Mandy Mak

(For English, please scroll down.)

喝茶是修行 

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十八歲的暑假

找個興趣班

學習中國茶藝

初步認識了中國茶的六大茶類

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十九歲

大學一年級的暑假

到鹿兒島參加日本文化交流

當時的 Home Stay Family 

是來自京都裏千家茶道的近藤老師

是茶道世家

她的祖母在京都有自己的茶道學校

家中有正式的四疊半茶室

近藤老師為我辦了一場茶會

讓我體驗日本茶道

也教我一些基本茶道知識、點茶方法等

回澳前還送了一個茶碗、茶筅和茶杓給我

這個文化交流

令我留下深刻印象

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日本茶道的雛型源於中國，宋朝時經由日本的留學僧把當時在中國僧侶打坐時的飲茶方式帶回日本，發展成日本茶道。

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後來分別在澳門和香港學習了江戶千家和裏千家的茶道。

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與此同時，我也開始學習禪修。

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在法師的介紹下，我開始參加法鼓山的茶禪活動。

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也在一些禪師的書中，找到茶的縱影。

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茶道對我來說，是心靈洗滌的方式。

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茶道稽古後，通常我發現自己的呼吸會放慢，心情也較輕鬆。

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一碗茶

有雲、雨水、太陽、空氣、泥土⋯

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在學習日本茶道的過程中

認識了中國茶師

亦從她們身上學習更多的茶知識

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不同的茶葉

要根據它的不同特性

使用不同水溫來沖泡

用泡普洱的方法泡綠茶

綠茶會被泡壞

用泡綠茶的方法泡普洱

普洱並不能發揮

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泡茶就是這麼的拿捏掌握

從中領悟一些智慧

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茶

教導我不執著

記得剛開始茶道學習時

我很固執

覺得一定要有一整套完美茶具

才可練習⋯

後來在一次茶道稽古中

聽前輩分享她在日本的茶道深造時

在沒有茶杓的情況下的點茶

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茶藝、茶道、茶禪

不同的層次

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不執著

仍然是我需要練習的課題

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我喜歡茶

也喜歡跟茶友們一起泡茶喝茶

茶對我來說

是心靈沈澱、淨化的方法

亦是讓我跟別人連結的方式

也是讓我跟自然、宇宙連結的方式

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My Tea Practice 

I started learning Tea when I was 18 because of internet.

I learned Chinese Tea during Summer Holiday, got a basic knowledge about the 6 main categories in Chinese Tea.

The next year, when I was 19, Year 1 in University, I joined a Cultural Exchange Programme in Kagoshima, Japan.

My home stay family was a Japanese Tea Ceremony Family from Kyoto, Urasenke.  There was a formal Tea Room with garden in their house in Kagoshima.  Kondo Sensei, my home stay family, whose grandmother was also a Japanese Tea Ceremony teacher who had her own Tea School in Kyoto.

Kondo Sensei taught me some basic Japanese Tea Ceremony knowledge, and she prepared a formal Tea Ceremony for me during my stay.

Kondo Sensei gave me some basic tea-ware for me to bring them back to Macau.

This Cultural Exchange experience is so impressive for me.

Japanese Tea Ceremony originally came from China, in Song Dynasty, Sanga from Japan were studying in China, when they went back to Japan, they brought with them the Tea Ceremony Practice during Meditation among Sanga in China, then gradually developed to Japanese Tea Ceremony.

Then, I learned Japanese Tea Ceremony in Macau (Edosenke) and Hong Kong (Urasenke).

At the same time, I stared Zen (Ch’an) Practice.

Recommended by Sanga from Dharma Drum Mountain, I started Tea Meditation.

I also found some articles about Tea in some Zen Masters’ books.

Japanese Tea Ceremony is a Mind Cleansing Process for me.

Usually, I feel peaceful and notice that my breathing is calmer after Japanese Tea Ceremony Practice.

There is a cloud, rain, sunshine, air, soil, etc... in a cup of tea.

I met some Chinese Tea Masters when I learn Japanese Tea Ceremony.

And I keep learning about Chinese Tea from them.

Different Tea Leaves need different water temperatures, and different brewing techniques.

If we brew Green Tea with Puer method, the Green Tea will be damaged.

If we brew Puer with Green Tea method,

Puer cannot express.

Tea contains wisdom.

Tea taught me about non-attachment.

When I first started Japanese Tea Ceremony, I was very stubborn.

I thought we could only practice Japanese Tea Ceremony when we have all the perfect tea-wares...

Then, an experienced Japanese Tea Ceremony practitioner shared her experience in Japan, how she prepared a cup of tea when there was no tea spoon...

The Art of Tea

The Way of Tea

Tea Meditation 

They are different levels 

Non-attachment,

is something that I have to keep practice.

I love tea.

And I love having tea with friends.

Tea is a method of mind sedimentation and mind purification for me.

A way for me to connect with people.

Connect with the nature.

Connect with the universe.