Chanoyu
Demonstration at the majestic Grand Hotel Continental, Bucharest, event
organized by “Calea Victoriei” Foundation, and Chado Uraseneke Tankokai
Romania "Luminis" Association.
The scroll presents an image of Hotei, the poor but the content wandering monk, a possible incarnation of Maitreya, the future successor of Gautama Buddha (also known as Śākyamuni Buddha).
The
event, which took place on a beautiful Saturday morning, started with a
lecture about Chanoyu – the Japanese Tea Ceremony. The presenter,
Gabriel Soga Caciula sensei, invited the public to a magic journey in
time about the history and the pillars of philosophy and aesthetics
defining the Tea Ceremony.
The public learned about concepts such as respect, purity, modesty, meditative calm, focused attention, harmony.
Following
the lecture, the Tankokai Romania "Luminis" students presented to the
public Kagetsu - an attention and concentration building tea-practice
game. The attention and concentration of the public was also tested
– papers with questions about what they saw and understood during the
tea-game were given up to the public. Those who answered correctly the
questions were given beautiful little gifts.
The event concluded with an offering of sweets and green tea (Matcha) to the public.
The preparation of the room, the tea utensils and of course our minds and hearts.
Welcoming the public.
The lecture.
And now – Kagetsu, the game of attention and concentration.
The
participants in the game draw little cards indicating the roles and the
things to be done by each of them: who prepares utensils for tea, who
is the first guest, who makes tea, who drinks tea etc. There are several
rounds where, by drawing cards, the roles change unpredictably. The
challenge is to be ready for the new role, to know exactly what you and
everyone else have to do while remaining calm and natural.
In a nutshell, Kagetsu looked like in these photos:
Participants enters the tea room.
Cards are drawn. One person prepares the first cup of tea.
Cards are drawn. The person to drink the first cup of tea and the person to prepare the second cup are identified.
Cards are drawn. The person to drink the second cup of tea and the person to prepare the third cup are identified.
Cards are drawn. The person to drink the third and last cup of tea is identified.
The last person to make tea is cleaning the utensils and completes the exercise.
Greetings are exchanged, participants leave the tea room.
The public, by now our friends, is served with sweets and tea.
Our sincere thanks and our gratitude to all who helped.
Here is our team (unfortunately one tea colleague and the technicians missing)
Otsukaresama deshita!
Photos by: Andrada Stancu
This year April has been a very busy month. I should maybe start with the end of March, when we had Rikyuki, the offering of tea in the memory of Sen no Rikyu, and continue with two demonstration for the Romanian public, and two seminars. Demonstrations for both adults (at Foundation "Calea Victoriei") and for adolescents (at the Bookshop "Carturesti") - pictures from the events are to be found on this blog; seminars both in Romania and abroad (Brussels and London). At last, we changed from winter practice to summer practice. A month full of activities and changes. I would blame the spring wind.
