September 14 Tea Offering by Grand Master SEN Soshitsu XV at UCLA World Festival of Sacred Music

The UCLA World Festival of Sacred Music was initiated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1999, in order to promote the spirit of peace and reconciliation in the new millennium by going back to the spiritual roots of humankind. This year the festival opening event was held at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center Aratani/Japan America Theater, and had 'Peace' as the central theme. In this context, Grand Master SEN Soshitsu XV was invited to conduct a symbolic ritual tea offering for World Peace at the opening.       The program commenced with the music of a Native American flute. The Grand Master performed the ritual tea offering. Following a performance of Native American flute music and cello music, there was a tea service wherein the Grand Master made a bowl of koicha, which was shared by "local heroes" -- representatives of different communities of Los Angeles who have been striving for human rights and world peace by donating time and energy out of genuine concern for the present and future solidarity of their communities. The event concluded with a Hawaiian chant that acted in extending the sacred atmosphere of being one with Nature created by the tea offering.

Tea Offering for World Peace at the opening of the UCLA World Festival of Sacred Music.	Local heroes share a bowl of koicha tea at the Ecumenical Peace Service.

North America Convention Commemorative Tea Gathering

A multiple tea gathering commemorating the North America Convention took place at the Century Plaza Hotel in the afternoon of September 14.       The Chado Urasenke Tankokai Los Angeles Association hosted a koicha service area celebrating its 50th anniversary. The utensils used had a high sentimental value, many having been made by the Grand Master himself or other members of the SEN family, including his sister SHIOTSUKI Soshin, who accompanied the Grand Master during the events. Urasenke tea master emeritus MATSUMOTO Sosei, who is honorable advisor to the L.A. Association, offered comprehensive explanations about each utensil, while narrating important episodes from the history of the Association. The waiting area here was arranged by the Orange County Association.       The Chado Urasenke Tankokai San Francisco Association hosted an usucha service area, using utensils appropriate for its 50th anniversary. A ryurei style usucha tea service area was co-hosted by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Seattle, Chicago, San Diego, Portland Wakai, and Arizona Associations. Here the theme was "The Garden of Tea," as a symbol of the development of these Associations from the seeds sowed by Grand Master SEN and his late wife, Tomiko.       An ingenious tea service area, utilizing a boxed tea set, was born from the cooperation of the Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Kanazawa Chado Urasenke Tankokai Youth Associations. Here the guests had the opportunity to watch the host, dressed like a cowboy, making tea in an environment that suggested the desert plains and hills of the Wild West.

Tea gathering area of the Los Angeles Association.	Tea gathering area of the San Francisco       Association.

Tea gathering area of the L.A., San Francisco, and Kanazawa Youth Associations.	5 associations host a Ryureiseki.

Commemorative Banquet

Later in the evening, the participants attended a commemorative banquet hosted by Grand Master SEN Soshitsu XV. The gorgeous dinner was accompanied by a blues quartet that played songs from the 50's, re-creating the atmosphere from the Grand Master's first visit to Los Angeles. The Midorikai graduates who were present emotionally evoked their experiences in Japan and the kindness of the Grand Master, while projected slides were showing the Grand Master and Mme. Tomiko traveling around North America to spread the values of Urasenke Chado.

Midorikai graduates recollect their memories about Kyoto.