skylight of Fushin-an tea house

In the "seven secrets" of tea, Rikyu used the tea ceremony as a parable for how life should be lived and how relationships should be kept-- and then used the morals thereby learned to teach what the essence of the study of tea really was.

Secret #1- Make Enjoyable Tea

Grandmaster's family enjoying tea together

"Make the tea so that your guest will enjoy it." While etiquette and form are important, the person of tea does not forget that the main reason for the tea ceremony is to make and drink tea. The goal of the host therefore should be to make tea that is pleasing to drink, served in a bowl that is pleasing to hold--all the other "bells and whistles" are secondary.

Secret #2- Boil Water Well

charcoal placement for winter tea ceremony

"Place charcoal so that it will boil water." The purpose of the brazier is to heat water to the proper temperature for tea. If there is enough charcoal, there is no need to add more--simply make sure it is placed efficiently. In tea as in life, management of resources for maximum efficiency and minimum effort insures a harmonious, productive life.

Secret #3- Arrange Flowers Suitably

seven fragrances of flowers (Aug. 94)

"Arrange the flower in a way suited to it." In the tearoom, flower arrangements are simple and natural-looking. This teaches two lessons. First, one should learn to enjoy things as they are in nature. Second, one should relate to people (as well as to things) as they are, rather than the way we wish they would be.

Secret #4- Tea Room Atmosphere

ooha (big leaf) temae setup, used in July

"Keep the tea room cool in summer and warm in winter." This refers to more than the temperature; it includes the choice and placement of implements, and of the items displayed in the tokonoma. In doing so, one demonstrates harmony with nature, rather than trying to "beat it" or to alter the cycles of life.

Secret #5- Be Ahead of Time

Omotesenke student making tea (8/94)

"Be ahead of time." This accomplishes many good things. By the host and guests being ready ahead of time, both can compose themselves and thereby better relate to each other in the ceremony. In addition, there is no need to fear the possibility of last-minute difficulties that would otherwise make one late. In life, being ahead of time is often preferable to squeezing in as much as possible.

Secret #6- Have an Umbrella

drinking tea under the pine tree (5/95)

"Prepare an umbrella even if no rain falls." The simplest way of defining this would be the Boy Scout motto: "be prepared" for any eventuality. The idea behind this phrase, however, goes much deeper: life is always changing, and the best way to live, therefore, is to expect change and embrace it, rather than always trying to hold on to what is now.

Secret #7- Attune Your Hearts

Omotesenke grandmaster talking with his guests

"Attune your hearts to the other guests." This final "secret," teaching the desirability of harmonious behavior, applies both to host and guests. This realization hints at another truth of tea: it takes just as much discipline and practice to learn how to receive well as it does to know how to give well.