How One Should Drink Samples of Tea

One drinks new tea, like one is meeting someone for the first time.

In this way the following quotations from Buddhist master, and current head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Beop Jeong, seem especially relevant. The following excerpts were taken from his book, May All Beings Be Happy.

In the world of tea, there is a phrase, “In one life, one meeting.”
It refers to the kind of karma that allows for but one meeting in an entire lifetime.
Looking across an individual's entire life,
and knowing that we have just this one time to share with them,
regarding it as the singular opportunity of a lifetime,
we cannot help but spend each moment meaningfully.

From “The Karma We Encounter But Once”

I want to send my warm gaze towards every single person I encounter.
Person by person, I want to become familiar with all of their faces.
I want to know their face, right here and now, such that in the next world, when I happen to chance across them on some street corner,
I can say, “Ah, well isn't it so-and-so?”
standing face to face, clasping their hand affectionately.

From “Autumn Is a Strange Season”

Peace