ChaDao 茶道 - The Dao of Tea
Before I start my writing, I would like to thank each of you for being patient with me - I have not written anything for you in the past month!
Writing and Tea
For me, writing is just like doing a meditation, practicing a form of Qigong or martial arts, or playing a song with my Qin, by which I mean I need personal quiet time in order to tune myself into a tranquil state and be fruitful in my endeavor. I have been extremely busy with a month long trip to the USA for my teachings and for taking care of other personal things while there. Consequently, I had no relaxing time to feel inspiration for writing.
As I write now, I realize that my process for writing is similar to my way of drinking tea, the KungFu/GongFu tea 功夫茶 style, because I have to spend GongFu (a lot of time) to meditate in order for my words to flow. It is for this reason that I am going to write about ChaDao 茶道, Dao of Tea and include some short video clips from my recent presentation during my USA trip.
GongFu/KungFu 功夫
You might now find yourself wondering about the relationship between KungFu and GongFu and what indeed is real meaning of 功夫?
Most of us know that KungFu is the name for Chinese martial arts. In the Wade-Giles system, it is a typical traditional Chinese name for martial arts or fighting techniques. GongFu is the modern, more popular PinYin system for the same word, 功夫. In my writings, I typically adapt the PinYin system for Chinese characters. However, GongFu actually means much more than just martial arts. I will share with you now what I have previously explained about this, from chapter 2 of my book, Vital Breath of the Dao:
In Chinese, GongFu means time itself as well as any skill that develops over a long time and requires strenuous effort. This implies a rigorous repetition of drills, both verbal and physical. GongFu also means martial arts. In modern China, people still widely use the term “GongFu” to evaluate a person’s skill and talent in a particular line of work. Someone described as having “no GongFu” is a person without skill or who has done a poor job.
GongFu is still a commonly used word for time throughout modern China, especially in the southern region. You can see now why GongFu tea explains a style of drinking tea that you means you spend a lot time enjoying the tea you are making.
Watch this short video clip if you would like to know the original reason for the GongFu tea drinking style, as invented by GongFu masters.
video clip 1: GongFu Tea and Inner Strength
ChangShengJiu 長生酒 — the Longevity Wine
This GongFu drinking style originated from a special cultivation method — YinChangShengJiu飲長生酒, drinking Longevity Wine.
According to ancient Wu 巫 shamanism and traditional Daoism, Jiu or alcohol symbolizes inner alchemical transformation and eternity. In Daoist internal alchemy, ChangShengJiu is a specific term for saliva. In order to allow for greater physical and/or spiritual transformation during the cultivation practices, we need to know not only how to produce more saliva but also how to drink it. I am sure those of you who have taken any of my workshops or Saturday online classes are already experts on drinking your longevity wine! Always drink your longevity wine when you feel your mouth is full of saliva. This is a powerful method for self healing, longevity, and awakening your consciousness.
ChunYangZuShi Lu DongBin 純陽祖師呂洞賓 (CE796 —?) , a Daoist internal alchemy ancestor, who is well known as one of the Eight Immortals of Daoism, says this about magical longevity wine in his famous classic Daoist poem, BiZiMing百字銘, the Hundred Words:
ZiYinChangShengJiu
XiaoYaoShuiDeZhi
自飲長生酒
逍遙誰得知
Drinking your Longevity Wine
Who else can understand that you are strolling in freedom
You may remember that at the end of our practices, we always swallow our saliva down to the lower Dantian (the elixir field) in three parts. Yes, this is the way of drinking your Longevity Wine. GongFu masters adapted this method for drinking tea, which also helps you produce more saliva.
Here is a little clip about how to savor your tea, drinking it GongFu style:
video clip 2: The Dao of Savoring Tea
Less is More
The key to savoring your tea is by drinking it GongFu style - taking one small sip at a time, with a small cup. This also demonstrates the classical learning technique in all traditional GongFu or Qigong training: Learn one small movement/posture, practice it for a couple hours a day, and repeat it every day for few days or even months until you can master it. Only then do you move on to learn another new small movement.
I will always remember the beginning stages of learning with my each of my masters. They always emphasized “less is more” and “slow is the fast way” while they trained me in the basic methods.
I am ending this article in short now, though it has taken me over 10 hours to meditate and write it out for you! I hope you will find some useful information in it.
Please stay tuned for my next article on the second hexagram in Li/Fire series, ䷷ Lu 旅, the Spiritual Journey.