There are two kinds of Tea: one is the “everyday tea” that accompanies our daily routine, and the other is the “artistic tea” that complements poetry, painting, and music. Each Cup offers a unique insight—how much do you glean from your tea?
Tea is all-encompassing and silent. It can be the quenching drink when you're parched and thirsty, gulped down in large sips to soothe your throat and refresh your spirit. In this moment, the aroma and flavor of the tea are secondary.
Tea can also be intricate and delicate, savored slowly as a means to appreciate life's finer moments. It requires sipping gently, relishing the tranquility of a quiet courtyard and the serenity of a light breeze.
When you imbibe tea mindfully, treating each session as both the first and the last, whether alone or with others, regardless of the number of infusions, the experience will ultimately dissipate like the fragrance of the tea, leaving only memories in the heart.
Drinking Tea is akin to interacting with people. Just as we need to understand others, so too must we understand tea. Treat every tea with respect and appreciation, just as we would with any person, regardless of their social standing or background, finding something admirable in each one.
To truly comprehend tea, one must engage in earnest dialogue with it, much like befriending someone. As you learn about its history, you gain a deeper appreciation for its uniqueness and better understand how to savor it fully.
Some say that drinking tea isn't about the water but the taste, and over time, it becomes less about the flavor of the tea itself and more about the taste of one's inner self and life. Different teas correspond to different seasons or times of day, mirroring the varying moods and temperatures of life.
Unlike life, which is often mundane, when the mind is calm, there is always flavor to be found in tea.
Regarding desires, good tea and the mood for drinking it can be compared to desires and ideals. The end goal of desire is material possession, while the ultimate aim of an ideal is spiritual fulfillment.
No matter how exquisite the tea, it will eventually be consumed, but the mood for drinking tea is inexhaustible. Instead of endlessly pursuing better tea, it's better to always be ready with the right mindset for enjoying it.
Life, like tea, teaches us the meaning of tolerance—not enduring or ignoring, but finally learning to appreciate.
There is no perfect tea, yet even imperfect tea can Brew a perfect moment; similarly, there are no perfect people, but we can learn to appreciate ourselves and cherish an imperfect life.