SweetPersimmon

"Life is like walking along a long road shouldering a heavy load; there is no need to hurry. One who treats difficulties as the norma...

I was recently talking with a friend who was working on a project for work.  Her heart was not in it and she was just putting in the minimal...

I look back on my time at Midorikai and I thought about what I had learned there. Some of the lessons I learned there have nothing to do w...

Wa, kei, sei, jaku: harmony, respect, purity and tranquility Many of these sayings have appeared in the blog before, and students will ...

"Some people think that holding on is what makes them strong. Sometimes it is letting go." Last year my father passed away and l...

I went to a play the other night and the person next to me was recording it with their phone. Besides being annoying because the light from ...

All in is used in poker (Mr. Sweetpersimmon is a poker dealer) to bet everything you have.  There is nothing in reserve, you either win it...

I was reading through the blog and checking the stats.  There are a few posts that I think deserve more visibility, so here are a few from t...

One line of the kotoba reads: As we diligently learn the Way, we shall not forget the humble but eager heart of the beginner.  To many of us...

Every year, the Emperor of Japan chooses a theme, or Chokudai for the year.  Many artists create works of art, tea utensils commemorating ...

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our da...

Temae, the procedure for making tea, to our American eyes, may seem overly complicated and rigid with rules.   But these procedures have b...

I talk to a lot of people about chado.  It's what I love and I love to talk about it.  Often times the questions are predictible:   Ho...

Book review:  I have just finished reading a book titled, " How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical & Theoretical Treatise on the Art...

The student says, "I am very discouraged about my tea study.  What should I do?" Sensei says, "Encourage others."

It has been more than a week since we had an intensive workshop here in Portland with Machida Gyotei sensei and we are grateful to Urasenk...

Tim McRobert produced a half hour documentary about Chado: The Way of Tea in Oregon. It will be broadcast on Oregon Public Broadcasting ca...

"In my own hands I hold a bowl of tea; I see all of nature represented in its green color. Closing my eyes I find green mountains an...

I am getting ready for two new classes this weekend, so here are some posts from the archives: One year ago:  It's harder than it look...

Sometimes when I talk to people who are interested in studying the way of tea, they demur when I tell them the introduction class is 10 week...