From Miyuku

When Japanese people say, “Let’s drink some tea,” it usually means to take a break and have something to drink. But it originally meant to have some green tea.

Green tea was introduced to Japan from China as a medicine in the 9th century by a Buddhist monk. It was drunk only among Buddhist monks in the beginning, and then it was taken up by the samurai warriors. It gradually spread among common people and now it has become the most popular drink for Japanese.

Most of the green tea has less caffeine than coffee does. But there are hundreds of different kinds of green tea differentiated by the place where it was cultivated, how it was processed and when the leaves were picked.

There is a kind of tea which is called, “powdered green tea.” It is a particular kind used for Chanoyu, the tea ceremony. This is a ritual tea ceremony that was perfected by the tea master named Senno Rikyu.  It takes a lifetime of practice to learn “Chanoyu,” for there are just so many rules and things to learn. I have participated in some tea ceremonies before and it was a tense moment when I received a bowl of tea in a solemn atmosphere. I didn’t know much about tea ceremony, and I just followed and tried to mimic the previous guest’s procedures.

But now I know a little better, and I can appreciate the way of the host preparing the gathering of tea, and how I need to calm myself to fully enjoy the whole session. However, sitting on your knees while the ceremony is going on is a tough experience!

The more I learn about tea ceremony, the more I find things I need to learn. No wonder it takes a lifetime to practice tea ceremony.

It is not all about drinking tea or eating sweets in a special room. It is the practice of a way of life that matters in Chanoyu. I’d like to share these very insightful rules that may tell you the philosophy behind practicing it.

The student asked Senno Rikyu to summarize the most important things to remember when practicing tea, hoping he would learn something he had not yet been taught.  Rikyu responded:

1.    You must make a delicious bowl of tea
2.    Lay the charcoal so the water boils
3.    Arrange the flowers as they are in the field
4.    In the summer, suggest coolness; in the winter suggest warmness
5.    Do everything ahead of time
6.    Prepare for rain
7.    Give those with whom you find yourself every consideration

The student was rather disappointed, and said he already knew all that. Then Rikyu said,
“If you could do those simple things perfectly, I would be your student.”

------- This conversation between the two, teaches us that what would appear to be the simplest things are the most important and difficult things to practice in our daily lives.