When asked by his disciple, studying tea ceremony under him for 10 years, what the reason for the practice was, Sen no Rikyu, the great, ancient, master of the art, replied:
"The reason for Chanoyu (tea ceremony) is simple. First you boil the water. Then you prepare the tea. And then you drink it. Thats all.
Sensing his student's disappointment, at learning that this was what he had spent his last 10 years doing, Rikyu replied:
Show me someone who truly understands these things, then I will become that person's disciple."
The challenge in making tea, as in everything in life, is to do it with attention undivided, so we are not running through our day while making tea. Beautiful simplicity in this ancient anecdote.
"The reason for Chanoyu (tea ceremony) is simple. First you boil the water. Then you prepare the tea. And then you drink it. Thats all.
Sensing his student's disappointment, at learning that this was what he had spent his last 10 years doing, Rikyu replied:
Show me someone who truly understands these things, then I will become that person's disciple."
The challenge in making tea, as in everything in life, is to do it with attention undivided, so we are not running through our day while making tea. Beautiful simplicity in this ancient anecdote.
