Around 200 articles about the spiritual connection between tea and ourselves
Understanding the concepts of “Tea Person” – Cha’ren and Chadao
I met a Korean monk, who is also a tea master, and asked him whether he could explain the concept of “tea person (Cha’ren).” I had been wondering about the concept for a long while. The Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans…
Tea Gratitude
I find myself thinking about gratitude. So I wrote a tea meditation for my Thanksgiving article.
The Therapeutic Properties of Tea
While writing and subsequently editing each day, I place my laptop atop of the chaxi and crowd a gaiwan…
Is the Tea Ceremony Romantic?
One member of my Tea Dharma Club asked me: “Is the tea ceremony romantic?” I was surprised by this question, so I checked an English dictionary to find what the word “romantic” means.
A Very Brief History of Iranian Tea
In recent months I came across two Iranian films: “A Separation”, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2012, and a film entitled, “This Is Not a Film.”
Sacred Teaometry; A Tea Lover’s Thoughts on Tea Ceremony
Tied to the study of nature and the mathematical principles found therein,
The Places You’ll Go: Eight Chinese Words to Know Before Visiting a Tea House
These are eight terms related to tea that are essential to learn to enjoy tea at one’s leisure while visiting a tea house in China.
Old Sencha Incense
Incense is a wonderful tool to include when celebrating the Autumnal Equinox…
Sip for Peace; World Day of Peace 2021
As a global community of tea drinkers, sharing the peace we feel in a simple cup of tea and the connectedness we share with people around the world, we can Sip-In …
Tea Is An Experience
Sitting down to drink a cup of tea grants us permission to slow down. Slowing down is a powerful…
Tea in Transformation
Tea is a symbol of unity: To see tea is to know it is tea; then to see tea is to know it is not tea; finally, to see tea again is to know it is still tea.
Spring has sprung; Do You Need a Spring Tea Tonic?
We’ve all heard of spring tonics – how about creating one of your own with a tea of your choice? Anything consumed with a positive mindset can do...
Tea Trade Mazu
Hailing from China’s MeiZhou Island, Tea Trade Mazu arrived in Taiwan during the onset of Japan colonization.
Learning to Wash Tea Cups
It was while my eyes were away, already where I wanted my hands to move next, that I heard the sound…
Solstice Night, Tea, and Light
Three years ago, my second official article on T Ching was The Longest Night, The Winter Solstice, and Tea. Within, I wrote about the meaning of the...
Tea Time for Turbulent Times
Guest contribution by Alex Thomas There is a Chinese curse that goes, “May you live in interesting times.” It’s a curse, mind you - not a blessing....
The Courage to be Grateful
Last Friday for our November 20th article (T Ching Classics: Thanksgiving Blessings), our editor Jaelithe Crislip selected three past Thanksgiving...
Tao in a Teapot
Guest contribution by: Alexander Thomas In the first chapter of the Tao de Ching we read “The Dao that can be conceptualized is not the pristine...
My Introduction to Tea Leaf Reading – Part 2
Continued from My Introduction to Tea Leaf Reading – Part 1 I know that others have written about the methodology of reading the leaves, so I will...
My Introduction to Tea Leaf Reading – Part 1
With the stressors of life during times of personal and global turmoil, I suddenly realized that I never wrote about the Introduction to Tea Leaf...
Find Your Future In A Teacup
According to recent studies, 44% of Americans find themselves unable to be optimistic about the future. In today’s rapidly changing world, sometimes...
Curious Facts About Tea Leaf Reading
The practice of reading tea leaves is one that dates back to medieval European tradition, and recent trends indicate that people are looking to tea...
Chanoyu: History and Philosophy – Part 2
Continued from Chanoyu: History and Philosophy – Part 1 Scroll reads: “Wa Kei Sei Jaku” – The Four Principles of Tea The Tea Master Sen Rikyu...
Chanoyu: History and Philosophy – Part 1
In recent articles (Chanoyu, Temae, and Chadogu and Essential Low-Ranking Chadogu for Ceremony of Tea), I mentioned the traditional green tea...
How Much Gratitude Is There in a Simple Cup of Tea?
It began to snow at 2 PM on Tuesday and didn’t stop. We accumulated eight inches at my house but much more a little way up the hill. And it was...
Our Routines and Our Rituals
Routines give us stability — rituals provide us with sanctuary. We are taught routines at a very young age, and they are believed to be notably...
Buddhism and Tea
I’ve recently broken form and written about a different subject in my tea blog, about my son becoming a samanane, or Thai Buddhist novice monk....
Green Tea: Healing And Serenity In A Cup
Aaron Fisher, in his book The Way of Tea: Reflections on a Life with Tea, notes, “Tea’s ability to both stimulate our awareness and calm us down at...
The Longest Night, The Winter Solstice, and Tea
(By the time this is posted, it will be the day of the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere. I held off on writing it, however, until the...
Tea Drinking Cultures From Around the World
Tea, and its thousands of variations from around the world that boast opulent tastes and aromas, is one of the most popular pastime beverages in the...
O Christmas TEA, O Christmas TEA!
Let’s celebrate and rejoice with tea! As you enjoy the holidays, perhaps sipping on your favorite tea, reflecting on the year and dreaming of what...
Tea Aversion and Attraction
Experiences in tea can be vast and varied. Some good, some bad, some we’d like to enjoy again, and some we would rather forget. That said, judging...
A Brief Overview of Buddhist Influence on Tea Culture
Tea now enjoys a prominent place in many Buddhist traditions, but in the time of Gautama Buddha (the first Buddha and the founder of Buddhism), tea...
The Mindfulness of Tea
In mindfulness practice, one of the keys to expanding the ability of mind is to pay attention to the thoughts, feelings and sensations experienced...
Keep Calm and Carry on Plucking
November is the time of year when Hindus the world over celebrate the festival of Deepvali or Diwali. Deepvali is the festival of lights. It is...
Medi-TEA-tion, Part 4
And what about music? We can use the same process here as with tea selection. Don’t just un-pause the iPod from its last outing. Tune in and see...
Medi-TEA-tion, Part 3
Now, back to our tea session: Hopefully, by now we have set aside some time to mindfully tidy up the tea space. We can then use our creativity to...
Medi-TEA-tion, Part 2
What are the Four Foundations of Mindfulness? And what is mindfulness? It never harms to go back to basics from time to time. Mindfulness, in my...
Medi-TEA-tion, Part 1
Over the next few installments, I would like to offer some tips for bringing more of the spirit of meditation into our tea drinking. This could be...
Global Tea Hut on Living Tea
In the first half of the twentieth century, the Japanese were in control of Taiwan and looking to develop the island agriculturally, exporting goods...
Gong Fu Tea Tips
In tea preparation, there is always a lot of discussion of form versus function. On the one hand, it shows great respect to prepare the tea in a way...
Fetching Water
Contribution by: Global Tea Hut The last drop glides off the silver-tipped spout and fills the side handle teapot. The iron kettle stands empty....
Permanent Culture at “Light Meets Life”
Thinking about the beautiful land on which we will grow food at our new center, there are many aspects of the project to consider. In the last issue...
Spirals: Part 4
One of the magical qualities of tea is that it works non-verbally. It seeps into the cracks and joints of our bodies and souls, filling them with...
Spirals: Part 3
Some time ago, I traveled south in Taiwan to a new Vipassana center. Ten days later, I was given a ride to the nearest train station by a kind...
Spirals: Part 2
Article by Lindsey Goodwin, Arthurian Mythologist. Shortly after I made Taiwan my new home last fall, I visited Mr. Xie, an organic farmer. He...
Spirals: Part 1
Article by Lindsey Goodwin, Arthurian Mythologist When you are on a spiritual path, you probably find that your route is often a circular or spiral...
How to Be a Guest
Article by Dan Smith Leave your ego at the door, Wu De reminds us. Take your shoes off outside and leave your ego with them. You will be much more...
Gong fu tea tips
Do you remember the very first gong fu experiment we ever did? It is an important one, and as we have mentioned many times it is important to repeat all these experiments several times. In our first experiment, we poured tea into a cup and then poured half of that into an identical cup, and half of that into a third.
Transcendence
Living here in Miaoli and serving at the Center every day, the only opportunity I have for any interactions with people who aren’t into tea or spiritual work is in the workplace. I’ve been at my current job for one year now, and although I don’t talk much with anyone, over time they’ve reached the obvious conclusion that I’m a weirdo with mixed-up priorities.