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November 20, 2014 • mccsokinawa.com
okinawalivingweekly A Cup of Enlightenment
An Afternoon of Okinawan Dance & Culture
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ea is one of the most ubiquitous beverages in the world. From rural Chinese villages to the penthouse floors of corporate America, tea is a common sight. Once used to enhance wellness and improve alertness during meditation, the humble leaf-derived brew has been linked to tranquility and spiritual enlightenment for centuries. It is believed that Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk from India that brought Buddhism to China, was the first to connect tea to spiritualism. He noted tea’s ability to help practitioners remain alert during meditation on their journey to reach enlightenment. The tea-as-enlightenment sentiment migrated to Japan during the early 6th century when Japanese priests traveling from China promoted the use of tea in their teachings. A formal ceremony for prepar-
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ing and drinking tea practiced by the Chinese was also brought to Japan early in the Kamakura period (1185–1333). The Japanese tea ceremony evolved at the hands of many tea masters and heirs. Known as chadô, or the way of tea, the meticulous preparation of green tea became a central religious and social activity. Tea Master Sen-no-Rikyu is regarded as influencing chadô practices that persist today. He based the ceremony on the four Buddhist principles of harmony, purity, tranquility and respect and embraced the aesthetic concept of wabi-sabi, the contrast of refinement and simplicity. The tea ceremony is still performed regularly throughout Japan. MCCS Tours+ offers regular tours to experience this ancient ritual. For details and dates of upcoming tours, please visit mccsokinawa.com/tours.
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ibrant kimono, carefully painted faces and precise movements—traditional Okinawan dance is an experience that every person should have while living here. Sponsored by MCCS Marine & Family Programs–Resources, The Okinawan Dance & Culture event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 29 at the Camp Foster Community Center. Enjoy this afternoon of performances, learn about the history of the intricate steps and take pictures afterward with the performers. Ryukyu Buyô dancers are icons of this island, balancing the hanagasa (a red flower hat) atop their heads and wearing their colorful bingata costumes. Normally you would have to travel off base and pay to observe these dances traditionally performed for the Ryukyu royalty. But for one day only this entertaining and educational event is free. Registration is required for the Okinawan Dance and Culture event. Call MFP-R at 6452104 for more information.
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