BLAUTOPF
"Lau"
She is the lovely and beautiful spirit of the water, and she protects the precious and clear spring of the Blautopf that rises-up from deep inside Mother Earth.
From here in Schwabenland in south Deutschland, this amazingly blue water then quietly overflows to form one of the smallest and shortest rivers on this earth. 14.5 km later, the Blau flows into the Donau, then into the Black Sea. Here at this place of natural beauty, Hiromi and I first greeted "Lau" (the spirit or kami or drala of the Blautopf) and then offered our traditional "Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
Once long long ago (before convenience society, before the Christians, before the Romans, even before history), the local people naturally showed respect for the spirits of earth-water-fire-wind. They greeted these spirits and invoked them into their lives and offered fruits and drink to them. Today at the Blautopf, the people give nothing. Just take. Take a smoke break, take a walk, take a picture, take a coffee break. Take a swim.
Let's return back to the ancient traditions of showing respect for our Mother Earth and all the elements. Wherever we are, let's just offer simple simple bowls of tea into the four directions. Let us do nothing to harm this earth and all creatures above and below.
She is the lovely and beautiful spirit of the water, and she protects the precious and clear spring of the Blautopf that rises-up from deep inside Mother Earth.
From here in Schwabenland in south Deutschland, this amazingly blue water then quietly overflows to form one of the smallest and shortest rivers on this earth. 14.5 km later, the Blau flows into the Donau, then into the Black Sea. Here at this place of natural beauty, Hiromi and I first greeted "Lau" (the spirit or kami or drala of the Blautopf) and then offered our traditional "Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
Once long long ago (before convenience society, before the Christians, before the Romans, even before history), the local people naturally showed respect for the spirits of earth-water-fire-wind. They greeted these spirits and invoked them into their lives and offered fruits and drink to them. Today at the Blautopf, the people give nothing. Just take. Take a smoke break, take a walk, take a picture, take a coffee break. Take a swim.
Let's return back to the ancient traditions of showing respect for our Mother Earth and all the elements. Wherever we are, let's just offer simple simple bowls of tea into the four directions. Let us do nothing to harm this earth and all creatures above and below.
GUERNICA
(Condor birds are better known for not attacking living creatures. They generally survive by scavenging and cleaning-up the environment). Then only seven years later, the atomic bombings over Japan in August 1945. In all cases, the target was women, men, and children. Only the German government has offered a formal apology for these terrorist air attacks on the citizens of the Basque Homeland, today a world symbol of the horrors of war and a world capital of peace.
Guernica was made famous because of Picasso's large mural; but it was also made famous by Paz and Kike who went to that place of great human suffering, that black spot on the pages of good human history, and just offered
"A Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
"This is a place of the White Hands peace symbol. Just a quiet feeling, making tea here. We were bringing and giving something from all the students at Shotoku-an. Blue sky and sunny day after a long month of rain. At the same time we were offering 'A Bowl of Tea for Peace,' one person was standing there and singing a traditional Basque song of freedom, a song of peace. I really appreciated this chance to make tea at Guernica. It was a new place for me, and I am very happy you asked me to go there."
VIET-NAM
"The war is in everyone. Sit like a mountain and breath like a flower. Become your best."
Thich Nhat Hahn said this. His lineage stretches back to the first teacher in Viet-Nam, Tang-Hor, in the years 200-250. Thang-Hor went to study in China and came back with his simple teaching called "throw away." "Throw away" is stronger than release or letting-go. Throw away all notions of self and other. Become less arrogant. Throw away all notions of life-span, of birth, of death. All this is the foundation of fear. Not who am I, but rather what am I? I am this body. This body is me. Throw away the extremes, the extreme notions of birth, of death, of being, of non-being, of same-ness, of other-ness, of coming, of going.
Today about 1,800 years later, Thich Nhat Han's famous words are "Peace is every step."
When Imamura-san and Kenji-san went to Viet-Nam, they carried a scroll with these words brushed by our youngest student. At that time Yui was eight years old and her words in Japanese were "Ho-Ho-Kore- Heiwa."
And they carried the permission certificate for Thu-san to teach Cha-do. And they carried a letter to all the people of Viet-Nam, expressing my deep apology for the terrible things done to ordinary children and women and men by my generation during the Viet-Nam War. And they carried "KOSMOS" chawan and they offered the first "Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
This was the beginning of the story of a tea-bowl on a mission of peace in the world.
Thich Nhat Hahn said this. His lineage stretches back to the first teacher in Viet-Nam, Tang-Hor, in the years 200-250. Thang-Hor went to study in China and came back with his simple teaching called "throw away." "Throw away" is stronger than release or letting-go. Throw away all notions of self and other. Become less arrogant. Throw away all notions of life-span, of birth, of death. All this is the foundation of fear. Not who am I, but rather what am I? I am this body. This body is me. Throw away the extremes, the extreme notions of birth, of death, of being, of non-being, of same-ness, of other-ness, of coming, of going.
Today about 1,800 years later, Thich Nhat Han's famous words are "Peace is every step."
When Imamura-san and Kenji-san went to Viet-Nam, they carried a scroll with these words brushed by our youngest student. At that time Yui was eight years old and her words in Japanese were "Ho-Ho-Kore- Heiwa."
And they carried the permission certificate for Thu-san to teach Cha-do. And they carried a letter to all the people of Viet-Nam, expressing my deep apology for the terrible things done to ordinary children and women and men by my generation during the Viet-Nam War. And they carried "KOSMOS" chawan and they offered the first "Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions."
This was the beginning of the story of a tea-bowl on a mission of peace in the world.
Thich Nhat Hahn's root temple in Viet-Nam is Tu-Hieu-Pagoda. www.findingkatherine.com
KINGDOM of BHUTAN
The Land of Thunder Dragon, Druk Yul.
"We believe peace and tranquility of the spirit must not be harmed." Imagine if more countries accepted this as a national policy. The first words of the constitution of Shotoku-Taishi from the year 600 stated almost the same words: "We hold that the the principle of harmony and peace is of the utmost precious-ness."
Furthermore, the Four Foundations of Chado, the Way of Tea are Harmony-Respect-Purity-Tranquility. All this is very alive in the modern day Kingdom of Bhutan, and probably because of the influence of Dingo Khyentse Rinpoche on the first King of Bhutan.
The cave of Tak-tsang or the Tiger's Lair was pivotal in the life of CTR, especially as he discovered how to present the ancient teachings of Shakyamuni to the people of the Western world. Soon after his retreat at Tak-tsang, he came to Canada first and then to America. His impact on us was amazing, and continues to be profound even 25 years after his death. At my request, Maki-san carried "KOSMOS" chawan to Bhutan, and gave her young son the chance to make "A Bowl of Tea for Peace" at the foot of this important meditation cave. Thank you very very much.
May the successors of Dingo Khyentse Rinpoche
and the first King of Bhutan be successful in curbing the influences of modern day materialism, convenience, and entertainment. May they successfully maintain Bhutan as a pristine environment of natural forests. May the policy of gross national happiness inspire other countries so deeply trapped in the muck and mire of profit and loss, hope and fear. May ordinary mind remain ordinary.
"We believe peace and tranquility of the spirit must not be harmed." Imagine if more countries accepted this as a national policy. The first words of the constitution of Shotoku-Taishi from the year 600 stated almost the same words: "We hold that the the principle of harmony and peace is of the utmost precious-ness."
Furthermore, the Four Foundations of Chado, the Way of Tea are Harmony-Respect-Purity-Tranquility. All this is very alive in the modern day Kingdom of Bhutan, and probably because of the influence of Dingo Khyentse Rinpoche on the first King of Bhutan.
The cave of Tak-tsang or the Tiger's Lair was pivotal in the life of CTR, especially as he discovered how to present the ancient teachings of Shakyamuni to the people of the Western world. Soon after his retreat at Tak-tsang, he came to Canada first and then to America. His impact on us was amazing, and continues to be profound even 25 years after his death. At my request, Maki-san carried "KOSMOS" chawan to Bhutan, and gave her young son the chance to make "A Bowl of Tea for Peace" at the foot of this important meditation cave. Thank you very very much.
and the first King of Bhutan be successful in curbing the influences of modern day materialism, convenience, and entertainment. May they successfully maintain Bhutan as a pristine environment of natural forests. May the policy of gross national happiness inspire other countries so deeply trapped in the muck and mire of profit and loss, hope and fear. May ordinary mind remain ordinary.
UNITED NATIONS PLAZA in N.Y.
"Imagine." Imagine this feeling of hope for a new world. Standing there in front of the United Nations monument in New York City, not far from the Statue of Liberty.
Standing in front of this gun-barrel tied in a knot. With the John Lennon song going through my mind. So I felt a connection of peace with people and with other countries.
And then I offered "A Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions. Imagine all the people..." These are the sentiments of Kenji Ueda. After the gun-killing of John Lennon, Carl Fredrik Reutersward from Sweden expressed his deep sad-ness by designing and casting this famous gun monument, known as "Non-Violence" or "The Knotted Gun." One of the earlier guns in the history is the famous Colt 45. It's the gun in all the cowboy and Indian movies. It was known as
"The Peace-maker" because of the big part it played in "pacifying the American West." Or, for destroying the native peoples in the last part of the 1800's. This was the peace-maker that made the American Dream possible. The designer could not have picked a more symbolic gun to tie-up into a knot.
Standing in front of this gun-barrel tied in a knot. With the John Lennon song going through my mind. So I felt a connection of peace with people and with other countries.
And then I offered "A Bowl of Tea for Peace into the Four Directions. Imagine all the people..." These are the sentiments of Kenji Ueda. After the gun-killing of John Lennon, Carl Fredrik Reutersward from Sweden expressed his deep sad-ness by designing and casting this famous gun monument, known as "Non-Violence" or "The Knotted Gun." One of the earlier guns in the history is the famous Colt 45. It's the gun in all the cowboy and Indian movies. It was known as
"The Peace-maker" because of the big part it played in "pacifying the American West." Or, for destroying the native peoples in the last part of the 1800's. This was the peace-maker that made the American Dream possible. The designer could not have picked a more symbolic gun to tie-up into a knot.
MACCHU-PICHU
A place of great human beauty.
A good place to offer "A Bowl of Tea for Peace," with a heart full of appreciation for all the good things that people have done in the past.
"Abandoned but not broken. Amazing and incredible. Not so big, an atmosphere of jungle climate. Terraces for food and living, with irrigation systems built by Inca 600 years ago.
Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Moon. Walls and foundations are stone-work, clean and tight. What was that mind, from so many many years ago?" These are some of Kenji-san's words of respect. There is a Zen-phrase: Ryu-Sui-Kan-Dan-Nashi. 流水無間断 The meaning is that nothing can stop flowing water. Or, the awake energy flowing out of our pristine pure ordinary mind cannot be hindered by obstructions of any kind. Good-ness and beauty are unstopable.
GREENLAND
Thule
An American nuclear air-base and a long-time colony of Denmark.
It was to this glacial homeland of the Inuit people that Jason Winn carried the Spirit of "KOSMOS," and offered into the Four Directions the four principles of Chado, the Way of Tea, the Way of Peace: Wa-Kei-Sei-Jaku. Or Harmony-Respect-Purity-Tranquility.
This was the first time that someone carried the "KOSMOS" tea-bowl in the heart, rather than in the hand.
An American nuclear air-base and a long-time colony of Denmark.
It was to this glacial homeland of the Inuit people that Jason Winn carried the Spirit of "KOSMOS," and offered into the Four Directions the four principles of Chado, the Way of Tea, the Way of Peace: Wa-Kei-Sei-Jaku. Or Harmony-Respect-Purity-Tranquility.
This was the first time that someone carried the "KOSMOS" tea-bowl in the heart, rather than in the hand.
SCORPION SEAL RETREAT CABIN
on the south island of Kyushu, in Japan, we will build a retreat cabin.
The first step will be to request permission from the local spirits (please look at the last story about Ji-Chin-Sai). This first step will be in mid-November.
Step #10 will be to open the cabin in early March.
You can imagine steps #2-9!
Please support this project with your offering of material, your offering of good wishes, and your offering of your practice. May this retreat cabin benefit many people in Japan and in the world. May this retreat cabin benefit the next ten generations of children.
The first step will be to request permission from the local spirits (please look at the last story about Ji-Chin-Sai). This first step will be in mid-November.
Step #10 will be to open the cabin in early March.
You can imagine steps #2-9!
Please support this project with your offering of material, your offering of good wishes, and your offering of your practice. May this retreat cabin benefit many people in Japan and in the world. May this retreat cabin benefit the next ten generations of children.
JI-CHIN-SAI
Very dignified, and so very elegant, is the traditional ceremony to calm down the earth, before beginning to build a new house.
This is done by marking out the lines of the new house,
placing bamboo trees in the four directions,
making offerings of fruits and vegetables and fish and osake,
inviting the neighbours,
inviting the local spirits below the earth on the earth and above the earth, requesting their permission to live here peacefully together, purifying the space, and invoking the natural powers of peace and harmony and justice and happiness. Basically, it is connecting with the earth in a good and proper and respectful way.
The master of the new house first cuts and digs into the earth in a symbolic way.
The carpenter pulls out the stones.
The shrine priest smooths the earth and places the colours of the five directions and the protectors of the four directions--Tiger, Lion, Garuda, Dragon.
Afterwards, the new house owners and carpenters and neighbours enjoy a small cup of Osake together as a gesture of celebration. So in this way, everything gets off to a good start. You don't just start digging without asking for permission and making offerings. On this day, the local Shrine priest prepared all this in a truly impressive and touching way. It was a honour to be a part of this, and to offer "A Bowl of Peace into The Four Directions." For those of you who know Shotoku-an, the photos show our house from the west side. Soon none of this will be visible, as once again a new house will crowd in on us.
Not so very complicated, but so very beautiful; it can best be described as a short celebration to show respect for Mother Earth, before digging into her and disrupting the natural situation. The kanji for Ji Chin Sai is 地鎮祭, and it means the ceremony to calm down the earth.
