tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post114541840318839241..comments2023-10-10T10:09:48.794-05:00Comments on Letting me be . . . random wondering and philosophy: Japanese Tea in a Japanese Garden"ME" Liz Strausshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145485554407395832006-04-19T17:25:00.000-05:002006-04-19T17:25:00.000-05:00Hi Melly,We'd be a pair if we were learning togeth...Hi Melly,<BR/>We'd be a pair if we were learning together. You'd start laughing and i'd start laughing with you. Then we'd both get tea detention and we'd have to stay after tea school. Oooh that wouldn't be good would it. I'd have to keep the cookies hidden until the tea lady wasn't looking."ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145485414894199242006-04-19T17:23:00.000-05:002006-04-19T17:23:00.000-05:00Hi Kel,I'd be in for all, but the sushi. Make mine...Hi Kel,<BR/>I'd be in for all, but the sushi. Make mine cookies, Instead."ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145482887450729952006-04-19T16:41:00.000-05:002006-04-19T16:41:00.000-05:00I don't mind learning, but I mind that I don't kno...I don't mind learning, but I mind that I don't know. A bit of the same because I tend to jump ahead of the first few steps cause they're boring and slow... So I understand you :)<BR/><BR/>Learning the tea ceremony sounds wonderful, although I get the naggging suspicion I'd be laughing the whole time with turning the cup and all that. I'm not much for ceremonies :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145482583708485962006-04-19T16:36:00.000-05:002006-04-19T16:36:00.000-05:00I think we should all get together for tea sometim...I think we should all get together for tea sometime. Tree, Mergirl, Whirling Betty, Garnet, Liz...everyone in real space.<BR/><BR/>If we do it in Columbus, we could all go to the symphony and listen to David play, then follow with sushi and a tea ceremony.<BR/><BR/>How cool would that be!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145476487999694702006-04-19T14:54:00.000-05:002006-04-19T14:54:00.000-05:00Hi David,I love how I've seen you balance just tho...Hi David,<BR/>I love how I've seen you balance just those two things in the time I've come to know you. How you've gotten softer and more centered at that same time. I feel calmer when you're near."ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145474306464817292006-04-19T14:18:00.000-05:002006-04-19T14:18:00.000-05:00I like how you juxtapose those two contrasting ide...I like how you juxtapose those two contrasting ideas at the end: freedom and discipline. They are the yin and yang of happiness. One cannot function without the other. But I have the hardest time keeping discipline in the picture.<BR/><BR/>The tea ceremony is a wonderful example of pure ritual carrying the weight of the freedom within it. The ceremony is rich with meaning. <BR/><BR/>Hope you're well.<BR/><BR/>DavidAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145452775085573942006-04-19T08:19:00.000-05:002006-04-19T08:19:00.000-05:00Dear Kelbell,What a story. Thank for that. I am go...Dear Kelbell,<BR/>What a story. Thank for that. I am going to meditate on that message all day today. When someone asks how was my day, I will say I was making tea."ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145452556500039532006-04-19T08:15:00.000-05:002006-04-19T08:15:00.000-05:00Ahh, Syncronicity again.Last week, while I was in ...Ahh, Syncronicity again.<BR/>Last week, while I was in Florida (thanks to you, Liz), I learned the art of the Chinese Tea Ceremony, which is quite different from the Japanese version.<BR/>My best friend just returned from China with a new baby girl, she and her husband adopted.<BR/>The steps and movemnets of the Chinese ceremony are completly unique from the Japanese version, but the spirt and intent are identical. <BR/><BR/>There is a concept in martial arts called "Mushin Mind." The state of being described as "mind-no mind." It's like Michael Jordan when he's "in the zone." It's like a runner's high. It's the art of knowing how to do something so well that you no longer have to think about it. You flow in harmony with the universe in moving meditation. (Like Garnet playing with the symphony.)<BR/><BR/>I know this comment has turned into a long post, but I have a story to tell, if you care to pull up a chair and listen...<BR/><BR/>There is an ancient legend in China of a great tea master, the greatest to ever live. One day a brash young warrior came into town looking to prove his skill and gain a reputation. He knocked into the tea master and then proceeded to yell at the old man. "How dare you block my way! I am a warrior! Step aside!"<BR/>The old man bowed his head, and attempted apology, but the warroir would not listen. He demanded that the two meet in a duel at noon the next day, as a matter of honor.<BR/>The old tea master went to a swordsman in the village asking for help. They spent all night practicing, to no avail. "I am sorry my friend, I can not teach you the art of the sword in one night. But I have some advice: When you go to the duel, arrive early, sit down and make tea. Trust me. It is your only hope."<BR/>So the tea master did just that. <BR/><BR/>He did the best tea ceremony of his life, a perfection in every way. When his brash young foe arrived, the old man stood slowly, and drew his sword, still in a deep state of mushin. The youth took one look into the eyes of the old man, and knew, without a shadow of doubt, he was facing a great Grand Master. The old man offered one more appology, to which the youth wisely accepted, and quickly fled.<BR/><BR/>...and that my patient friends, is the story of the tea maker.<BR/><BR/>-love,<BR/>KelbellAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145446952593360342006-04-19T06:42:00.000-05:002006-04-19T06:42:00.000-05:00Whew! What a relief. I had all of these cookis and...Whew! What a relief. I had all of these cookis and a place in mind for you. It wouldn't have been the same without you."ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145446834556284062006-04-19T06:40:00.000-05:002006-04-19T06:40:00.000-05:00of course I will be joining you, couldn't pass up ...of course I will be joining you, couldn't pass up tea and cookies with 2 of my favorite people :0)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145419855677442362006-04-18T23:10:00.000-05:002006-04-18T23:10:00.000-05:00So will you join us, Trace? I need to know how man...So will you join us, Trace? I need to know how many cookies to pack. Thanks for the nice words. (Hugs for you)"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145419715441450222006-04-18T23:08:00.000-05:002006-04-18T23:08:00.000-05:00ok you two will just have to come here :0) at our ...ok you two will just have to come here :0) at our botanical gardens we have a japanese festival every year and I believe they offer a course on the traditional tea ceremony :0)<BR/><BR/>wonderful post as always my friend (hugs)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145419374388850232006-04-18T23:02:00.000-05:002006-04-18T23:02:00.000-05:00Yeah, if it all goes over our heads we've still go...Yeah, if it all goes over our heads we've still got the tea. I'll sneak some cookies in inside my pockets too, just in case we need them.<BR/><BR/>:P"ME" Liz Strausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10711283307459944821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14775685.post-1145419220316905592006-04-18T23:00:00.000-05:002006-04-18T23:00:00.000-05:00Oh my, how I would like to go too. I've read much ...Oh my, how I would like to go too. I've read much about the tea ceremony but I must say the essence of it, on paper, escapes me. Yet, still, I want to see what they see, to feel what that feel, to know what they experience. Besides, if it all just goes over my head, we still have the tea. Right? :-)Tréehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11742129819547567342noreply@blogger.com