The Oneness of Tea

Tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, outside of plain water, and has been around as a beverage for almost 5000 years!!  It's no accident that tea is associated with equality, compassion, intention and community.  We need only to examine the history of tea and how it arose in China and Japan, and the influence that the Zen Buddhist monks had on its popularity.

Let's examine these influences by reviewing the Japanese tea ceremony and the concepts of Wabi and Ichigo Ichie.  Together these two concepts suggest that one should make the best of their surroundings and experiences in life to optimize ones encounters and feelings of well being - not just for oneself, but for others as well.  Thereby creating a community of compassion towards oneself and also towards others.

The concept of everyone being equal is prevalent in the actual tea ceremony itself.  Firstly when the entrance way into a tea room is constructed, the entrance way is made smaller than the size of a person, so everyone MUST enter the room in a bowed position.  It is also noticed in the actual pouring of the tea where the tea is generally first dispersed into a large serving jug and then poured into the actual drinking cups, so that everyone gets tea that is brewed exactly the same as opposed to the first pour perhaps being somewhat weaker than the last pour if the cups are served directly from the brewing pot.

The tea ceremony in itself is an exercise of intention.  Every motion, every step along the way is paid the attention it deserves.  The appreciation in what is happening, in brewing the perfect cup of tea is the outcome of being present in the moment.

Now let's fast forward to 2013, and a woman that has only just been introduced to these concepts.  How does she interpret the oneness of tea in this modern era?

We use tea symbolically to offer compassion to one another in times of need.  We share our hopes and dreams over a cup of tea with friends.  We have laughed and we have cried.  We have revered beauty, and shared our differences and similarities.

It is because of all these qualities that tea has the ability to break down barriers to communication and perceived inequalities.  Tea brings people together to share their thoughts and be respectful with each other.  Tea inspires us to be better people.

There are many different kinds of teas, all unique and special in their own way.  As are human beings.  And like the tea we drink we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique and special.

This is what tea means to me. Tea opens up possibilities to a better world, we just have to follow the same principles that make tea as loved as it is.  Tea creates community, and a oneness with each other.  We are all one, we are all equal and just as tea comes from only one plant the camellia sinensis so do we all come from one species the homo sapiens.

Tea is intentional.  Tea is community.  Tea is good.