Master & Disciple

Happy Valley Tea Plantation. Darjeeling 2013.

There is a Dhamma story that tells how Bodhidhamma fell asleep in meditation when he was living in China and was so angry with himself that he cut off his own eyelids. He threw them to the ground and where they fell the first tea plants grew. In this way there has always been a connection between tea and Dhamma. Every day in Darjeeling is my best day, but today in Darjeeling was my very best day. After our usual start of meditation, kora and breakfast, we went to the Happy Valley Tea Estate.

This is in Darjeeling itself but as Darjeeling is a real hill town, to get there we have to walk down, down, down.

This part is easy and with the sun shining once more in a crystal clear blue sky, and having stopped as always to greet the monkeys on the way, we followed the road to the path and then the path to the track and then finally the track until we arrived at our destination. We met many local people walking in the opposite direction, red faced and panting a little bit as they climbed the steep path back to the road,  but each one polite enough to smile, say hello and ask if we are going to Happy Valley. Each time we answered yes they would tell us that today is a good day for this and that the factory is open.

Upon arriving we were met by a young Nepalese man who told us that he would be our guide around the factory. He was charming to say the least, and his friendly nature captured us at once.

During the one hour tour he explained the history of tea and how it is picked, processed and finally presented to the world.

For me, it was as though I was listening to a Dhamma talk from my teacher all those years ago. So much knowledge and passion for his work, but more than that, through his skill with his words he was able to share his loving relationship with the subject.

True Dhamma cannot be taught, that is religion with all its rules and regulations  and what is permissible and what is not, ending with its rewards and punishments.

Dhamma is a sharing from the heart of the Master directly to the heart of the disciple, and that is why this relationship is so precious and rare. It is established in love, not in fear. It is to remind the disciple to surrender to this loving heart and that in life, however it may seem, there is nothing to fear.

The Master supports the disciple caringly and lovingly and asks for nothing in return. In this way the master gives the disciple enough space to truly show themselves.

Dhamma is a way of love, joy and integrity, and whether we are talking about tea or truth, we will show ourselves by our relationship to the subject and the beings we are with.

Our tour finished with a tasting opportunity of three different types of tea, before shaking hands and saying goodbye to this wonderfully inspiring person.

May he and all beings, be well and happy always.