On Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:47:53 -0800 (PST), Thitherflit
> wrote:

>On Jan 23, 3:24*pm, "Dominic T." > wrote:
>>The tea ceremony is very complex, rooted in tradition, and almost robotic precision.
>
>Dominic doesn't make tea ceremony sound very fun-- but *I* enjoy it,
>and some of my research has been about the question of why/how tea
>ceremony professionals enjoy it. This question has been actively
>ignored by people writing about tea ceremony (whether in English or in
>Japanese) in an effort to preserve the "profound" image... but, truth
>is, an ideal tea gathering should be relaxed, have doses of
>spontaneity, and be a concrete expression of the closeness of the
>participants... and, I'd say lots of tea gatherings achieve this
>ideal. I've even seen examples of somewhat rambunctious levity at
>very elite tea gatherings, and people thought they were both fun and
>successful gatherings.
>
>I should note that the tea ceremony teachers in Japan who are the most
>straight-laced, uptight and not-fun are teachers who seem to feel
>insecure in the art, often cowered by status fears. The more
>experienced/elite teachers are the ones who are more relaxed, who have
>an easier time at being generous (and forgiving) hosts, and who have a
>keener sense of *play*.
>
>I think the notion of "playing" at a self-created "tea ceremony" is
>nice: it is the creation of a ritual time and space when the
>participants can *focus*, something *I* consider to be healthy and
>healing. The advantage that I see in learning an established
>tradition of tea drinking is that you have a ready-made community of
>people with whom you can share this ritual experience. The caveat?
>Study with an elite teacher. (If you need hints about how to do
>*that*, drop me a note!)
>
>james-henry holland
>japanese language and culture
>hobart and william smith colleges
>geneva, new york 14456 usa

Thanks for sharing something about the essence of tea ceremony. I get
the feeling of a community of tea drinking experience at this NG, and
for me that's enough, without being instructed in correct manners.

Maybe, as I lurk along, I'll study on how different philosophies might
approach the experience of tea drinking, as in the famous engraving of
"The Vinegar Tasters."

Regards, bookburn