 | Tea Wisdom by Aaron Fisherposted by TeaHouseTimes Admin, ADVERTISER TEA RELATED PRODUCTSFriday, June 25th 2010 @ 2:31 PM |
No matter what one believes about the greater movements of our world and lives within it, a human life passes by in so many ordinary moments -- all filled up with our daily works. And if we don’t find our wisdom in any of these, whether in part or complete epiphany, we’ll have passed the greatest part of our lives by, never having celebrated the small pleasures like a quiet cup of tea on a cool evening, as the sun sets behind the distant mountains. There is a way of experiencing what we’ve learned of ourselves, the universe and truth through the most ordinary quotidian moments, and Nature has offered us more than one catalyst to that quiet at its center.
Ancient healers and wise men knew the importance of living in tune with Nature, and most all our current social, political, psychological, and environmental problems relate at least in part to the fact that we’ve made this conversation one-sided, turning a deaf ear to Nature. How few of us know the stars, the trees, or even the weather as intimately as even the lowliest farmer once did? These sages knew that to be truly healthy--mind, body, and spirit--a human must alternate between periods of stillness and activity just as Nature herself does. In the hustle and bustle of modern life, we often forget to take the time to be still, to the point where it is often uncomfortable and alien to us. Through tea, we might achieve a deep serenity and equanimity in ourselves. The nature of the cup is without a mind, without worries and cares, and its fragrance entices us into that space effortlessly. If we but take the time and relax into our senses, we’ll find the mountain air and sunshine, the wind and rain and the calm stillness of Nature in every sip. A cup of tea has always been about this, wherever and whenever it has been drunk, regardless of whether it is called “peace” or “wisdom.” Even the modern news about tea’s health benefits is but another way of showing that those who drink it wish to be free of the cocerns that come with a physical body in a wordly life.
Tea speaks to the individual, as it should, because it is wise; and its language isn’t Eastern or Western, but natural and primordial. When we hold a cup of tea with mindfulness and focus on it, the moment becomes real and true, which means we become real and true.
*Taken from Tea Wisdom - Inspirational Quotes and Quips about the World’s Most Celebrated Beverage, Copyright 2009 by Aaron Fisher. Used by permission.
From the May/June10 issue of The Tea House Times. To view the most recent issue, please register / log-in at http://www.theteahousetimes.com for free access.
