The Scent of Sound

Drinking tea this morning at first light, filtering through the mental noise. Looking back to find the point of stillness.

While the kettle was boiling I wrote a blog about tea storage, techniques and theory. After two brews of a Raw Pu-Erh, the energy shifts, mind settles. All that now seems rather wordy, and in a way counter-productive. Drifting along with the scent from the smelling cup, allowing the mind to go out and come back — like an echo. The scent then seemed transformed to me, into a sound.

Remembering then the music we would often play in our tea shop in Vancouver, music of the Gu-Qin. Hearing it once more, letting it reverberate through the soft tissue, as it has a thousand times before. Suddenly I find myself here, and also in a far off place — another time. Consciousness waffling out, like the memory of a dream.

Sometimes I long to drink tea in the Tang Dynasty — or perhaps the Ming — in a thatched roof Inn along a wide river. The twang of the Gu-Qin strings stretching far, elongating the mind across the water; wafting though the reeds and dissipating on the light breeze.

Moments later called back to the world by a low car stereo, and the rousing of the household. Dawn is called the golden hour for a reason. It’s a transient monastery for one.

Dragon - Raw

Buy Now

The Rhythm of Tea

Tea is described in its most ancient and original terms as a vibratory force.

Those who lived closely with it, who connected with it, saw the experience of tea along the same lines as that of music, or the music of language.

Each tea is said to have its own frequency, it’s own sound,and by tuning in we can hear the voice of Nature — of the self or of other.

Tea is considered the substance most harmonious with the natural world. It is also most adaptable

and changeable, not only based on soil conditions or the geographical orientation, but

down to the individuals whose hands the leaves pass into.

The tea a person makes is said to reveal everything about them, their actions, intentions,

thoughts, desires. To the sage observer nothing can be hidden. For this reason business,

friendships, marriages, are often brokered over cups of tea.

Tea as a Dance

Tea and meditation are each tools we employ to get to where we want to be. While both processes can be seen as destination enough, it’s also a delight to notice the effects the simple act of (self) reflection has on our other works. The Devil may be into details, but so is the other guy/gal/etc.

Tea as a form of meditation

Tea meditation calls to life this ability to notice, and in turn our ability to choose what to notice and what to let go of.

Tea is a form of liquid meditation — of Taichi.

It informs and enhances our push hands-esq relationship with the world. As with the Taichi form of play-fighting, movement through life is as much a battle as it is a dance. To make life into a dance — or a game as my calligraphy master friend would often suggest — is among the best of ways.

And, when in doubt, have another cup and watch how the world changes both within and without.

We are, at times, both commanders and vessels of life’s experience, and as such it pays to choose wisely what you fill it with.

The Dragon - Dark

Buy Now