Drinking Tea

Let thoughts be steeped in awareness and then dissipate like steam that rises from your cup.

Awareness is as easy as breathing in and breathing out and arriving in the ever present moment.

Quote Raylene Abbott

Tea Poems

Leaves fall

where no green earth remains:

a person at his ease,

wears a plain, white robe.

With simplicity and plainness

his original nature still,

what need to practice

"calming of the heart."

Chia-Tao (779-843)

Tea Sounds

Pine winds and juniper rains first arrive; Quickly I lift brass bottle to leave bamboo stove.

Waiting until after voices heard all fall silent; One bowl of Spring Snow surpasses fine wine.

Song-dynasty Luo Da Jing

This tea poem is a teaching of the secrets of listening to tea water boiling. The timing is crucial to making a perfect cup of green tea. When the water boils is should sound like rains falling from juniper branches....This is when you lift the tea kettle from the heat. Then allow the water to be silent before you pour it over the tea. Some tea master felt melted snow made a superior cup of tea...

Spirit of Tea

"Tea tempers the spirit, harmonizes the mind,

dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue,

awakens the thought and prevents drowsiness."

Lu Yu, The Classic Art of Tea

The Study of Tea

“Even though one studies the tea industry until old age

one can never learn all the names of types of teas.”

Fujian saying

Seven Treasures of Tea

Seven bowls of tea bring seven advantages:

one, it promotes the production of body fluids and quenches thirst;

two, it refreshes the mind;

three, it helps digestion;

four, it induces sweating to relieve the common cold;

five, it helps fat people reduce weight;

six, it activates thinking and strengthens memory;

and seven, it ensures longevity.”

- Lu Tong, Tang dynasty.

The Way of Tea

Arms move like plum blossoms floating from tree.
Water that boils like fish eyes in the metal pot.
The water trickles it's sweet song with the washing of cups.
The fragrance of tea leaves unfolding their precious scent waiting to be discovered.
The three levels of tasting the subtle essence of tea.
The Awakening of awareness in all that took place.
The sharing of the awareness with those you honor and love.
By Raylene Abbott