At the time, I did not understand what she meant, but as time passed and I had many similar experiences, I came to understand the meaning of "a true tea master”.
The tea ceremony is a practice to achieve a higher level of self-discipline through daily training as a matter of course, not for the purpose of presenting it to others.
When performing tea ceremony, everyone concentrates on his or her own style of tea ceremony, and the guests accept it wholeheartedly. And the audience will accept it wholeheartedly.
It is not proper behavior for a tea master to embarrass others by pointing out that they are not doing things by the book. It is an unbecoming act for a tea master. In addition, tea is a place to express unlimited respect for the other person, to think deeply about the feelings of the other person and attend to those feelings, and to enjoy the opportunity of a " ICHI-GO-ICHI-E” (once-in-a-lifetime meeting)※1  Where the tea ceremony is never held under the same circumstances, at the same time, and with the same members.
※1 (I would like to mention “ICHI-GO-ICHI-E” in another article.)

In the days of samurai, it was forbidden to bring swords into the tea ceremony room, even if it was a tea ceremony with a person who might be slain tomorrow. Everyone, regardless of rank, was treated with respect as an individual. This is the tea ceremony.
It is the same today. The tea ceremony is a form of "ICHI-ZA-KON-RYU".

“ICHI-ZA-KON-RYU”

When I think about it, I begin to see that the seemingly formal tea ceremony has a gentle and warm side behind it, and it becomes somewhat endearing.

This week I am going to a tea ceremony with a friend. I was eager to learn from watching the tea ceremony at a big event, but I also want to enjoy the warmth of the tea ceremony.

mica♡matcha