The Book of Tea: Taoism [Teaism] and Zennism

A calm heart will cross the worlds – seamlessly, warmly and in peace.

Photo By: Leon Xie  🙂

Zen teacher, Haikujo, was walking through the forest with a disciple.  A hare scurried off at their approach.

 “Why does the hare fly from you.”  Haikujo asked.

“Because he is afraid of me,” the disciple answered.  

“No,” said Haikujo, “it is because you have a murderous instinct.”

Story from The Book of Tea, written by Okakura Kakuzo

 

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The Book of Tea – The Schools (and Virtues) of Tea

 

The Schools and Virtues of Tea

“The tea-plant, a native to southern China, was known from very early time to Chinese botany and medicine…and was highly praised for possessing the virtues of relieving fatigue, delighting the soul, strengthening the will, and repairing the eyesight.” 

“The Taoists claimed it as an important ingredient of the elixir of  immortality.”

“The Buddhists used it extensively to prevent drowsiness during their long hours of meditation.”  

In Japan, “[t]he beverage grew to be an excuse for the worship of the purity and refinement, a sacred function at which the host and guest joined to produce for the occasion and the utmost beatitude of the mundane.”

“The tea-room was an oasis in the oasis in the dreary waste of existence where weary travelers could meet to drink from the common spring…”

Quotations from Okakura Kakuzo’s The Book of Tea

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The Greatness of Little Things

 

“Those who cannot feel the littleness of great things in themselves

are apt to overlook the greatness of little things in others.”

– Okakura Kakura, The Book of Tea

Experience the Joy of Subtly with Flower Power Tea

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The Book of Tea – In the Words of a Master

Published originally in 1906, Okakura Kakuzo is captivating me

with his literary elegance and mastery of the art of tea.

Master Kakura was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1862

According to the inside sleeve of the book:

Master Kakuro was born in 1862.  He was “a Japanese art and cultural critic who later served as an advisor and a curator of the Department of Japanese and Chinese Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, from 1903 to 1913.”

It seems that Master Kakuro wrote the book in English originally.

This book offers a unique traditional perspective from 100 years ago – without a translation gap to English.

There are seven chapters in the book.  I plan to read a chapter every two days.

From this project I wish to gain a deeper insight on the art and beauty of tea and its preparation; as well as how to cultivate one’s life to create happiness and harmony 🙂

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