‘This meditation hall is sometimes quite warm in the summer, and somewhat cold even in early winter, but we always feel it is just right when we have tea together in the kitchen. This is our miracle, and we are satisfied and happy – what else could we want?’ (Eloquent Silence)
My experiences of practice in England usually involve cups of tea, and it always feels just right. It was noted the other day, when I was talking about rituals and ceremonies in the temple and how they can inform everyday practice, that tea is an everyday ceremony for the English.