Tea drinking is a delightful affair. A fragrant cup of Tea swirls around your mouth, moistening every part of it before being swallowed.
We often care about whether the tea we drink is good or not, and whether the environment for Drinking Tea is pleasant. However, we seldom realize that what truly matters is with whom we share this experience.
The world is full of countless fine teas, some of which you may never have the chance to taste in this lifetime, and others you might actively avoid.
This leads to the classification of “good” and “bad” teas. Yet, every type of tea has its own merits. There are no inherently good or bad teas, only those you like or dislike, those suitable or unsuitable for you.
Selecting tea can be likened to choosing people to associate with. Cherish every cup of tea that crosses your path, for such encounters are a form of destiny in life. This tea connection is something that cannot be bought with money or gained through fame.
It's easy to find someone to drink wine with, chat, or travel; but difficult to find someone to read books and drink tea with.
It's even more challenging to find someone to share a lifetime of reading and tea drinking, living together through thick and thin.
The Song Dynasty couple Li Qingzhao and Zhao Mingcheng were deeply devoted to each other and both loved tea. “After each meal, sitting in the Returned Hall, brewing tea, they would point at their stacks of books and discuss where specific events could be found, citing the book, volume, page, and line number. They would compete to see who was correct, determining the order of tea drinking. When one of them was right, they would raise their cup and laugh heartily, often spilling tea into their lap, unable to drink it as they rose from their seat.”
They drank tea while testing their memory, leaving a beautiful story of “drinking tea to aid learning” for future generations, adding grace and charm to the art of tea.
This tea connection is something that cannot be bought with money or gained through fame.
Choose virtuous people to interact with, benefiting you for life; select good books to read, cultivating both wisdom and talent; choose wise words to listen to, enlightening the mind and enhancing vision; follow virtuous actions to improve your character and nurture your spirit. Choose the right tea to soothe your spirit and nourish your body.
It's easy to find someone to drink wine with, chat, or travel. It's hard to find someone to read books and drink tea with.
It's even more challenging to find someone to share a lifetime of reading and tea drinking, living together through thick and thin.
Selecting a good cup of tea is not easy, nor is finding a lifelong companion. When you encounter a good cup of tea, cherish it; when you meet a true friend, cherish that too.