Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Korean Tea Zen

When visitors bring incense,
I seldom take the time to make a ball.
I just let it burn like ash on the roof tile.
I don't pretend to know the aroma of the incense.
I just let my mind be at peace from the incense.


When visitors bring tea,
I seldom take time to make it into a fine powder.
I just let it brew in a stone kettle with wooden charcoal.
I don't pretend to know the taste of the tea.
I just let my body feel the treasure of tea.


Jingam Zen Master 774-850
English translation found in The Book of Korean Tea by Yang-Seok Yoo

1 comment:

toki said...

Wonderful! We are our own Audience.... Toki