December 18, 2015, Prime Minister Malcolm TURNBULL of Australia came with Japan's Prime Minister ABE Shinzo to the Urasenke Tokyo Branch, to experience Japan's chado hospitality preceding their summit meeting at the Akasaka Palace State Guest House. Iemoto SEN Soshitsu XVI, Zabosai, was at Urasenke Tokyo to greet and prepare tea for them. For the occasion, he had chosen a scroll which read  (At all times one must strive to polish [one's mind]) to hang in the alcove. It is a phrase which appears in the Buddhist classic, The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. The simple, seasonal flowers which decorated the alcove consisted in a single camellia bud and sprig of Japanese allspice in bloom, arranged in a bamboo flower container. Prime Minister Turnbull commented about the chado experience which he had that day: "I was very impressed with the hospitality, with the wisdom and with the grace of Master Sen." |
