無我茶會錯誤最多的地方
The Question on Sans Self Tea Gathering with the most wrong Answer
蔡荣章 Rong-tsang Tsai
One of the questions for the 10th screening test for instructors of Sans Self Tea Gathering has an exceptionally high rate of error, at 66%. The question is as follows:
Which of the following should not be specified in the Notification?
A) the method to make tea B) the way to take tea C) the way to be seated on the seating mat D) the tea ware to be used
Prior to a Sans Self Tea Gathering, the Organizer would distribute a ‘Notification’ , which specifies the name of the tea gathering, time, venue, the way tea is to be served, the event flow and the distribution of task. ‘The way tea is to be served’ refers to the number of teas to be brewed, the number of brewing for each tea, the number of cups for each brewing, the direction in which tea is to be served and to which participant (e.g. first, third and fifth, etc), and whether onlookers will be served; if so, in what ways. This enables participants to understand the way in which a certain Sans Self Tea Gathering will take place.
As a rule, the Notification should not name the types of tea for brewing. The exception will be a ‘Green Tea for spring’ Sans Self Tea Gathering, whereby participants are requested to make green tea. But it should not specify the origin or brand of the green tea. On the same basis, a Sans Self Tea Gathering should not be organized in the name of a certain tea plantation or brand name.
No restriction should be imposed on brewing. Any method, style or school of brewing is acceptable. As such, tea ware is not to be standardized. The requirement is for participants to brew well and the tea to be safe for consumption. Beverages that are not ‘genuine tea’ are not allowed. Since there is no restriction on the way to make tea, there is also none on ‘the way to take tea’.
You may wonder, if the way of brewing, serving and drinking is not restricted, isn’t there nothing much to be standardized? The fact is, when an instructor conducts training on Sans Self Tea Gathering, students are asked to follow instruction. It is because the instructor has identified, in his opinion, the best way for participation in a Sans Self Tea Gathering. However, if you have found a way that better suits you when it comes to attending a Sans Self Tea Gathering, you may go for it. This is not a matter of right or wrong.
The answer to this question is: All items (A, B, C and D) should not be specified in the Notification.
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