Chinese Tea Ceremony

In the middle of an exciting and busy camp we were a group of people gathered for what is so completely different: a Chinese tea ceremony.

The "Tea" starts just knowing that we aren't going anywhere for another hour or two, are sharing special time and space with others who are doing the same, and long before the first sip of the actual liquid when one can say "I am having tea".

In the beginning our particular choice of tea is carefully made after a long meditative process of appreciating the aroma of several different varieties. As the "smelling cup" travels around the circle, the most intimate thing is shared - breath. Thoughts and feelings are also shared until finally a unified choice is made about a single type of tea for our ceremony.

Now the preparation process can begin: with great care water is heated to a particular stage of boiling which is the most suitable for revealing the flavour of tea. Tiny clay cups are washed and heated, dry tea leaves are also warmed up before brewing. One could see this whole process as a tiny model of universe with the five primal Chinese elements interacting with each other: Fire heats up Water which soaks the tea (Wood), liquid is contained within clay pots and cups (Earth) and the human mind (Metal) oversees the whole process.

After the most careful and attentive preparation of every detail and ingredient, finally the first brewing is made and, rather surprisingly, spilled out! This action, which symbolizes a sacrifice to gods and ancestor spirits defines very clearly that it is not a casual drink for quenching thirst - the sacred ceremony has higher, not material, goals.

Second brewing. This is the first acquaintance with the tea as a liquid and many interesting things can be observed: the difference between smell and taste, and the way they change as the tea cools down, the flavour that stays in the mouth after the drink, and - probably the biggest discovery which also teaches us about the nature of life - every person perceives the flavour of the same tea very differently.

Third brewing. This is when familiarity starts developing with the tea - more subtle flavours and "afterflavours" also, relation between people becomes more subtle, sensitive and relaxed. In China there is a saying which expresses trust and fondness of another person: "We have already had Tea together".

Fourth brewing. This is approaching the time for an inner choice - whether stubbornly to hold on to the concerns of problems and future plans in the back of the mind and to enjoy easy and mellow, yet only partial relaxation - or to make a decision to be total, to be "here and now", which includes becoming more alert, concentrated and therefore more open to most sacred levels of the ceremony.

Fifth brewing. The tea flavours and smells become much more gentle and subtle - so does our mind and feelings. We can now see meaningfulness of every aspect in the ceremony as well as our ordinary life, and yet at the same time we start becoming aware of the "bigger picture" which allows us to question the real and deep mysteries of life.

Sixth brewing. In complete stillness and silence we can hear the spirits of our ancestors passing their knowledge to us. A ritual which has started thousands of years ago allows us to see ourselves as being rooted many generations into the past, passing wisdom into the future. And perhaps just for a moment, we can touch eternity.

Seventh brewing. The last cup helps us to come back into the daily world and bring our new experiences with us. Perhaps this will allow us to rediscover and become more enthusiastic about some things that had become habitual and even boring in our lives - we might start noticing the smell of freshly toasted bread before eating it, or having a little "dust wiping ceremony", maybe even becoming aware of the sacredness of breath a little more often…

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