When I was growing up my mother would never allow us to have coffee, not sure why, but she said not until we were in high school? Hmmmm
So we could have water, milk, juice, soda, and yes tea! Hot tea or cold tea and Lipton tea, of course. I learned a lot about tea, as I’ve said, from Aaron Fisher’s book The Way of Tea Reflections on a Life with Tea. Thus this blog post…
Once I was allowed to drink coffee, I decided that I would try it. Mom had an old metal coffee pot with a glass window in the top so you could see the coffee perking. Not sure why that was there but it was fun watching the coffee going up and down in the pot. Kept me out of trouble for a few minutes anyway!
The day finally came, and I got the coffee cup and the hot pot of coffee off the stove and poured some into the cup. I saw mom put cream and sugar in her coffee so I figured that was how it was to be fixed before drinking it. It was very hot and so I figured I’d better blow on it a little before taking my first sip and finally I jumped into the coffee with great expectations. Yikes! Was I shocked it was awful, it tasted like mud to me. It was not light and flavorful like the tea or transparent enough to see to the bottom of the cup. It’s kind of like life our “great expectations” don’t always turn out as we had expected…
Thus I did not drink coffee until I was grown up…I mean really grown up! I was working in the Emergency Room in the local hospital as a Unit Secretary. My shift was 3-11 PM on weekends and holidays. Thus the cafeteria closed at 7 pm and if I wanted a hot drink, I had to drink what was in the nurse’s lounge. Yes, you guessed it! A giant old coffee pot filled with that nasty dark concoction!
Such is life and how it affects our eating, drinking, and way of living. Fisher writes, “The Chinese, always so fond of making lists—of virtues, of bests and worsts, and even of benefits—made a list of the ten virtues of tea and it became common knowledge:
- Tea is beneficial to health, as the “Qi” clears all blockages and cures ailments.
- Tea helps refresh one after a night of drinking alcohol.
- Tea, mixed with other things like nuts or even milk can provide nourishment.
- Tea can cool one off in the heat of summer.
- Tea helps one slough off all fatigue and drowsiness, promoting an awakened mindset.
- Tea purifies the spirit, removes anxiety and nervousness and brings ease and comfort, conducive to meditation.
- Tea aids in the digestion of food.
- Tea removes all toxins from the body, flushing out the blood and urinary system.
- Tea is conducive to longevity, promoting longer, healthier life.
- Tea invigorates the body and inspires the mind to creativity (page 54).”[1]
So for me I’m going to drink more TEA! Can’t wait to see if the benefits of tea can make me healthier, live longer, be more creative and inspired by life! How about you? Care to join me!?
[1] Fisher, Arron, The Way of Tea Reflections on a Life with Tea, Tuttle Publishing, North Clarendon, Vermont, 2010
[2] Picture is from Pixabay website
Students! Do not practice buddha-dharma [teachings] for your own sake. Do not practice buddha-dharma for name and gain. Do not practice buddha-dharma to attain blissful reward. Do not practice buddha-dharma to attain miraculous effects. Practice buddha-dharma solely for the sake of buddha-dharma. This is the way (page 13). [1]
Or are you like Bartholomew in Dr. Seuss’ book The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins creating the same old hat over and over! Are you sitting in the same old chair with the same old ideas one on top of the other over and over?
Many of us may remember the wonderful play and movie “Oliver! the Musical” with warmth and laughter. There is a song in it that is so powerful and yet sad if you really listen to the words. Watched by his fellow orphans, Mark Lester, as Oliver Twist, dares to ask for more, in the film “Oliver!” (Columbia Pictures). [1]
There are so many kinds of meditation from the simple Zen method of clearing your mind and counting your breath 1 on the in breath and 2 on the out breath. Then there is the wonderful description by Frances W. Foulks in her iconic book Effectual Prayer where she writes: “To meditate on a subject is to give it attentive, earnest thought with the idea of having all its meaning revealed; that is, all the meaning that one is capable of receiving at the time (page 65).”
As I read on he shared with the reader two important words in Buddhism anicca and dukkha in English impermanence and suffering. I did not live permanently in that cold old house, but I sure did suffer while I was there. That was, of course, before I began studying Buddhism!
The Secret to a More Fulfilling Life! Part 3 Living your life like Avalokiteshvara the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion
Posted in birth, BUddhism, cause and effect, chant, Christianity, discrimination, diversity, education, enlightenment, Ethics, fears, happiness, hate speech, human race, illusion, Kazuaki Tanahashi, love, meditation, Metta Prayer, Mindfulness, Noble Eightfold Path, old age, oppression, planet earth, prayer, religion, self-help, sickness, suffering, The Four NOble Truths, The Heart Sutra, Uncategorized, wisdom, Zen, tagged Avalokitesvara, Buddhism, Christianity, environment, faith, feelings, focus, Foundations of Buddhism, friends, fun, Great Compassionate Heart Dharani, humanity, inspiration, Joan Halifax, learning, prayer, questions, relationships, religion, Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen, sharing, thoughts, Truth, women, Zen Chants Thirty-Five Texts with Commentary on June 5, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Avalokiteshvara is known as the person “Who hears the outcries of the World.” There are so many on this earth today who are crying out for help in war zones, from hurricane devastation, earth quakes, in draughts, and famines, through poverty, and more.
As you see in the picture she is depicted with many arms. In other pictures she also has many heads. I know that some of you can relate to her very well. You see her reflection in you. Every time you encourage a child or an elderly person to go beyond their struggles and challenges you are Avalokiteshvara in action. Every time you drop off food at the foodbank, or volunteer with a non-profit organization, or mow the lawn of a disabled vet Avalokiteshvara is moving through you as you. I know sometimes you feel like you could use those extra arms and at least one extra head if you had access to them. But I always say, “Fake it till you make it.”
Joan Halifax and Kazuaki Tanahashi translated the Sutra “Great Compassionate Heart Dharani” in the most beautiful way (pages 138-39).[1] Below is a list of things for you to think about or meditate on. Are these actions appearing in your life on a regular basis? If not, why not? How can you make these actions more alive and present in your life each and every day? If yes, think about a few examples of who, how, and when they appeared.
Make this your project for the year and let me know how it goes!
[1] Tanahashi, K. (2015) Zen Chants Thirty-Five Essential Texts with Commentary. Shambhala: Boston and London
Picture: Avalokitesvara B&W Foundations of Buddhism
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