There are so many things I have learned from Chado that it is difficult to articulate them. This post is the 4th of a series of things that Chado has taught me. These are not necessarily what everyone learns from Chado, but I find my life is so much richer and meaningful because of these things I have learned.
What about you? What have you learned from Chado?
Previous blogs, What Chado has taught me
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
- Doing something and putting your heart into doing something are two very different things.
- Sensei, senpai, kouhai, and students will all teach you in different ways. Be open to learning from all of them.
- Hai, Sensei. Whoever is teaching at the moment is correct – even if you’ve learned differently in the past. Accept their teaching as it is.
- Tea exists all around the world. It connects people of all kinds and shows us we have more in common than might be seen at first glance.
- Awareness. Be aware of your own physical space and the space, objects, and people around you.
- Be enthusiastic. I love teaching beginners. To see with the eyes of someone learning things for the first time captures the excitement and eagerness I want to embody in my love of tea.
- Sounds are such an important part of the experience of chanoyu.
- You can feel the presence of other people in the tearoom. There is no substitute for being together in a small space, acting in harmony with each other.
- When you are fully present, time stands still. You do not notice how much time has passed, nor does it matter.
- Nature is not separate from us. It is all around us and it is us.