Tea Ceremony at the Jiko-in Zen Temple in Nara, Japan

Day 4: Shinkansen Bullet train ride - Hello Nara - Nara: An Introduction - Horyuji Temple - JIKOIN ZEN TEMPLE

We left our slippers outside and entered the temple's drawing room. I took a seat and eagerly waited for the idyllic experience to unfold. Here, a special ceremony... one that holds prime importance in the living of Japan, was to be observed.

The Jiko-in Zen Temple

Tucked away in the lap of nature, we were at the zen temple in Nara - peaceful, silent and serene... a world unto itself and the lovely people guiding us, once again, were cosmos and sarah. Narrow cobbled trails winding upwards and enveloped in all shades of green had brought us to the drawing room of the temple where we were to experience the tea ceremony of Japan.

Way to the temple

Also standing in the temple complex was the main temple and a beautiful garden amongst similar other structures.

The Drawing room also serving as the Tea room

The drawing room’s (or the tea room's) beauty lied in the sheer simplicity in detailing. Tatami mats covered the wooden floor, flower vases adorned the various nooks and corners and a certain degree of warmth swayed in its air. Overlooking the room was a beautiful garden which was only adding to the serenity of the place.

The drawing room or the tea room

As we took a seat, I observed cosmos and sarah sitting in a peculiar position. Taking cue, I messily tried for the same but loosened up soon enough after learning that it is more important to enjoy the ceremony, rather comfortably. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the rules to be followed weren't strict, instead more emphasis was laid on relaxation and leisure, thus ensuring complete joy in the activity.

A group performing the tea ceremony

The ceremony started on a sweet note... with a sweet followed by the tea. After gorging on the little sweet thing, I was left craving for more. The tea came in soon after. Before I could get down to drinking it, I was directed to rotate the bowl 3 times in the anticlockwise direction and the action was to be repeated after finishing the tea. I learnt that this action signified respect for the host.

Fosco Maraini, in Meeting with Japan described the Tea Ceremony as -
"a ritualized sequence of movements, a formal dance of significant gestures, designed to purge the mind of irrelevancies, of petty or personal things."

Staring through the window of nature, I started sipping my tea slowly. The realization that the tea tasted a lot bitter than I’d imagined it to be, sunk in much later. Its bitterness had been amply compensated by a lot of beautiful things it had bought along with it. The view of the distant hills, the rolling meadows, the green grass and the quiet silence had all worked in unison to transform the room into an ideal setting for a ceremony, a prayer.

One thing that I like about these ceremonies is – One time, one meeting.
You are meeting someone today, at this moment...
soak in those moments and live them such…
as if it were only this time and only this meeting ~ Cosmos

Who could have ever thought that a simple cup of tea could give you not only a sense of fulfillment for your tummy but also for life? This was a ceremony where tea was the prayer, those silent moments our meditation. To delve within, to reflect, to connect... then, became easy.

I was the first one to gulp it down completely and proclaim it tastes so much like bittergourd juice, thus breaking the silence for a few sweet smiles.

The Temple Garden

After having tea, I hopped out onto the neatly manicured garden, full of green shrubs and pretty flowers.

The tidy trails going through them were inviting,

the small temples and shrines here and there,

... surrounded by the pretty flowery shrubs,

further enhanced the spirit of fulfillment, both outside and within.

The Main temple

On a richly colored altar in the main temple room, sat figures (from left to right) of the founder – Sekishu Katagiri, a feudal lord of the area who had founded the temple in 1663, the Buddha and the priest who had been the inspiration behind the building of the temple.

Images enshrined in the main temple hall

The highlight of the temple, however, was the ceiling above which had a speaking dragon.

The speaking dragon at the temple ceiling

You clap once and the dragon echoes and the louder it does so,

the more fortunate you are. 

My first clap didn’t enliven him much, so I kept on going till I was assured by everyone there that I had gotten the best out of him!

With the dragon’s voice still throbbing in my ears, we came out of the temple and prepared to leave. As I put my pair of slippers back, I realized... I was feeling a lot lighter than before and a bit fuller too... both at the same time.

Getting there, Timings, etc.

How to reach: 15 minutes walk from JR Yamato Koizumi station.
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm.
Fees: 1000 yen per person.
Founding Year: 1663.

Previous Posts from the Japan Trip -

1. Planning for Japan: Visa, Flight Bookings, Hotel Reservations, etc.

2. Sunrise pictures from the flight to Japan

3. Entire Day 1 of Japan (includes Review of Hotel Villa Fontaine Roppongi, Tokyo, Expedia Japan Office Meet: An Afternoon to Remember)

4. Entire Day 2 of Japan (includes SensoJi temple: Asakusa - Tokyo, Nakamise Dori Shopping Arcade in Tokyo, Sumida River Cruise, Tokyo, A Stroll in the Hibiya Gardens, Imperial Palace and East Gardens, The Tokyo Tower, Japan)

5. Entire Day 3 of Japan (includes Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo, ISKCON Temple, Funabori in Tokyo, Epson Aquarium, Shinagawa in Tokyo)
6. Riding the Shinkansen: My ticket to Kyoto
7. Hello Nara (Planning and Welcome)

8. Driving through Nara: An Introduction
9. Horyu-ji Temple, Nara