Abstract

When you are invited to a tea ceremony in Japan and enter a tea room, you will first see the tokonoma (alcove). In the tokonoma hangs a special hanging scroll that the tea ceremony host has chosen for you, the day's guest. What is written on it? Sometimes it is a picture or an old letter, but more often, it is a Zen word.
The meaning of "kissako," which often hangs in the tea room, is "Let's have a cup of tea" for old and new friends, the great and the not-so-great.
Reading this book and having a cup of tea, savor the Zen words that still encourage people today. May they help you to overcome the stormy seas of life.

Author’s Information

Soshin Kanetake

Soshin Kanetake was born in Ome City, Tokyo, in 1961 and graduated from the Faculty of Literature at Ninshogakusha University in 1983.
At the age of 12, he received ordination under Master Soen Ozaki, the chief priest of Daisenin Temple at Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto.
After ten years as kozo (a young monk) and ten years of training as an unsui (trainee monk) at Daitokuji Temple, he became the chief priest of Korinin Temple of the Daitokuji School of Rinzai Zen Buddhism in Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.
He is the author of many books, including "Living with Zen Mind" (PHP Kenkyujo), "Terakoya 'Hannya Shingyo'" and "Monks Teach Parents 100 Stories to Develop Their Children" (above, Mikasa Shobo), "Morning Zazen to Prepare Mind and Body" (Yamato Shobo), and " The First Zen Word to Create a Good Life" (Asa Publishing).