Peaceful Tea Meditation

Over the long Easter weekend break, Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island once again held a Tea Meditation session at the main shrine. Fo Guang Shan Temple Minister in Charge Venerable Jue Xi led 5 practitioners and 20 other participants to make tea. This time, it was the ‘Rahula’ group’s turn to introduce the No.1 of Esoteric Practice in Buddha’s ten disciples, Buddha’s only son, Rahula. Leader Kok Wei Low and team member Tiffany Su respectively told the audience about Rahula’s path from a mischievous novice monk into a disciplined and obedient monk skilled in Esoteric Practices.

During the tea meditation, the Venerable led the whole group into meditation first before the tea practitioner’s poured tea for each and every member present. Venerable told the tea drinkers to accept the tea offered to them with a positive and cheerful spirit, and for the practitioners to focus on carefully delivering cup after cup of good tea.

Venerable Jue Xi showed three short clips - “Unwavering Focus”, “Cherishing the happiness around you”, and “Worries never end”. They speak of how the worries of life are usually caused by our insatiable taste for more, and yet it is only when we lose what we have, do we learn to appreciate all that we have. By using a heart of gratitude and learning how to cherish what we have, will we then be able to fully enjoy the beauty of life and living.