So, how did you enjoy today’s journey?
There’s a phrase in Zen practice called “Kissako.” It highlights the importance of taking time out of your day to drink a cup of tea. As the music plays for about five minutes, take this moment to relax and reflect on all of our adventures from today.
They say that Zen and tea are closely connected. A movie about tea ceremony references a Zen saying in its title “Every Day a Good Day,” and goes on to explain Zen in the movie itself.
“You don’t have to understand what it means.” “Tea is about trusting in yourself to follow the natural flow.”
The protagonist of the movie, who studies Japanese tea ceremony, starts to notice subtle things about the world around her. For example, she notices the sound of water and how it changes-- whether it's cold water or hot water, whether it’s summer rain or autumn rain-- suddenly, she can hear the difference. She discovered that if you begin every day with the thought, “every day is a good day,” you will find the natural pleasure in life’s simplicity.
There’s a line in the movie that goes, “There are two kinds of things in the world: things you understand right away, and things you don’t. Some things just make sense the first time you hear or see it, and you don’t need to search further. Other things don’t quite make sense right away, but will eventually reveal their meaning to you bit by bit if you take the time to let it sink in. This reminds me of the Italian movie I saw as a kid, “La Strada”-- while it was a complete mystery back then, my matured eyes well up just at the memories.”
The same goes for Zen practice, which is why we hope you take these experiences and realizations home with you and integrate them into your daily life. Taking a moment to focus on your breath, or expressing gratitude for a meal, or enjoying a cup of tea. These simple acts, when done without any expectations or intentions, can lead to self-discovery and appreciation for life.
These may just be the moments in time which you look back on months, or years later and bring about realizations that only you can find.
