Friday, December 24, 2010

One hand clapping

Zen master Hakuin Ekaku 白隠 慧鶴 (1685 - 1768) asked what is the sound of one hand clapping (隻手の音声) ? Is it silence? Or silent echo? Maybe the non pursuit of an answer. Or is it your emotions? Each must come to his own personal answer.

What is the taste of tea? Is it the considered opinion of tea masters and tasters? Like the sound of one hand clapping each must come to his own conclusion distilled from an open mind filled with nothingness. Ultimately it may just be what the slogan in the tea salon of G Clef in Koenji, Tokyo says: Mirror of the Spirit.

1 comment:

  1. Spoiler: 隻手の音声 is your heartbeat.

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