to each guest as they enter the meditation room. The guests pass between the hosts and sit in sequence round the room facing inward, ushered to their cushions by the tea assistants. Whilst seated everyone enjoys sitting meditation, following their breath in silence.
Once everyone has been welcomed into the room the hosts take their seats. The bell master wakes-up and invites the small bell to signal to people to stand up, everyone facing the altar.
Incense Offering
The Tea Master goes to the altar, and the Incense Offerer walks mindfully to the altar and lights incense. After bowing to each other the Incense Offerer passes the incense to the Tea Master and stands to his/her side.
The Bell Master invites the large bell three times. The Tea Master chants the incense offering before passing incense to the Incense Offerer who places it at the altar. Bowing to the Buddha (or a shorter form of prostration) is now conducted. The Tea Master now turns to face the community and welcomes everyone to the Tea Ceremony. “A lotus to you, all Buddhas to be !”.The small bell is invited and everyone sits down.
Offering for the Buddha
A Tea Server mindfully pours tea into a cup to offer to the Buddha and holds the decorated plate/tray with tea and biscuit for offering at head level. The Tea Offerer walks mindfully to the Tea Server bows, takes the plate and walks mindfully to the Tea Master.
The Tea Master stands up, bows, takes the Buddha’s plate. Then he/she mindfully walks to the altar, bows, kneels and places the plate on the altar. The Bell Master invites the bell as the plate is placed on the altar. The Tea Offerer and Tea Master return to their cushions and bow to each other before sitting down.
Serving the Guests
The Tea Servers now pass the tray of biscuits. The Tea Servers first offer the biscuit tray to their assistants. Smiling and offering a lotus in gratitude, the assistant mindfully takes a biscuit and napkin, places them on the floor, then takes the tray. The assistant now offers a biscuit back to the Tea Server. The tray is then offered to the next person sitting to the side of the assistant. Each person takes a biscuit as described above before taking the tray and offering to the next person in the circle.
While the biscuits are passed, the Tea Servers pour the tea (filling as many cups as there are people present). When the trays for biscuits are returned the trays with tea cups are passed around the circle and received just like the biscuits. A small jug of milk and sugar bowl can be present for people who like milk and/or sugar in their tea.
Invitation to share
Once the empty trays are returned the Tea Master offers a gatha on enjoying tea and biscuits and invites everyone to enjoy their tea and biscuit. After a short while to enjoy tea in silence (eg 5 minutes) the Tea Master invites people to share songs, poems, experiences etc.
Ending the ceremony
The Bell Master should announce when there are five minutes left before the end of the ceremony. The Tea Ceremony ends with three small bells (i) to all stand up, (ii) to bow to each other, (iii) to bow to the altar. The hosts then go to the door first and bow to guests as they leave slowly and mindfully.
No comments:
Post a Comment