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Tea, Spirituality and The Japanese Tea Ceremony: An Interview with Michael Ricci

Michael Ricci was weeding the Tea Housethe tea room everybody is the same."
garden when I arrived for our interview. WeNowadays, he says, we take off our rings,
sat in front of the little tea "hut" atjewelry and watches. "Anything that says
Buddhist-inspired Naropa University in'This is Me,' or that takes us outside of the
Boulder, Colorado where in just one hour Itearoom. Tea Ceremony is a timeless realm in
would scoot through the tiny doorway on mya bottle."The ceremony is an expression of
knees to participate in my first Japanese Teaharmony, respect, purity, and tranquility
Ceremony along with his students and otherthrough each deeply symbolic gesture--a
newcomers.Michael found the Tea Ceremonygraceful choreography between host and
(Chado) through Japanese Zen Buddhism. "Iguest.Koicha is abowl of 'thick tea,' made
started reading about Zen and I kept comingwith a lot of Matcha (powdered green tea) and
across references to tea. I called up Naropaless hot water. One bowl is shared between
and they happened to be offering their firstall 3 to 5 guests. The host serves the tea to
class on it through the extended studies'First Guest,' (who is not a beginner and can
program. There was one position left. I camemodel tea etiquette). First Guest bows to
and immediately fell in love with it." HeSecond Guest and says in Japanese "Excuse me
adds, "It seemed like the perfect way tofor taking my tea before you." Second Guest
understand more about Zen and start doingbows, too. First Guest drinks their share,
something contemplative alongside myturns and wipes the bowl's edge in a specific
meditation. It was a spiritual path that madeway with a paper napkin, and then passes it
sense to me.""Everything the Japanese doto Second Guest. Michael says, " Koicha is
turns into an art, and that's the way theythe most intimate part of the gathering,
treat tea. Keeping the tradition alive issharing the bowl like that." An initiation of
serious, and the rules are very important tosorts, I thought.'Thin Tea,' Usucha , is more
them. The Japanese Tea Ceremony incorporateswater and less tea, but only about three and
almost all of the traditional Japanesea half sips. "It's just enough to quench your
arts--flower arranging, calligraphy,thirst. It's powder and it's not steeped. It
laquerware, ceramics, bamboo, wood. I'm anis whisked," Michael explains. " During 'Thin
artist so I just fell in love with all ofTea' the host makes each guest a bowl of tea
it."Michael spent two years studying Tea withfrom the same bowl. They each take turns
Hobart Bell, head of the Boulder Zen Centerfirst eating their sweet then drinking the
before being accepted to study at Urasenketea." First Guest receives the bowl of tea,
Headquarters in Kyoto under the guidance ofdrinks it, passes it back to the host who
15th Generation Grand Tea Master of thewipes it, cleans it, and gives the next guest
Urasenke lineage of tea, which is the largesttheir bowl of tea in that same bowl. A watery
practicing tea lineage in the world. Here hesweet made of bean paste was served to
was immersed in traditional Japanese culturerefresh us that summer day.Soon each guest in
and etiquette, learning all facets ofturn examined the utensils--scoop, bowl and
Japanese Tea. But he had only scratched thewhisk--and inspected the bright green valley
surface after one year of study, so he stayedin the bowl from which a portion of Matcha
another year and a half. After that, he says,had been skillfully scooped by the host when
"I moved into a Zen Buddhist temple andthe tea was prepared. As the host retreated
trained alongside the monks. I didn't taketo the tiny kitchen, the conversation between
vows, but I lived the life of a monk for 6guests turned to appreciation of the warm
months."It is from this humble state of mindweather, the tea, the teahouse. My body
that Michael shares his knowledge through histingled with a feeling of wellbeing. Was it
tea classes and his art."There are two waysthe L-theanine in the green tea? Or a result
to enjoy tea between host and guest. Theof paying close attention to every
first, Chaji, is a formal several-course mealmovement?My mind arrived at stillness, like
that can last four to five hours. Thetea leaves settling on the bottom of a
abbreviated version, called Chakai, is simplycup.*****Michael Ricci is a tea practitioner
a sweet and a bowl of tea."Michael waswho teaches the Japanese Tea Ceremony and its
teaching the day I was there, so each of hisrelated arts and cultural influences. He
students performed the short version teastudied the art and craft of making tea
ceremony one by one over four hours'utensils in the traditional Japanese pottery
time.There are no distractions inside thestyle called Raku, invented in Japan over 400
teahouse. Michael explains, "You're sittingyears ago specifically for the tea ceremony.
on your knees in a very small room for 4He makes tea utensils from clay, bamboo and
hours in a very intimate atmosphere. Thewood, which you can see during one of his
dialogue is stripped down. Everything isclasses or special event tea ceremonies. He
designed to keep focus on the moment and tohas lectured and held demonstrations at
completely forget about the world outside ofpottery studios, universities and art
the teahouse.""The little door, calledorganizations along the Front Range in
nijiriguchi , was designed for everybody toColorado, USA. Contact Michael at (970)
bow their heads as they enter the tea room.530-0436.copyright 2005 Terry
Shoguns and Samari might be sitting next toCalamitoFreelance writer and tea promoter
peasants. They would have to take off theirTerry Calamito publishes the free weekly
swords and leave them outside, bow theirezine Start Sipping.
heads and humble themselves because inside



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