I have been little discouraged lately. After years of study, teaching, and writing about Chado, I feel like I am making little headway in sharing the way of tea. Teaching cultural concepts that seem to be at odds with modern American life sometimes is an uphill battle. Because American life has become so casual, semi-formal …
Permanent link to this article: http://issoantea.com/heart-to-heart-connection/
Your temae will be better if you can do it with a clear mind. My Sensei used to say that my mind was always cluttered and that made it hard for me to concentrate and focus. When my mind is cluttered there is no room for new knowledge to enter. I needed to clear my …
Permanent link to this article: http://issoantea.com/clear-mind/
It was a very busy month for me in January. I hosted an informal chakai, a hango chaji, helped at a student chakai, and was part of the group hosting the Hatsu chakai for the larger Tankokai group. I also attended a student chaji, had 3 presentations of Chado and led a listening to incense …
Permanent link to this article: http://issoantea.com/host-and-guest-as-one/
When we receive a bowl of tea, the etiquette is that we say “osaki ni” to the next guest, thank the host for making the tea, and lift the bowl in “kansha” or gratitude before we turn the bowl and drink the tea.
This kansha is not just gratitude for host making tea. It is …
Permanent link to this article: http://issoantea.com/the-attitude-of-gratitude/
When I do tea presentations at different venues, I need to set up the tatami, shoji and tea room as well as set up the mizuya. It takes about an hour to pack every thing up and load the car, an hour to heat water, clean and set up at the venue, an hour to …
Permanent link to this article: http://issoantea.com/doing-the-work/
