It's All About Tea — zen

In every person's life, certain elements hold profound significance, shaping who we are and how we navigate the world. For me, among other things, two of these elements are the practice of Tea and the philosophy of Buddhism. While they may not always intersect in my daily life, the connection with them influences my character and perspective in subtle yet powerful ways.

Amid the rush of modern life, it's easy to let this connection slip into the background, to forget that the practice of Tea and the practice of Zen are, in essence, one and the same. Both offer a path to mindfulness, simplicity, and a deeper engagement with the present moment. They remind me to slow down, to savor the here and now, and to find peace in the simplicity of being.

Yet, despite the simplicity of this concept, I often find myself returning to it, seeking to understand and articulate what it truly means for Tea and Zen to be "of one flavor." This blog post is my attempt to explore that connection more fully, to put into words what I believe lies at the heart of both practices and why they are, indeed, inseparable in spirit. (Read More)

Sen no Rikyu (1522 – 1591) is known by everyone to have the most profound influence on chanoyu, the Japanese "Way of Tea". Also known as matcha tea ceremony. Rikyu took to tiny grass-hut tea houses for his tea practices and kept promoting the wabi-sabi style of tea ceremony that he and his tea master started. (Read more)

In the Northern hemisphere, today is officially the first day of autumn. For many of us, this means cooler weather, warmers colors. Also, many of us are finishing up our fresh green teas while slowly turning towards the heartier darker ones! When the weather cools, things tend to slow down. Nature gradually becomes barer and streets more silent. What better a time to slow our pace and practice Zen while enjoying our favorite autumn tea? (Read more)

Tea meditation is simple and requires no prior knowledge of meditation practices. All you need is your desire to be in the present moment.

The meditation can be practiced for as little or as long as you want, any time of the day. It is really all up to you!

There is a tendency amongst people to get up in the morning feeling rushed to get somewhere. Why not try getting up a little earlier and dedicating the time for this simple tea meditation? (Read more)

"Ichi-go, Ichi-e". This Zen phrase meaning 'once in a lifetime' or literally "one time, one meeting"epitomizes the simplest reminder for the necessary state of mind when conducting any tea ceremony. It stamps out the meditative quality inseparable from the roots of true tea ceremony: Remaining present in the beauty of the infinite moment, with all its transparency and impermanence. This essence holds true today just as much as it did when these words were first spoken. (Read more).