However, despite the simplicity that Zen strives for, the tea ceremony simultaneously represents something sacred and solemn, and distant from everyday life. In this way, the human act of organizing the tea ceremony and following all its orders was a direct manifestation of Zen philosophy. Both tearooms and tea houses became sacred symbols whose purpose was to connect practitioners to the more extensive cosmology of Zen and, in doing so, lead them to an experience of satori, or enlightenment (Roper, 2018). As stated by Sen Sōshitsu XIV, “There will be no tearoom without a garden, and no tea ceremony without a tearoom either” (as cited in Di Berardino, 2018, p. As follows from the last section, the tea ceremony symbolizes simplification, first of all, in the form of a tea house (chashitsu) and the area in which it is located (roji). Moving forward with the acquired knowledge about what Zen Buddhism is, it is possible to see how Zen’s fundamental aspects influence the tea ceremony. Interconnection between Zen Buddhism and the Tea Ceremony Zen Buddhism aspires to simple life truths that can make everyone happy and lead to evolution. Personal experience and practice are considered primary in Zen Buddhism, and known philosophical concepts and various texts have almost no weight (Suzuki, 2019). Zen Buddhism does not rely on classic Buddhist sutras. ![]() The core of Zen is directly related to spiritual practices and meditation, since Zen philosophy is based on the fact that the human mind is a powerful tool for achieving inner balance, tranquility, and confidence (Suzuki, 2019). In turn, this is evidenced even by the word Zen itself mentioned earlier. ![]() Hence, Zen monks were knowledgeable in many practical aspects of life, such as politics and economics (Suzuki, 2019). This feature is rooted in the clash of minds between China and India, as the Chinese adapted the Indian worldview for their practical purposes (Suzuki, 2019). Thereby, Zen Buddhism does not pay much attention to the study of concepts that are not related to its practical aspects (Suzuki, 2019). It is believed that he laid the foundations and determined the developmental direction of Zen Buddhism.Īs follows from Roper’s text (2018), Zen focuses on making spiritual practices and enlightenment accessible to ordinary people. It is considered that these teachings were brought by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma in the fifth century A.D. According to Roper (2018), from a linguistic perspective, the word Zen is simply the Japanese translation of the Chinese word Ch’an, signifying meditation, or a meditative state. Thus, Zen Buddhism is a school of Mahayana Buddhism widely spread in China after being introduced to Indian Buddhism in the first century A.D. When considering Zen philosophy, it is impossible not to turn to the simplest concepts to further understand the subject. This paper will explore both the health impact of tea and its cultural interconnection with Zen Buddhism. ![]() Concerning the fact that the tea ceremony is deeply entrenched in the Japanese tradition due to its ideology, it is possible to trace its beneficial impact on the health of the Japanese population. In terms of Zen Buddhism, the Japanese tea ceremony can be considered as a way to achieve enlightenment, associated with distancing from the shallowness and unimportance of worldly vanity. Thus, in conjunction with the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, tea became the basis of a complex spiritual practice which had to do with changing the self and the attitude to the world. The tea ceremony is connected with Zen Buddhism not only in its actual development but mainly in preserving the spirit with which it is imbued. This aspect of the Japanese tea tradition will be considered from the point of view of modern science. Japanese tea is known for its many positive qualities and has a general healing and preventive effect on the human body (Hara, Yang, Isemura, & Tomita, 2017). However, tea culture in Japan has not only ceremonial but also practical significance. The tea ceremony, which will be discussed in detail in this paper, is closely related to Zen Buddhism. Since then, Buddhism has gradually entered the life of the Japanese, changing its usual routine and philosophy. Years later, in 586, Emperor Yōmei declared that he considered the coexistence of native and foreign deities to be good both for the country and for himself (Keane, 2016, p. According to Keane (2016), Buddhism came to Japan during the early part of the sixth century. It is a ritual that has helped to fashion an emerging Japanese cultural identity (Keane, 2016, p. The tea ceremony is uniquely Japanese because it is formed from a blend of ideas borrowed from sources outside of Japan. ![]() The Japanese tea ceremony is considered as a cultural asset and has genuinely distinctive features.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |