A Tea Reader by Katrina Avilla Munichiello Page B

time the emerald green—so very green! The whisked up foam was like a shimmering green sea. I tried to imitate the movements I had seen the other guests do. Mr. Aso talked me through them. When I picked the bowl up, there was a painting of a crane facing me. I enjoyed the painting a moment and Mr. Aso said that I should not touch my lips to the painting, but turn the bowl two and a half times to the back and drink from there.
    My first sip of tea was so different from anything I ever had. The smooth, rich, slightly bitter and fresh taste mingled with the lingering taste of the sweets in an enjoyable way.
    â€œDelicious!” I said.
    â€œPlease finish it,” Mr. Aso replied. “One bowl is for three people.”
    He mentioned that it was all right to make a sound on the last sip because the foam is the most delicious part. I slurped the last bit of tea and everyone smiled. Carefully I wiped the bowl where I drank, returned it back to the crane painting and placed it down. I said, “Thank you,” and passed the bowl back to Mr. Aso. He carefully washed it and began preparing a second bowl for the remaining guests with the same consistent intent and focus. Nothing was rushed. Every movement mattered.
    After everyone had tea, we had conversation. Mr. Aso passed the bowl and utensils around for closer viewing. We enjoyed the feel of the lacquer tea caddie, the sight of bright green tea powder, the intricacy of the bamboo whisk. Mr. Aso explained the crane bowl was from Korea from the Li Dynasty, fifteenth century. He said that many beautiful ceramics, as well as Buddhism, came to Japan through Korea.
    When we were done, Mr. Aso put everything back and asked us to have a short meditation. We sat quietly and at the end he bowed and thanked us for coming. We bowed in return. At that moment I felt utterly calm and peaceful.
    Mr. Aso encouraged the new guests to come again to tea. He said that the first time we are nervous and not sure what to do and the next time we would be more comfortable and discover another level of tea.
    I did come back again and again and tea ceremony has become a lifelong pursuit. One tea has become a thousand teas, each one unique, specific to that day, that moment, and that group of people. All come with a desire to share a valuable moment of life, some more deeply calm and connected than others, but always reaching a moment of serenity.
    Mr. Aso often presented a haiku poem at tea. He said that haiku and tea ceremony are very much related because each focuses on a moment. An eighteenth-century poet named Buson wrote one haiku in particular that Mr. Aso said expressed the essence of tea.
    Kagiri aru
inochi no himaya
aki no kure
    Life is short
Autumn evening is shorter than life
Yet there is a moment of luxury
    Tea ceremony is the place for people to come together to enjoy tea, absorb the beauty of the world around them and share a complete moment of peace. With each tea I discover something new and valuable that stays in my heart and grows.
    Mr. Kaji Aso had various experiences of tea ceremony school in Japan. He sought the most original and ancient form of tea ceremony to discover the true enjoyment of tea and true enjoyment of friendship through sharing a sip of tea. This vision of tea provides a wide understanding of life and nature.

Tea at 77 Guthrie Avenue
    BY D EBBRA S UMMERS
    A china tea cup perched on a matching saucer waits for me at my place at the table. Real china dishes are everyday dishes here. Mismatched teaspoons stand face up at the ready in a cut glass spooner. 1 Real silver spoons are polished and patient. A robin’s egg-blue ceramic teapot is a perfect match with the glossy painted kitchen cupboards. Only the spout and handle are visible, poking out from under the insulated armor of tea-stained felt cloth and aluminum, as the tea steeps. It won’t steep too long, otherwise it will be bitter and “fit only for the African violets to