'“How can you do this?” asks the student. “This teacup is a priceless treasure. What if it falls? What if it breaks?”
'The Zen master smiles and says: “I consider it already broken.”'
Amanda Palmer
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| Kmurf |
The Case Against Having a "Good China" Cabinet
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
'A Zen student walks into his master’s chamber. The student is
shocked and appalled to see that the Zen master is drinking his morning
tea out of a treasured, priceless Ming-dynasty teacup belonging to the
monastery.
'“How can you do this?” asks the student. “This teacup is a priceless treasure. What if it falls? What if it breaks?”
'The Zen master smiles and says: “I consider it already broken.”'
Amanda Palmer
'“How can you do this?” asks the student. “This teacup is a priceless treasure. What if it falls? What if it breaks?”
'The Zen master smiles and says: “I consider it already broken.”'
Amanda Palmer
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:) Indeedy, love that.
ReplyDeleteLovely. Is that photo a sculpture or 'natural'? I have a beautiful, big china cup & saucer, given for a birthday, which I use every day. Tea tastes so much better out of it:)
ReplyDeleteAccording to the photo's owner it is both - a natural sculpture. I like "found objects" sculptures, made from whatever is to hand, and to be washed away by the tide :)
ReplyDeleteThere is a shop down the raod from us called Tea Leaves. It sells multitudes of teas and tea pots and cups. Reading your comment made me want to rush out and buy one myself. A lovely ritual :)
Thanks, Jennifer
ReplyDeletewonderfully wise story and a beautiful image! I hope that you will consider sharing an offering for this year's 4th annual gratitude word quilt. You can find information about the project and how to participate at the top of my blog.
ReplyDeleteHow very interesting. How did you know that I've been contemplating tea ceremonies lately? And that my word for 2013 is going to be "treasure"? And that I've been working with the metaphor of broken vessels?
ReplyDeleteOooh, really? That's very cool :)
ReplyDeleteI think it must be that I have tapped into your psyche all the way across the world. It's the name thing. I tap into the Confederacy of Susans Worldwide and each post I write is geared to one of them. You are the first of the Confederacy to respond! Thanks!
:P
My fave tipple at the moment is Early Grey and lemon with brekkies. I have it in front of me as I type.
ReplyDeleteWe had an exhibition recently featuring just that sort of 'sculpture', and I spent some time walking around, conversing with each one:)
Love it. I'm taking an online class right now which consists of 8 women. Three of us are named Susan. And two of those three are "Susan S."
ReplyDeleteWow. Sounds like you are way more tapped into the Confederacy of Susans Worldwide! :D
ReplyDeleteI'm a Susan S too. I find that they are the very best sorts of Susans :)
Thank you, Laura. (PS: I had trouble linking to your blog from your link here. I'm not sure if it's a Disqus-related issue (the comments thingy I have on here), but I had to search your name to find your page.
ReplyDelete