China is the homeland of tea. In the eyes of Chinese, tea is more than just a drink; it holds the vitality o nature, becoming a path to communication with nature.
Tea integrates with literature, music and art, satisfying both physical and spiritual thirst. For spiritual civilization, tea has become one of the approaches to realize the absolute truth or enlightenment in Zen. The confluence of tea and Zen traces back to the Zen monks of the Tang and Sung period. In Analects of Zen, there is a koan "tea comes, reach with hands; rice comes, open mouth." The art of tea is way beyond just the function of thirst-quenching, incorporating the spiritual art of tea into daily life helping one to find that tranquility that is within each of us.
Compared to traditional Chinese painting and music, we appreciate the traditional Chinese painting through eyes and enjoy the music through ears. Through the art of tea, they eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and consciousness are all functioning. If you can bring your consciousness, your awareness, and your intelligence to tea, it is more than just an art or entertainment. When a tea master brews tea at a peaceful and tranquil setting, while he/she drinks the tea, the spiritual activity is like a philosopher in deep reflection or even more like someone reaching the "emptiness" state of mind in Zen.
Compared to other Chinese cultural humane arts, the spiritual art of tea has the highest state of mind of our innermost world. It is more enriching, and more representable than the other arts. From this aspect comes the saying that children who drink tea will not go astray. Even a great Master had a high praise - "if the practice of the Tao of tea can reach its highest state of mind, then one will be able to breathe with the Buddha through the same nostril."
Fang Gourmet Tea promotes this precious treasure of the cultural art of tea through the tea ceremony classroom.
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