My OperaSitting Together at the Gardens, Celebrating Together at St. Francis
Friday, September 28, 2007 1:43:10 PM
Tea Meditation, from "How to Enjoy Your Stay in Plum Village"
Tea meditation is a time to be with the Sangha in a joyful and serene atmosphere. Just to enjoy our tea together is enough. It is like a “good news” occasion, when we share our joy and happiness in being together.
At times, when we are drinking tea with a friend, we are not aware of the tea or even of our friend sitting there. Practicing tea meditation is to be truly present with our tea and our friends. We recognize that we can dwell happily in the present moment despite all of our sorrows and worries. We sit there relaxed without having to say anything. If we like, we may also share a song, a story or a dance.
You may like to bring a musical instrument or prepare something ahead of time. It is an opportunity for us to water the seeds of happiness and joy, of understanding and love in each one of us.
Tea meditation is a time to be with the Sangha in a joyful and serene atmosphere. Just to enjoy our tea together is enough. It is like a “good news” occasion, when we share our joy and happiness in being together.
At times, when we are drinking tea with a friend, we are not aware of the tea or even of our friend sitting there. Practicing tea meditation is to be truly present with our tea and our friends. We recognize that we can dwell happily in the present moment despite all of our sorrows and worries. We sit there relaxed without having to say anything. If we like, we may also share a song, a story or a dance.
You may like to bring a musical instrument or prepare something ahead of time. It is an opportunity for us to water the seeds of happiness and joy, of understanding and love in each one of us.
Note: This is a late posting ~ the entry was written on Sept. 20, so the events mentioned have already passed.
Hello everyone!
The weather could not be more beautiful right now in Birmingham ~ cool air, clear skies, gentle breeze. Ahh, Fall is coming.
We've got two wonderful excuses to celebrate this weekend.
The first is a long-anticipated gathering at the Zen Rock Garden, in the Japanese Gardens, at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. If you are planning to come, please do take a moment to RSVP to Sandy Waltz (details in a separate post), and don't forget to bring a cushion and blanket for the ground.
The second is, well, my birthday! Since it's the same day as our sitting, I'd like us to partake in the wonderful Plum Village tradition of the tea ceremony. How 'bout this: I'll bring tea and edible treats. I invite those of you who are coming to bring something to share: a song you love, a poem, a story you want to tell, your smile, a flower from your garden, a leaf or feather you found from the ground. You get the idea ~ something wonderful that makes you smile.
Oh, and if you can't come, and you'd like to share something anyway, by all means, feel free to do so. I'll be happy to share your offerings with the group on Monday.
After our periods of sitting and walking meditation, our tea ceremony will be a time for us to practice mindful eating and drinking (a new practice!), and a time to play.
If you've never participated in a tea ceremony before, no worries ~ it is a lot of fun!
Looking forward to seeing you, either Sunday, Monday, or both.
