I'm glad you've decided to conduct your own tea orchestra. As Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, "With great power comes great responsibility." However, we shouldn't fear it; on the contrary, it should spark intrigue. One of the things that conducting your own tea orchestra offers is flexibility, or in other words, freedom. Yet, it's essential to give structure to that freedom in order to fully enjoy it.
In the previous piece, where you were invited to be the tea orchestra conductor, we briefly mentioned the groups of elements you would be directing: the water, the time, the tea, the guests, and, of course, yourself.
Before diving into each element, it's wise to start with the basics, which paradoxically are the most complicated: the conducting, or in other words, you.
THE ETERNAL LEARNER
While being the conductor implies being "in control" of everything and having a high level of knowledge regarding the elements you direct, it's crucial to always keep humility and simplicity in mind and heart. A prime example is the master Sen no Rikyū, who lived in a Japanese era where tea symbolized greatness and power. In that context, where elaborate tea ceremonies were common, he decided to turn the focus 180 degrees towards the beauty of simplicity. This influence is so profound that Japanese matcha ceremonies reflect it.
At the end of the day, you will be conducting, but you must not forget the following values, which should be your pillars: harmony, respect, purity, tranquility, and humility. The first four stem from the values that Sen no Rikyū established as essential for a tea ceremony.
Zavadckyte (2017) notes that the four values put forth by Sen no Rikyū, originally introduced by Murata Juko but last proposed by him, are: harmony (Wa), respect (Kei), purity (Sei), and tranquility (Jaku), each with its own significance.
According to Zavadckyte (2017), harmony is the starting point, as peace with people and nature is essential. This peace goes beyond the absence of conflict; it involves being considerate and aware of how our actions affect others, both people and nature. This awareness not only cultivates respect for all involved in a tea session but also ensures that both the host and the guests are treated with equal respect, recognizing that the session wouldn't be possible without one another.
Zavadckyte (2017) describes purity as about both the physical and spiritual realms (without referencing any particular religion). It is vital to have clean utensils and a clear conscience to attain tranquility.
As you can see, the philosophy of Wa Kei Sei Jaku is sequential and makes a lot of sense. However, one concept that, although not explicitly mentioned, is implied in these values and their ultimate outcome is humility.
Humility is a complex subject, akin to defining ethics; each person, shaped by their values, experiences, and knowledge, may have a different perspective. To avoid entering murky waters, let's define humility as the ability to be an eternal learner.
In the T.E.A. methodology of Satoricha, the letter "A" stands for "Awakening," which is defined as follows: Awakening to eternal curiosity, learning is a journey of discovery and constant growth. Being an eternal learner enriches and nourishes our soul along the way. This makes a teacher inspiring; as author William Arthur Ward points out, "The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates, and the great teacher inspires." Remember, "il meglio è l'inico del bene" – the best is the enemy of the good. To become better, we must constantly question what we think we know, leading us to conclude that there are no absolute truths and there is always something new to learn or even to relearn something we consider good.
You might think, "Well… when do I learn to prepare tea?" If you ask yourself that, I don't blame you; sometimes, excitement and intrigue can take over. But if that's the case, consider this your first lesson in conducting your tea orchestra.
Making a good tea is as simple as placing loose tea leaves in a vessel, pouring hot water, and letting it steep. However, remember that you didn't embark on this journey as a conductor just to prepare "good tea" but to create something better. And let me give you a little preview: even when you understand each element and create a symphony in your cup, there will always be the possibility of improving it.
In this piece, we've covered a part of our list of elements, specifically the orchestra's conductor. We could say we've initially addressed the main element and the subtopics of knowledge, environment, and even the theme of the guests.
The reason we started and ended with the topic of the conductor is simple.
Greene (2020) states:
You can take everything from yourself, and it will generally be somewhere within. Your wealth will evaporate, the latest artifacts will suddenly become passé, and your allies will abandon you. But if your mind is armed […] there will be no power that can take it from you. In the midst of a crisis, your mind will find its way to the right solution […] As Sun Tzu says, "Our invincibility depends on ourselves."
To achieve such invincibility in life and conduct a tea orchestra, we must know ourselves, following R. Greene's example. Master Sun Tzu also says, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."
We are not generals of an army to know our enemy. However, we are conductors of our tea orchestra. Therefore: "If you know tea and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred cups. If you know yourself but not tea, for every balanced cup you achieve, you will also suffer a bitter cup. If you know neither tea nor yourself, you will succumb in every cup."
I look forward to seeing you in the following article, where we will introduce the new direction with the elements that make up your orchestra.
Until next time!
Satoricha ~
References
Greene, R. (2020). Las 33 Estrategias de la Guerra. Editorial Oceano de Mexico.
Zavadckyte, S. (2017). Japanese Tea: A Comprehensive Guide. Independently Published.