Saturday, October 19, 2013

Resonance of successful ceremony

Most of the guests were new to the tea ceremony. They are fellows from my Aikido class. I took all the utensils into the living room of my Aiki teacher’s apartment and I served tea for twelve people with my assistant. These days, I frequently think back on how good the tea ceremony went. I remember the excited faces of the fellows and kids helping on shifting matcha with their eyes alight.


 All of the guests properly sat on their knees even though I haven’t told them to do so. That’s Aikodo practitioner! Moreover, when I bowed at the beginning of the ceremony, all the guests synchronously bowed in silent. How nice it is! It instantly developed the feeling of unity in the atmosphere, and boosted my excitement. 

 I found the eyes on the person who were receiving sweets beatific. I could tell the guests were trying to sense something from my ritual performance by solemnly watching my movements with great interest. As I’m serving tea one by one, I noticed that the next guest looked slightly nerves and curious. I felt like that I could read the emotions of others without words. This session reminded me that the tea ceremony is different from casually enjoying matcha at the dining room. Maybe because you sit on your legs and bow with your hands on the floor, or the ritual gestures of the host. I don’t know what magic in it. I was more sensitive to the emotions of others. After all, I am simply glad to find that the guests were delighted. I’ve been basking in the resonance of the gathering this week.



11 comments:

  1. Reading you talking about it is enough to send us straight to that ceremony and gathering. That is how powerful your words and pictures are! Peace and excitement all at the same time.

    Cheers, Kohei, and thank you for sharing such a great time with us.
    Leaf

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    1. You are right. It’s excellent to experience peace and excitement at the same time! Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  2. That's wonderful! I feel a 'high' for weeks after a special tea ceremony too. It's great you could share with them!

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    1. You fell the “high”, too!! Isn’t it great?

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  3. Very nice. Of course, you already know, I am a devotee of both aikido and tea, and I think martial arts+tea go hand in hand, although there seems to be not much overlap in the two groups nowadays..so I think anything to reinforce this is on the right path!

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    1. As I learn Sado and Aikido at the same time, I think that they can create a synergy effect. I can apply things that I learned from one to the other.

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  4. Kohei, I love your posture! I wish I could sit as nicely!

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    1. Thanks, jessica-san! When I started taking the tea class, I could not sit for an entire ceremony because my legs fell asleep. I just got used to it now.

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  5. https://everyonestea.blogspot.com/2013/10/measuring-matcha-and-water.html?showComment=1475402523544

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