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‘Drink your tea slowly and reverently,
as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves
– slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.’
Thich Nhat Hanh
John Wrangham, London 1830-1831
MrsM has been recharging her batteries
by reading the blog zenhabits
and was very inspired by this post
Leo says...
'Yesterday I had tea with a Daoist tea monk
who said for tea to change you,
you have to create a sacred space
in your heart for the tea.
Elkington & Co., Birmingham, 1857
MrsM reads on...
Imagine that space for a moment.
How does it feel?
What can reside in that sacred space?
How different is it from mechanically drinking tea,
without paying attention to it?'
Christopher Dresser , Sheffield 1879
MrsM is impressed by this concept
and wonders if she can apply it
to other aspects of her life.
Andrew Fogelberg, London 1778-1779
She tries replacing the word 'tea'
with the word 'ironing'.
Konoike, Yokohama 1890-1895
Early indications are not promising.
*****
all images
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
many thanks to the Victoria and Albert Museum
for their enlightened policy on digital images
as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves
– slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.’
Thich Nhat Hanh
MrsM has been recharging her batteries
by reading the blog zenhabits
and was very inspired by this post
Leo says...
'Yesterday I had tea with a Daoist tea monk
who said for tea to change you,
you have to create a sacred space
in your heart for the tea.
MrsM reads on...
Imagine that space for a moment.
How does it feel?
What can reside in that sacred space?
How different is it from mechanically drinking tea,
without paying attention to it?'
MrsM is impressed by this concept
and wonders if she can apply it
to other aspects of her life.
She tries replacing the word 'tea'
with the word 'ironing'.
Early indications are not promising.
*****
all images
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
many thanks to the Victoria and Albert Museum
for their enlightened policy on digital images
.jpg)
I read the post too, just now.
ReplyDeleteIt does say "You can do that for anything, not just tea."
But then it continues: "Anything that’s important to you."
That might explain the unpromising prospect, ironwise. It is just not important.
Thanks for the smile on a cold and snowy (again!)mondaymorning.
Andrea
You bring me back to the V&A every now and then ...
ReplyDeleteOh but I love ironing--I find it very meditative. Sadly the same does not apply to cleaning bathrooms... K x
ReplyDeleteI almost choked on MY (ginger) tea when I read your last sentence. :-)
ReplyDeleteCorinne
I read that too - how strange. Also his article about motivation. Always makes sense at the time but fail to remember to apply it in real life.
ReplyDeleteI am off to experiment with cleaning TinySmall's bedroom. I'm not hopeful about that either.
ReplyDeleteWe all knew that that wouldn't work, didn't we?
ReplyDeleteI always make my tea in a pot but it is nowhere near as beautiful as those you displayed. I always drink my tea in one place too and contemplate the day.
I might start drinking tea if I could have one of those teapots - I only drink it when it would be impolite not to, and someone else has made it!
ReplyDeleteI have a sacred space in my heart for Thich Nhat Hanh.
ReplyDeleteI have to be very careful because I have this compulsion to collect teapots. I think they are so lovely, and there is just something about a quiet cup of tea poured out of a beautiful pot that creates a special magic.
ReplyDeleteI don't think any of the Chinese, Japanese or Tibetan meditations mention creating a sacred space through ironing at all - and frankly I can completely understand that!
ReplyDeleteMindful tea drinking on the other hand I can totally go with.
But I look forward to your experiments with eager anticipation - good luck. :-)
sacred tea. I am like that.
ReplyDelete