WAKING UP - Tea & Chán Buddhism in China

Buddhist filmmaker Edward A. Burger takes us into the corridors and halls of China’s most revered Buddhist monasteries where we turn our attention to the simple but enigmatic phrase: 禪茶一味 Chán and tea are one flavor Tea is an indispensable and defining feature of the Chán/Zen experience. It is woven into the poetry, art, teachings and rituals that define Chán Buddhist culture and practice in China. But why tea? Why is a humble cup of tea so often at the meeting point of Chán’s essence and form — a sword that shatters dualities?