Nov 16 2012
The historical past of tea reminds us that it "began" as a ritual drink. No wonder the Buddhists invented the tea ceremony. According to the Chan doctrine, enlightenment can be achieved by engaging in any activity. To do this, you need to fully focus on it, become one with it and turn it into a dynamic meditation.
The tea ceremony, consisting in the correct preparation and use of the drink, accompanied by long conversations in the field of philosophy with intelligent people, created ideal conditions for meditation, which allows one to achieve enlightenment.
It is known that meditation is carried out either by completely concentrating on an exciting problem or subject, or by completely dispersing it so that the solution comes by itself as an “illumination”. Tea helps in these processes, which maintains strength during prolonged concentration, and also activates creative processes, sharpening perception and facilitating the generation of ideas.
The Russian church at first tried to ban tea, calling it a "filthy potion", but noticing its beneficial properties, it ceased to oppose its spread.
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