Meditate with Tea

The activity of preparing tea, tasting tea, and relaxing is a form of meditation.  If you focus on the art of the brew, and pay specific attention to the various steps in preparing the tea, you will notice that you are being very intentional in what you are doing.  Block everything from your mind and focus on the tea.

Similar to a Chinese tea ceremony, you can create your own ceremony.  A very simple procedure is as follows:

• Bring the water to temperature and pour into a heated teapot.  
• While the water is heating up, measure the tea that you will be using, and set it aside.  
• Find a spot that envelops you in a sense of peace and beauty.  You can create your own spot by adding a few items like a table cloth, candles, comfy chair etc, or perhaps you already have a spot like this.  In the summer my spot is outside on our deck.  It's quiet and the view is nice, and relaxing.
• Set out the brewing pot, cup, tea, timer, temperature gauge (if you use one), hot water.
• Inspect the dry leaf, really look at it and describe it to yourself.  Smell it, feel it, and enjoy your senses at work. 
• Once the water is at the correct temperature, add the leaves and the water to the brewing pot and set your timer.  A clear glass brewing pot is great for this because you can watch the leaves unfurl as the taste infuses into the water and colours the liquor.
• Once the timer indicates the tea is ready, remove the tea leaves from the pot and pour into your favourite tea vessel.
• Before you take your first sip, enjoy the colour and aroma of the tea liquor.
• Sit back, relax, and take your first sip.  What do you taste?  What flavours can you make out?  Focus on the tea, be aware of the moment you are in and let go of your daily stresses.  You can get back to all of that soon enough!!

You can create a ritual out of anything that you like to do.  But because there are so many steps and little things to focus on, it creates an easy atmosphere to be successful in your quest for being intentional.  Tea is also associated with being intentional.  Buddhist monks and other scholars have long been using tea in this manner.  

Today, find that spot where you can relax, make it your own and create your own tea ceremony.  Let me know how you found it.  Was it relaxing?  We're you able to focus on the tea and not think about everything else in your life?  How long did it take?  Would you do this ritual on a regular basis?