One Moment. One Encounter
In the 16th century CE, it is recorded that the Japanese tea master, Sen no Rikyū taught
“Ichigo ni ichido no e no yō ni,”
a phrase which roughly translates in English as,
“A once in a lifetime encounter.”
Later, in the mid-19th century CE, Ii Naosuke, Tairō (i.e. ‘chief administrator’) of the Tokugawa shogunate, wrote about this concept as
'Ichigo Ichie,’
which translates in English as,
'One
moment
One
encounter’
—
one of the fundamental pillars of Ikigai,
another Japanese word-concept, which is often translated as,
‘Reason for be-ing’
or sometimes,
‘What makes life worth living,’
but might also may be translated as,
‘What makes life inspiring and beautiful.’
So, when you sit down to tea
or find yourself engaging in any other activity, interaction or encounter —
whether you perceive it as sacred or mundane —
give yourself fully to the experience —
in gratitude, joy and wonder —
fully present
fully engaged
fully awake
fully alive
to the vast, infinite tapestry of relationships
which is Be-ing itself —
expressing, exploring and experiencing itself
in infinite variations —
myriad manifestations —
incarnate in these wondrous vessels of Light
we
call
“body” —
in this sacred, syzygetic, synchro-destinous moment —
this one-of-a-kind embodied experience
for which you have incarnated in physical form
at this exact confluence of space-time —
for
such
a
time
as
this.
Thus as you go about the activities of the day —
wherever your path may lead you
and whatever you may experience along the Way —
experiment with approaching
every activity,
every interaction,
every encounter,
from your ‘First Mind’ —
your Beginner’s Mind —
abiding in your Original Innocence —
like a little child, full of joy, curiosity and wonder —
open to playing with
and experiencing every thing
and
every one
as if for the very first time.
Be
here
Now.
In loving, present awareness
of this one moment —
this
one
encounter —
this miraculous little sliver of Eternity.
For no matter how many times you sit down
with a cup of tea in your hands —
the fragrance arising around you
like mist upon a lake —
you will never experience it again
exactly the same.
For every moment —
every encounter —
every cup of tea —
is a one-of-a-kind,
never-come-again experience.
Whenever you catch the gaze of your beloved,
linger there for a moment —
do not hurry!
Slow
down.
Take your time.
Linger a while.
Relax and breathe deeply.
Look deeply into their eyes.
Savour and soak in the Light of their Innate Beauty —
their Boundless Creativity —
their Pure Potentiality.
Smile and silently allow your heart to open and expand
in gratitude and wonder
for the gift of Life —
to bow
before the sacred wonder of Presence —
as if gazing into their eyes
for the very first time —
as if gazing into their eyes
for the very last time.
For every moment,
every encounter
is our first time.
Every moment,
every encounter
is
our
last
time.
Not two.
May your every breath be infinite, ineffable light, love and wisdom.
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