As I was drinking from my favorite tea bowl, I became concerned about being someone who has a favorite bowl.
People who liked this
Comments
Is having a fave bowl a bad thing? I don’t think so… I LOVE my matcha bowl! Getting to drink out of a bowl is half the fun of matcha.=P
There is a story about a zen master who noticed that one of his students had a favorite cup amongst the monastery’s cups. One day the mischievous master hid the cup and watched his student attempt to deal with the angst from his possessiveness. The student couldn’t let go of his attachment to the cup. On another day the master chose the cup for his tea and then allowed the cup to slip to the floor and shatter. According to the story the student asked the Master why he’d let the cup break. The Master shrugged and said, “It’s just a cup.” At that moment the student attained enlightenment.
So sometimes it’s best to release one’s attachment to a favorite bowl. And sometimes it’s not the right time to do so. So perhaps Stephen is working towards enlightenment.
I should point out that I am utterly unenlightened and adore both my Bodum YoYo cup and my beautiful glass matcha bowl. I will work on non-attachment later.
@Carolyn, YoYo cup? lol:) You have a point, there is nothing wrong w/ enjoying your teaware (or anything else material for that matter) as long as you don’t hold it on a pedestal that no material item should be on- because as the saying goes, you can’t take it w/ you.
@ Carolyn – I love the story!
As long as you aren’t calling your favorite cup “my precious”, I think everyone will be ok.
Carolyn, that’s a great story, but if you think it’s going to make me brake my favourite pot with farm animals on it for the sake of enlightenment, you can think again! :)
