Art of Making Tea
Lets start with the benefits of green tea-:-
DID YOU KNOW THAT ..
Green tea is loaded with potent antioxidant polyphenols called catechins, most notably one called EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate. Study after study shows green tea can lower your risk of colon, breast, gastric, lung, and prostate cancers.Good stuff …..The thing is, this post is not only about the health benefits of tea, it is about how making tea has helped me in being here and Now
DID YOU KNOW THAT ..
Green tea is loaded with potent antioxidant polyphenols called catechins, most notably one called EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate. Study after study shows green tea can lower your risk of colon, breast, gastric, lung, and prostate cancers.Good stuff …..The thing is, this post is not only about the health benefits of tea, it is about how making tea has helped me in being here and Now
I did not have the details of the health benifits until a few days ago or when I started my tea making journey. Its such a delight when you are awakened to various benefits of something you have always been doing not knowing it was so potent. My tea making has always been a path, a process you may call it, to become more still and focused. It has been about being aware with added health benefits thrown in …
I have been making tea (as in a tea ceremony)for about a year now. Each time I have made tea for myself and for individuals or groups there has been immense presence and stillness which permeates the sessions. These are sacred moments for me. Considering the feedback from some of the individuals I have shared these moments with, they too have found it deeply inspiring and peaceful. They leave behind vast amount of learning for me as well as carry with them the peace that stays..
Some of the experiential stuff that came about through the quiet sitting –
1. You give meaning to reality by your thoughts. You can change your thoughts and the experience changes
2. You experience the source through stillness
3. The instrument or channel can change, the source is the same
4. Insights are life’s way of connecting with us deeply
Here is a picture with the masters who introduced me to the art , science and most importantly the mindfulness of tea making. Since that introduction I have not stopped, just slowed down enough to live a more richer and fuller life
I have been making tea (as in a tea ceremony)for about a year now. Each time I have made tea for myself and for individuals or groups there has been immense presence and stillness which permeates the sessions. These are sacred moments for me. Considering the feedback from some of the individuals I have shared these moments with, they too have found it deeply inspiring and peaceful. They leave behind vast amount of learning for me as well as carry with them the peace that stays..
Some of the experiential stuff that came about through the quiet sitting –
1. You give meaning to reality by your thoughts. You can change your thoughts and the experience changes
2. You experience the source through stillness
3. The instrument or channel can change, the source is the same
4. Insights are life’s way of connecting with us deeply
Here is a picture with the masters who introduced me to the art , science and most importantly the mindfulness of tea making. Since that introduction I have not stopped, just slowed down enough to live a more richer and fuller life
Each one of the tea making ceremonies I have been part of is like a short story with one or few take aways; Here is the one that occurred just a recently. I was sitting with like minded spiritual friend and colleague of mine under a canopy of trees surrounded by green grass all around. The Sun was all out, shining bright. I had just finished pouring the first cup of tea after having explained why we were doing what we were doing. The next moment the sun started disappearing and the rain drops found their way into our tea cups, very gradually at first and then it went up a notch. We realized we could choose to get drenched or take shelter at the building nearby. We chose to run for the shelter
As soon as we were in the building the little drizzle was an all out outpouring. I looked at the rain and commented- It is so beautiful! is it not? My friend looked at me and then at the rain and commented- Harry you have chosen to call it a beautiful moment, you could have commented or thought “oh the rain has ruined our plan” or “we were unable to experience the sacredness of the moment that was intended. Or cursed the timing that we chose! He saw and shared the wisdom that so many have talked about. It is not the external circumstances or events or situations that determine your presence- it is your thoughts and which of these thoughts you choose to represent the realty that you want to see. Profound lesson and we had just about started J You give meaning to reality by your thoughts. You can change your thoughts and the experience changes
It stopped raining with the same alacrity that it had started with.. we moved our entire tableau into a more protected area, washed the cups, and containers so I could start brewing the next cup pot of tea. As it often happens whether it is one or many people joining me, silence becomes second nature to these sessions. In this silence was stillness and a deep sense of unlearning and letting go. My friend was quiet, still and did not speak more than a word or two even when he said good bye. This was the stillness that is profound and full of the source. Not a word spoken, yet so much is conveyed. Time looses its identity as such moments. This is how You experience the source through stillness
A few days later my friend shared a lovely insight of how he observed what it means to be an instrument of the divine , by observing me brewing tea. As he had observed the brewing of the tea in the pot and then the pouring into the second tea pot and then into the cups he says- Harry I now know that the source or the infinite divine presence remains the same only the container changes- the container can be a guru, a disciple or just anyone we all have that one true divine nature . its only a matter of time when each one realizes about what he is carrying within. The instrument or channel can change, the source is the same
In Malaysia I had the privilege of hosting a tea ceremony for a group of loving individuals who value learning and the sharing of the lessons to all. During the evening tea ceremony there was more of silence than words spoken. Somehow it was as though each one was accessing their own inner divine minds and when they spoke each one had a insight to share which was beneficial not only to them but for each one of us around the tea set. Breakthrough experiences occurred during those moments, one of them went on to travel a fair bit and sign up for a meditation course. There was this idea of “one page a day book”. I was filled with promise that held me closely through my transition of moving from a full time job to living my passions. There was less information, less talking and more of silence which opens up your connection to the quantum field through which insights arrive … Insights are life’s way of connecting with us deeply
Wish you all the best. May all beings be happy. Keep pouring the Love
As soon as we were in the building the little drizzle was an all out outpouring. I looked at the rain and commented- It is so beautiful! is it not? My friend looked at me and then at the rain and commented- Harry you have chosen to call it a beautiful moment, you could have commented or thought “oh the rain has ruined our plan” or “we were unable to experience the sacredness of the moment that was intended. Or cursed the timing that we chose! He saw and shared the wisdom that so many have talked about. It is not the external circumstances or events or situations that determine your presence- it is your thoughts and which of these thoughts you choose to represent the realty that you want to see. Profound lesson and we had just about started J You give meaning to reality by your thoughts. You can change your thoughts and the experience changes
It stopped raining with the same alacrity that it had started with.. we moved our entire tableau into a more protected area, washed the cups, and containers so I could start brewing the next cup pot of tea. As it often happens whether it is one or many people joining me, silence becomes second nature to these sessions. In this silence was stillness and a deep sense of unlearning and letting go. My friend was quiet, still and did not speak more than a word or two even when he said good bye. This was the stillness that is profound and full of the source. Not a word spoken, yet so much is conveyed. Time looses its identity as such moments. This is how You experience the source through stillness
A few days later my friend shared a lovely insight of how he observed what it means to be an instrument of the divine , by observing me brewing tea. As he had observed the brewing of the tea in the pot and then the pouring into the second tea pot and then into the cups he says- Harry I now know that the source or the infinite divine presence remains the same only the container changes- the container can be a guru, a disciple or just anyone we all have that one true divine nature . its only a matter of time when each one realizes about what he is carrying within. The instrument or channel can change, the source is the same
In Malaysia I had the privilege of hosting a tea ceremony for a group of loving individuals who value learning and the sharing of the lessons to all. During the evening tea ceremony there was more of silence than words spoken. Somehow it was as though each one was accessing their own inner divine minds and when they spoke each one had a insight to share which was beneficial not only to them but for each one of us around the tea set. Breakthrough experiences occurred during those moments, one of them went on to travel a fair bit and sign up for a meditation course. There was this idea of “one page a day book”. I was filled with promise that held me closely through my transition of moving from a full time job to living my passions. There was less information, less talking and more of silence which opens up your connection to the quantum field through which insights arrive … Insights are life’s way of connecting with us deeply
Wish you all the best. May all beings be happy. Keep pouring the Love
