Mindfulness.

Drinking tea in Darjeeling. November 2013.
One of my great pleasures here in Darjeeling is to enjoy a cup of the best quality tea in the afternoon. To arrive in a small salon and be greeted so beautifully by a friendly Nepalese or Indian person, shown to a seat and given a menu of tea.

First flush, second flush, white, green or black Darjeeling teas. First to discuss a little and then order.

When the tea is served in a glass it feels like it is simply a variation of the Japanese tea ceremony. We hold the glass up to the light, look at the colour, smell the perfume, take a little in our mouth and reflect.

This elegant behaviour brings a deep sense of peace and well being. The world slows down and the noise outside fades into emptiness.

This is not about the tea, of course not, it is about mindfulness. It is about being one with the moment. The tea is the object of mindfulness, but is not the cause of it. Do you understand? The tea is the tea and the mindfulness is the mindfulness. They are connected, but they are not the same thing.

The moment that we bring this understanding into daily life we will see that meditation is life, and life is meditation, and that everything that we experience is only about a relationship to the moment.

Each thing becomes the momentary object of attention, but not to be held on to, and not to be pushed away. Only experienced and let go of.

This is the way to peace and joy in life.

When drinking your tea, really drink your tea.

When eating your pakora, really eat your pakora.

In this way we flow with life and do not get lost in fearful imagination.

May all beings be happy.