Go Have Some Tea – A Gong'an about Tea

In the Chan tradition, there are many brilliant gong'ans centered around tea that are still discussed with great enthusiasm today. The most famous is Master Zhaozhou's "Go Have Some Tea" from the Tang dynasty, which has inspired many Chan masters and practitioners across generations.


Master Zhaozhou (778 – 983 CE)
  Master Zhaozhou of the Tang dynasty was ordained as a monk at an early age. At 18, he began his practice under the guidance of Master Nanquan Puyuan (南泉普願). After turning 50, he traveled widely across China, eventually settling at Guanyin Yuan (觀音院) in Zhaozhou (Hebei) at the age of 80. People of later generations thus refer to him as Monk Zhaozhou and his approach as Zhaozhou Chan, which enlightened Dharma seekers through the gong'an, "Go have some tea."

One day, a monk arrived at the temple seeking an overnight stay. He first visited Master Zhaozhou, who asked him, "Have you been here before?" "Yes, I have," the monk replied. "Go have some tea," said the Master immediately.

Shortly after, another monk came to visit the Master. Zhaozhou asked him the same question: "Have you been here before?" "No, I haven't," replied the newcomer. "Go have some tea," the Master said again.
 
Hearing all their conversations, the abbot (a position equivalent to a director in modern terms) could not help but ask the Master, "Why did you invite those who had been here before for tea, as well as those who had never been here?"
 
Master Zhaozhou replied, yet again, "Abbot, you go have some tea, too!"
 
This gong'an "Go Have Some Tea" may seem like an ordinary conversation, in which the Master invites all the monks—whether they had visited the monastery before or not—to have tea. However, the abbot was utterly bewildered by the Master's equal treatment of everyone. In response, the master simply and directly replies, "Go have some tea."
 
In monasteries, there was a fixed schedule for having porridge or tea, and drinking tea served to quench thirst and provide rest after labor. When these three monks met Master Zhaozhou, it happened to be tea time, so the Master invited them for tea. In Buddhist teachings, all sentient beings are regarded as equal. Anyone, whether new to the monastery or not, or whatever their monastic duties might be, is supposed to have tea when it is tea time. In fact, it was an ordinary matter, with nothing profound, until the abbot asked a question that stirred doubts.
 
What does the expression "go have some tea" imply? All those who visited Master Zhaozhou shared the same goal—living an ordinary life with an "ordinary mind." Regardless of whether they arrived earlier or later, had monastic duties or not, everyone — including Master Zhaozhou himself — was expected to do what was right at the right time, speak the right words on the right occasion, and fulfill the responsibilities of their position. Moreover, one should even let go of the notion of "doing one's part" and simply do what needs to be done in the moment, continuing to live an ordinary life as usual.
 
 
Compiled by Lin Jung-wen (林鍾妏) from the book Master Sheng Yen on 100 Chan Phrases by Master Sheng Yen (聖嚴說禪), published by Dharma Drum Corporation


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Related articles:

The Taste of Chan in Tea

Chan in the Aroma and Color of Tea

Tea Regimen

Things to be Aware of when having Tea for Recreational or Medicinal Purpose

Tea and Buddhist Monasteries

Go Have Some Tea – A Gong'an about Tea

The Art of the Tea Ceremony

How to Brew Chinese Tea?



Resource: Issue 291 of Humanity Magazine (November 2007), Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Translation: Li Siang-ling
Editing: Keith Brown, Ven. Yan Siang (演香法師)