"Zen and the Way of Tea" with Susan Lee

Susan was an investment banker for many years. Starting as a trader she transitioned into sales, derivative structuring  and debt capital markets. Her hectic job consumed her life working more than 16h/day. About 5-6 years ago she sat for her first tea ceremony and it changed her life, something in her shifted. Susan shares this story in the podcast.

Her journey as a student of "Cha Dao" began after experiencing the transformative healing power of tea in the form of ceremony. We discuss this and the four virtues or principles of tea, Harmony, Respect, Purity and Tranquillity in the podcast. 

 Susan has studied with the ‘Tea Sage Hut’ - a lineage intimately connected with Tea and Zen meditation based in Taiwan. Zen and Tea are very interconnected and help us to live in the moment. A recurring theme and one of many running through our discussions in the podcast.

 Timings
3:18 I was an investment banker...about 5-6 years ago I sat for my first tea ceremony...it changed my life...
4:52 In tea ceremony the person handling the water is called a Cha Tong.. .Idid[just] that for 2 years...
6:27 When I went to Taiwan and my teacher who is a Zen Monk... you came here to learn to serve tea...
7:55 We call ourselves a "Sacred Artist"we do tea ceremonies...an "Art Form"...
10:00 You practice to such a stage you wouldn't know where your hand ends and the pot begins...
12:15 My teacher always says "Zen and Tea is One Flavour"...
13:53 Tea also allows you to jump from the sacred to the mundane...
15:43 ...tea being plant medicine...it flushes the heart...the ability to make you whole...
17:47 In our lineage we drink tea in "Noble Silence"..
19:30 The thing about ceremony everyone approaches it differently...it's an invitation ...you have to take that 1st foot step...
20:26 Tea ceremony...we have what we call the four virtues or four principals of tea...
20:59  It's all in Harmony... [The first principle}
22:10 The second principle is Respect ...self respect...respect and reverence.
23:45 The third principle is actually Purity...purifying...washing the dust away...zero doctrine...everything open...
25:56 The fourth principle is tranquility...all is good...nothing is missing...it just happens... by practicing the first three virtues...
28:51 Tea has a chemical compound in it called thianine... and caffeine...
31:44 You serve with love...you serve with heart...serve with soul ...
34:00 The transition to tea ceremony for me was very smooth... I studied a lot of arts... tea still kept calling me back...
35:58 We are all life-long learners of the leaf...
37:33 Zen and Tea are very interconnected...impermanace...and living in the moment...
40:18 In our lineage Zen and Tea are one...it transcends...no judgements...
41:35 Our practice is to start the day with a leaf... in noble silence ... 
42:55 We are one with Nature... You are nature...
45:59 I devour books...a voracious reader...
47:39 In our lineage all of these things have energy...choose what brings you joy...we are just safe keeping...
50:40 The entire universe is in your cup
52:41 You always, always have a choice... 
53:31 Live everyday like it's your last...
53:58 Quote: Accepting the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
55:06 All endings are beginnings...

BOOKS
Tea Medcine - Aaron Fisher
The Way of Tea - Aaron Fisher
Zen and  Tea one flavour - Aaron Fisher
The Book of Tea - Kakuzo Okakura
Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu

QUOTE: When you realise there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

Contact Susan
@susanlee852

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