06.22.07
tea as metaphor for life
posted by Sandy M. Bushberg | 5 comments
This poem by Thich Nhat Hanh clearly expresses what I have been trying to touch upon in a couple of my most recent posts. The simple act of making and enjoying a cup of tea can teach us so much about how to best live our lives. So take a moment to read this poem and then begin to live the tea life.
You must be completely awake in the present to enjoy the tea.
Only in the awareness of the present,
can your hands feel the pleasant warmth of the cup.
Only in the present, can you savor the aroma,
taste the sweetness,
appreciate the delicacy.
If you are ruminating about the past,
or worrying about the future,
you will completely miss the experience of enjoying the cup of tea.
You will look down at the cup,
and the tea will be gone.
Life is like that.
If you are not fully present,
you will look around and it will be gone.
You will have missed the feel,
the aroma,
the delicacy and beauty of life.
It will seem to be speeding past you.
The past is finished. Learn from it and let it go.
The future is not even here yet.
Plan for it,
but do not waste your time worrying about it.
Worrying is worthless.
When you stop ruminating about what has already happened,
when you stop worrying about what might never happen,
then you will be in the present moment.
Then you will begin to experience joy in life.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:06 am
i love this poem. its damn neat.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:44 am
Be here now. Thanks, Sandy.
June 22nd, 2007 at 10:34 pm
This touches to the heart of the entire tea experience. Thanks to the Author & Sandy for his insightful recognition of the point…PJF
July 19th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Sandy ….
Thank you so much for giving this to me, and to us.
It’s been on my coffee cup that my son gave me when I went into alcolhol recovery, and today was the first time I saw the words on the cup. They were (are) printed faintly to give an artistic feel to them, so are not highly legible. I could discern some of the words and Google let me find your site. God bless for sharing with us. It’s beautiful.
Barry Freeman
July 19th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Thank you, Barry. I wish you the best of luck in your recovery and your quest for a life filled with all present moments.