조주화상 ‘끽다거’의 의미

Upādhyāya Chao-chou's Meaning of ‘Have a cup of tea’

The well-known traditional expression of “Tea and Ch’en is one taste” means that tea and ch’en are the same. Talking the phrase “Tea and Ch’en is one taste” is reminiscent of the Chao-Chou’s Hua-t’ou, “Have a cup of tea.” The Hua-t’ou’s meanings can be summarized as follows. First, it demands mindfulness through which we can enter into samadhi. Second, it leads to teachings of equality. Chao-chou drank tea with those who he had never met, those who he had once met, and those who were always with him. All of them were the equal to him. Third, it is teaching like a mirror, i.e., it makes people (drinking tea) look at themselves in the mirror. Fourth, it is the teaching to lead to free men. Tea drinking with a Normal Mind is like a mirror. Fifth, it purports to realize triple sūnyatā. Chao-chou implies to a tea drinker, the tea and drinking act are fundamentally all empty. Sixth, Chao-chou’s realizes madhyamā-pratipad through the emptiness of a cup of tea. Seventh, he transmits the idea that matter and me are one body. Eighth, we can taste maitrī-karunā through Chao-chou’s a cup of tea.