Tea and Enlightenment

Author: Zhang Guihua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: This book tells over 200 meaningful and subtly humorous tea stories in an original and engaging way, accompanied by exquisite illustrations, opening a door for readers to savor life and gain wisdom in a relaxed and natural manner. Chinese tea culture has a long history, and the essence of Chinese tea can be expressed, understood, and experienced. Zhou Zuoren once said, "The meaning of tea culture, in plain terms, can be called stealing leisure amidst busyness, finding joy in hardship, and enjoying a touch of beauty and harmony in an imperfect reality, experiencing eternity in a fleeting moment." Wu Jue nóng remarked, "Tea is a spiritual enjoyment, an art, or a means of self-cultivation." Just as Zen emphasizes direct experience and sudden enlightenment, tea appreciation also involves an unspoken spiritual experience, its essence akin to Zen's smile upon picking a flower—something to be understood but not expressed. As the saying goes: "Greatness lies within a cup of tea, and long days pass within a teapot." Japanese tea master Sen no Rikyu once said, "The first cup is fresh and sweet, the second reveals the bitterness of life, and the third tastes the astringency of old age." Isn't this tea's flavor just like the journey of life? Life may be rich or sparse, with fame and fortune coming and going, ups and downs in fortune and reputation—these are all the flavors of life. The more detached one is, the more serene one becomes. To savor tea deeply is to savor the long and winding path of life.