The original significance of chanoyu lies not in appraising
the quality of utensils, not in scrutinizing the circumstances and arrangements
of the occasion for preparing tea, but solely in praxis: entering into the
samadhi of handling utensils and discerning your orignal nature (honsho).
To
seek self-nature through adopting the forms of chanoyu is none other than
samadhi in which tea utensils are treated with the One Mind, which is lord
alone, undrifting. If you are to take up the teascoop, immerse your heart and
mind fully in it alone and give no thought whatsoever to other matters. This is
to treat it first and last. When you replace it, do so deeply conveying your
heart and mind to it as in the beginning. Such treatment is not restricted to
the teascoop; it applies to all the implements that are handled.
When,
upon putting the utensil down, you release it and withdraw your hand, without
in the slightest dismissing it from your awareness, shift the mind just as it
is and convey it to the next utensil to be treated. Without relaxing the spirit
at any point, prepare tea as the forms (kata) prescribe. This is called
“performing in the continuity of spirit.” It is wholly the functioning of
chanoyu-samadhi.
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This is such great practice. Which is not to suggest that a
state of mind like this is in any way easy to achieve, but achieving isn’t the
point. Making the effort (and then the lack of effort!) is the whole thing.
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