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One Taste of Truth
I am not a student of Zen, but I am a student of tea, so anything in English that helps me understand the relationship of Zen to tea captures my interest. One of the overt examples of Zen in the tea room is the scroll displayed in the tokonoma. It is often a Zen saying. Although it may seem on the surface to be a simple statement “nichi, nichi kore kojitsu” everyday is a good day, or everyday is a day to be liked, it can have deeper and more profound meanings.
I recently came across the book, “The One Taste of Truth, Zen and the Art of Drinking Tea,” by William Scott Wilson.
ISBN: 978-1-61180-026-5 paperback.
Here is the publisher’s description:
Traditionally in China and Japan, drinking a cup of tea was an opportunity for contemplation, meditation, and an elevation of mind and spirit. Here, renowned translator William Scott Wilson distills what is singular and precious about this traditional tea culture, and he explores the fascinating connection between Zen and tea drinking. He unpacks the most common phrases from Zen and Chinese philosophy—usually found in Asia printed on hanging scrolls in tea rooms, restaurant alcoves, family rooms, and martial arts dojos—that have traditionally served as points of contemplation to encourage the appropriate atmosphere for drinking tea or silent meditation.
Part history, part philosophy, part inspirational guide, The One Taste of Truth will connect you to the distinctive pleasure of sipping tea and allowing it to transport your mind and thoughts. This beautifully written book will appeal to tea lovers and anyone interested in tea culture, Chinese philosophy, and Zen.
What I especially appreciate about this book is that is shows the phrase in calligraphy so we may begin to learn to recognize it. The book also shows the romanji, so we know how to pronounce it, and the English translation. The explanation that follows for each phrase is easy to follow, and contains more gems for those of us looking for gomei from these phrases. Historical and cultural context are also covered. An overall good addition to your Chado library.
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Portable meditation seats on sale
For the holidays, I have just put the portable mediation seats on sale at SweetPersimmon.com The price was $49.99, now on sale for $40.00.
Made from sustainable wood and eco-friendly milk paint, our Portable Meditation Seat weighs just 12 oz. and comes in its own carry bag that doubles as padding. It’s small enough to fit in a purse, briefcase or gym bag. Great for travel, meditation retreats or even used as a backpacking camp stool where every ounce counts. The unique design and finish of our Portable Meditation Seat reflect the Japanese wabi aesthetic of rustic, simple beauty.
Size: 8 by 5.5 by 4 inches in carrying case
Dimensions: 7.5″ wide by 4″ deep by 7.75″ tall when assembled
Weight: 1 lb. 4 ounces
Just for you, my readers, here is the coupon code for free shipping: FREE SHIP
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Competency in the tea room
Some of my newer students are learning a new temae or procedure for making tea. One of them said that we haven’t spent enough time on it for her to feel competent. She only did it a few times before we changed to the Ro season and now she feels like she has to start all over again.
Here is the news: we all feel like we have to start all over again. In fact, for those of us who have practiced for 25 years and more, we want to get back to the place where we feel like beginners again. Rikyu’s poem says, “Learn from one to ten and then return to the original one again.” The change of the seasons reminds us to pay attention to what we are doing.
Feeling competent in the tea room can lead to feeling complacent — to phone it in because we know what to do. My sempai said that as a host, the act of making tea is brand new every single time you do it. To have the freshness, anticipation and excitement of doing something as if for the very first time, makes it fresh and new for the guests, too.
With the many variations in temae, depending on the guests, the utensils, the seasons, the time, the place, there are literally millions of ways to perform the ceremony. Who can remember and do each one perfectly? Does doing the temae perfectly mean you are competent? Can you do a competent temae without doing it perfectly?
Can we this apply to real life outside the tea room? There are no instructions for life, so how do you judge how competent you are doing your life? Do you get to practice life until you feel competent?
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Samurai! at the Portland Art Museum
Samurai armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection will be on display until January 12, 2104
Travel back in time and discover remarkable objects that illuminate the life, culture, and pageantry of the samurai, the revered and feared warriors of Japan—from one of the finest and most comprehensive collections in the world. Samurai! Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection presents a treasure trove of battle gear made for high-ranking warriors and daimyo (provincial governors) of the 14th through 19th centuries. The exhibition illustrates the evolution of the distinctive appearance and function of samurai equipment through the centuries and examines their history.
During the centuries covered by the exhibition, warfare evolved from combat between small bands of equestrian archers to the clash of vast armies of infantry and cavalry equipped with swords, spears, and even matchlock guns. Arms and armor were needed in unprecedented quantities, and craftsmen responded with an astonishingly varied array of armor that was both functional and visually spectacular, a celebration of the warrior’s prowess. Even after 1615, when the stern rule of the Tokugawa military dictatorship brought an end to battle, samurai families continued to commission splendid arms and armor for ceremonial purposes. Because the social rank, income, and prestige of a samurai family were strictly determined by the battlefield valor of their ancestors, armor became ever more sumptuous as the embodiment of an elite warrior family’s heritage.
Drawn from the renowned Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller collection, Samurai! features the full panoply of warrior regalia, with full suits of armor, helmets and face guards, weapons, horse trappings, and other battle gear. Highlights include helmets of lacquered metal adorned with emblems often inspired by nature—which signaled the status of the wearer, differentiated samurai from each other, and also frightened the enemy on the battlefield; armored horses carrying combat-ready samurai; and a full ensemble of armor and ceremonial jackets worn by the high-ranking samurai of the M?ri family. The M?ri, who traced their roots to famous warriors of the13th century, were among the most powerful warrior families in western Japan. Portland will be the only West Coast venue for Samurai!
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