It's All About Tea — zen

In the tapestry of our lives, 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 between them is something I feel deeply, influencing 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)

In the previous part of this article, we traced the practice of drinking tea for focus in ancient times. We talked about the connection between tea and mindfulness in China's most important spiritual denominations.

Today, we'll explore the benefits of drinking tea with mindfulness, backed by science. We will also guide you through an exercise on how to drink tea for focus, ease anxiety, and enjoy stress-free mornings and positive and productive days! Grab a cup and dive in! (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)

Chashitsu is the Japanese term for a tea room. It is a little hut, resembling a house, where Japanese tea ceremonies (chanoyu) would take place. Following tradition, matcha green tea is always served in the chashitsu, alongside with some simple sweets prepared by the tea master. It is said that chashitsu started appearing during the Sengoku period (mid-15th century to early 17th century). Before then, tea was commonly enjoyed in separate rooms and not in individual tea huts. (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)