“Tea is an act complete in its simplicity. When I drink tea, there is only me and the tea.”- Thich Nhat Hanh
As interesting as it is to learn a new practice, it is equally difficult to use it in our everyday lives, invariably. When I started practising mindfulness, I would take out one hour of the day to practice being present in the moment. However, with time I started realizing how this concept can be applied to every aspect of our being. The more I read and implemented, I found newer techniques to maintain my practice. Tea meditation being one of them. Now, don’t most of us love tea?!
In many cultures (for example Japanese culture), the Tea ceremony has been practised for centuries, representing harmony, tranquillity, and respect.
Tea meditation has come up along those lines but also incorporates mindfulness at its core. With each step of the tea making process, we remind ourselves of being present in the here and now. Enjoying the steps and then each sip of the tea slowly we see the free flow of energy of nature in front of us and within us. The very act of making the tea is meditative as it is a gentle reminder of the essence of nature through different steps and forms. It compels us to pause for a moment and breathe. Sipping the tea is our cue to enjoy the moment as it is. Let the taste fill your mouth with sweetness and your inner self with calm and peace.
How can you make your tea experience a meditative one?
To make tea drinking a form of meditation, take ten minutes before you begin making the tea and create a space around you where you can relax.
Choose a plant, some crystals or flower petals, a tea kettle, your favourite cup etc. to use as decorations.
You can have any type of tea you like herbal, oolong, rooibos, or white.
Have some relaxing music in the background to help create a soothing ambience.
Make the space your own, let your inner self shine through and now begin making the tea. I personally sit on my balcony around my plants and count the things I am grateful for with each sip. I let it dissolve into me and feel the very essence of being alive.
“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves — slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
The beauty of this practice is that you don’t have to make time for this separately. You simply have to just experience it while having tea every day. Before you know it, you’ll be experiencing mindfulness through this tea meditation as I have and continue to do so. Find more such holistic practices at ManoShala and book a session with an expert of your choice.
Enjoy being alive with your tea!
By
Ananya Zutshi, Mindfulness Therapist, ManoShala
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