Buddhist Tea Ceremony and my experience of it

This post quotes the work of Venerable Master Hsing Yun and my experience of the Buddhist tea ceremony at the Fo Guang Shan Xing Yun Buddhist temple in Austin, Texas.

Born in 1927 and ordained in 1941, Venerable Master Hsing Yin is a Buddhist monk in the Lingo lineage of Chan School of Buddhism. He has dedicated his life to promoting Humanistic Buddhism and integrating Buddha’s teachings into daily life through writing, teaching and fostering popular Buddhist media. This post quotes his work as published in his booklet of Buddhism and Tea Ceremony that I found at the temple.

He writes, 

Drinking tea enlivens the spirit and keeps the mind alert, as well as aiding with digestion. While tea is popular everywhere today, Buddhist monasteries were the first to develop and promote the virtuous of drinking tea. Generally monks and nuns serve tea while hosting lay followers and distinguished guests. This custom began to influence the wider society’s view of tea. Gradually, welcoming guests by offering tea in homes, in offices, or in restaurants became a common custom. As Buddhist monasteries expanded their cultivation of tea, some became known for the fine teas that grew there. 

Once tea drinking gained popularity, it became officially included into monastic tradition and customs. Monasteries had a special “tea room” that was not only used for Chan monks to discuss the Dharma, but also became a place to welcome lay followers and distinguished guests. In addition a “tea drum” was installed in the northwest corner of every temple’s Dharma Hall. The drum was sounded to summon the Chan monk to have tea. A “tea chief” or “tea leader” was responsible for boiling the water, making the tea, and serving the tea. Finally, the “tea-serving monk” served tea and welcomed devotees and visitors at the main entrance of the temple. Oftentimes, the tea served in each temple is named after the temple, such as “Fo Guang Tea” served as Fo Guang Shan.

My fellow friends and I had a very similar experience at the Fo Guang Shan temple. After reading Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s work, I feel so honored to have been invited to the “tea room” of this temple; I suddenly feel so distinguished.

The tea room here is a large room next to the dining room yet carefully secluded from the rest of the temple. It had a large enough table to sit 8-10 people. The overall aesthetics emphasized simplicity and functionality with minimal decoration and a sense of harmony and purity. There were large shelves of books that anybody could read and simple arts that depicted Buddhism and the tea culture.

At one side of the table, we had a “tea chief” who took care of setting up everything and making the tea. We were told she was not supposed to get up from her seat during the tea making ceremony hence, we had someone else from the group be the “tea-server” who took what she prepared to everybody else seated at the table including me. 

As the head of the table we had Venerable Jui Ji (J.G.), a Buddhist nun and the Director at the Fo Guang Shan temple who ensured our entire tea drinking experience was enlightening with her words of wisdom. It was an honor to share that space with her, as she not only guided us through the entire ceremony, making us appreciate every little detail but, also taught us about Buddhist principles along with keeping her audience engaged with her humor. She also mentioned that the group is usually supposed to observe silence during the tea ceremony but, since, she was explaining to us the tradition behind it we were allowed to talk that day.

The tea setup at the table had a Kettle and a Brazier that was a piece of art in itself. There was a jar containing fresh water for the tea preparation and a waste water bowl under the table.

The tea we had that day was a “Red tea” shaped as an eyebrow. As a first step a tray with the tea leaves is gently moved around for the group to appreciate the aroma of the tea. Mindfulness emphasizes appreciating the present moment, which we were encouraged to practice as we held the tea tray; observing the change in aroma before and after brewing enhanced sensory engagement. When inhaling the tea's aroma, we were instructed to breathe in over the tray and exhale away from it. Additionally, there was a specific method for holding the tray: the person handing it over should hold it from the top, while the person receiving it should hold it from the bottom, facilitating a smooth exchange. After the tea was brewed and we all got our cups served, Venerable Jui Ji (J.G.) asked us to use a word to describe how it looked, I wanted to say “honey” but, she used that word first and laughingly said nobody else could use it after her. Each one of us used different words to describe it, like sunshine or egg. To me, it looked like the orange tango that my mother used to give us on hot summer days after school. (P.S. If you want to understand how this came up, read my other blog on the reason why I was at this temple and the theme of it.)

Someone at the table asked what was written on the bamboo tray that held the saucer and we were told the two words meant "treasure the opportunity to connect." We were then instructed to inhale the aroma once more and notice how it differed from what we experienced before brewing. She also ensured we expressed gratitude to the lady who brewed the tea for us that day. The tea had to be drunk in exactly three sips, and with each sip, we recited affirmations as guided by Venerable Jui Ji (J.G.) : May I do good deeds, May I say good words, May I honor everyone.

I genuinely felt the essence of mindfulness during the tea ceremony. It was a transformative experience, enveloped in a serene atmosphere that allowed us to appreciate the beauty in simplicity. Each moment was a reminder of how peace can be found in the quiet rituals of life, fostering a deep connection to the present.

As Venerable Master Hsing Yun has noted in his booklet, 

Tea brings warmth and relaxation to the drinker. Now, while you are enjoying a cup of tea, you can put your troubles behind you. Find a place to relax with your friends, a place where you can share your personal and professional troubles as you enjoy your drink. The place where tea is served is a place of peace and harmony. Tea brings with it a special tranquility, purifying one’s heart and bringing it closer to the Chan mind. Tea is one of our greatest companions in life.