The Journey. The Destination.

I don’t know which I enjoy more, the process of making matcha green tea or the tea itself. Just as that dilemma crossed my mind, an epiphany of the journey and the destination sprung into light immediately after. How can something so simple as a handmade clay cup and a bamboo whisk inspire profound contemplation?

There is something innately gratifying about a ritual. Tending to something with multiple, easy to memorize, steps brings a calm sense of purpose and affirmation to the soul. Done again and again where it becomes an effortless process allowing the mind to meditate, or at least reach a relaxed state. And like that, the moment passes. However, in that brief moment I enjoy the state of being present with the ritual itself, not thinking about the outcome or final product, just the shared instance with tools to create. Tools which have been created and shared with many people and ceremonies before me.

As the journey comes to a close, it opens the door to experience the destination. A cup of docile matcha green tea. Movement causes reverberation on the surface of the tea which tells the story of those who developed the ritual. While the ascending steam shares the magnificent smell, gifting the surrounding senses.

I may never settle the debate of whether I enjoy the journey or the destination more. Maybe I don’t want to. I enjoy what it is now.

中孚 – Truth Within

The I-Ching is full of mysteries. Much has been written and discussed regarding its meanings. This will be brief, hopefully enlightening.

Hexagram 61 (中孚 Zhōng Fú) represents Inner Truth and is figuratively displayed by wind over water.

It’s said that the wind blows and causes ripples atop the regularly peaceful surface of the water, in turn influencing the direction of the ripples.

Similarly, our minds are also swayed and influenced by outside forces, sometimes invisible, like wind. With so many opinions and so much information provided by social media and news outlets, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and impressed.

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It’s in these moments the I-Ching unravels it’s mystery and becomes an applicable skill. Inner Truth is asking that we return to our authentic selves after being open to embrace ideas, concepts and thoughts, not our own.

Thus offering a full range of information to analyze and then impart our own thoughts.

The mind returns to peace like water returns to a still surface.

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Often times we don’t give ourselves the agency to be our authentic selves. We accept, deal with, or are just led to believe something that doesn’t sit well with our soul. Whether it’s to gain someone’s favor, seeking acceptance, fear of rejection, or simply don’t want to rock the boat. Being authentic or true-to-self, doesn’t necessarily mean disagreeing, being rude, or disrespectful. In fact, quite the opposite. Truth within promotes peace within.

Balance

Imagine a river flowing with a giant rock in the middle of it causing the river to part. The river easily finds a way to move around it while allowing the rock to remain in its place. This is the harmony, an agreement, between the river and the rock.

In Taoist (pronounced Dow-ist) philosophy, better known as Daoism. The yinyang symbol represents a theory that all opposing things are interconnected and interdependent of one another and through this, change or transformation. Furthermore, all things exist in the natural world as they are. Some examples of yinyang are; life & death, good & evil, dark & light, etc… All things considered equal and in harmony is balance. Too much of one side, is unbalanced.

Simple concept but difficult practice. Everyday offers an opportunity to practice this concept. During grueling times of stress, doubt begins to surface to the front of the mind and we tend to lose focus. Thus become unbalanced. We become forceful and persuasive. Trying to place the square peg into the circle.

Within the theory of yinyang, there is a term used by Taoists, “wu wei”. This is translated as, action through inaction. A term useful as a reminder to not be so forceful. By forceful, I mean deliberately trying to change something that is out of our control. This is also a reminder that we can only control things that we have power over, such as our own thoughts, actions, etc…

Allowing wu wei to permeate into our thoughts and actions can provide calm during a storm, perhaps provide clarity and perspective. Give your mind permission to let go and freely embrace the natural order of the universe and all things will fall into their rightful place without interference. This practice can lead to finding faith in balance. Faith in that whatever hardship or joyous experience that we encounter will be evenly balanced in its end result. Imagine a river flowing with a giant rock in the middle of it causing the river to part. The river easily finds a way to move around it while allowing the rock to remain in its place. This is the harmony, an agreement, between the river and the rock.

As vague and unexplainable as this concept may appear, in practice we get a personal presence of wu wei. Where can we seek balance in your daily lives? Through God, the sun, a tree, or an animal, a flowing river or from a small rock or stick on the ground… Try to understand that balance will keep all things moving and changing. If we experience a hard day, try to balance it out with something soft. If we experience a day full of sadness, try balance it out by doing something that brings joy or focusing on a memory that makes brings happiness.

Originally posted 4.13.2015. Revised 1.8.2021