Written by De-an, Translated by Y. Chao
I heard a story on the radio that really causes one to reflect. I have written it down in order to share it with everyone.
A young person beset with numerous disappointments arrived at Pu-ji Temple. He sought out old monk Shi-yuan and asked him dejectedly, “Life is meaningless for such an unfortunate and disappointed person like me. What is the use of going on?” Shi-yuan sat in the lotus position and silently listened to the young person’s sighs. He instructed the junior monk, “The faithful Buddhist has come from afar. Heat a pot of warm water and bring it here.” The junior monk complied.
A short time later, the junior monk brought in a teapot of lukewarm water. Shi-yuan put a pinch of tea leaves in a teacup and filled the cup with the water. He placed the cup on the low table in front of the young person and said with a smile, “Faithful Buddhist, have some tea.” The young person looked down at the cup and saw a slight wisp of vapor rise from the water and the tea leaves floating on the surface. The young person was perplexed and asked Shi-yuan, “Why do you use tepid water to make tea?” Shi-yuan just smiled and said “Faithful Buddhist, have some tea.” So young person lifted up the teacup and took two sips. Shi-yuan asked, “Faithful Buddhist, is this tea aromatic?” The young person took another two sips, careful tasted the tea and shook his head saying, “What kind of tea is this? Why does it have no tea flavor at all?” With a laugh Shi-yuan said, “This is Min Je’s famous Tie-guan-yin tea. How can it be flavorless?” When the young person heard that it was choice Tie-guan-yin tea, he quickly picked up the cup again, blew away the leaves floating on the top, and carefully tasted the tea. Finally, he put down the cup and said with conviction, “It really doesn’t have any tea flavor whatsoever.”
Shi-yuan smiled and instructed the junior monk to go to the kitchen again and heat a pot of boiling water. Shi-yuan took another cup, added a pinch of tea, poured in a small amount of boiling water and then placed it in front of the young person. The young person bowed his head and observed the tea leaves rising and falling in the cup. At the same time a slight hint of tea fragrance wafted from the cup. Upon smelling that mild aroma, the young person couldn’t help but want to pick up the teacup. Shi-yuan smiled and said, “Faithful Buddhist, wait a moment.” He raised the teapot and added another stream of boiling water. The young person bowed his head and continued to watch the teacup. While the tea leaves continued to rise and fall, a stronger and more enticing scent rose from the teacup and spread throughout the meditation room.
Shi-yuan proceeded to add water to the cup five more times, eventually filling it. That cup of green tea filled the room with a fresh, agreeable fragrance. Shi-yuan asked with a smile, “Faithful Buddhist, do you know why the same tea leaves can produce such a different scent?” The young person thought for a while and replied, “One cup was brewed with tepid water, the other was brewed with boiling water. The difference was probably with the water.” Shi-yuan laughed and said “With the use of different water, there is a difference in the rising and falling of the tea leaves. When brewed with tepid water, the tea leaves floated on the surface without rising and falling, so how could they release their flavor？ But when boiling water was used again and again, the tea leaves rose and fell repeatedly, releasing their various flavors. Are all the beings in the world not like tea leaves? Those people who haven’t experienced troubles, who have enjoyed peaceful lives, are they not like tea leaves floating suspended in tepid water, unable to release their true life potential and wisdom? But those who have experienced much refinement, who have been repeatedly assailed by misfortune, are just like the tea leaves that were brewed by boiling water and made to rise and fall. Over time, this brings out their true self.” Yes, if life can be compared to tea, is one’s life not like a pinch of tea leaves, and is fate not like a pot of tepid water or boiling water? The inherent flavor of tea leaves can only be released with boiling water; likewise people’s innate potential for goodness can only be brought out by numerous setbacks and difficulties.
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