Chanoyu, the ceremony surrounding the serving of powdered green tea, is "one of the greatest achievements of Japanese culture," Bisgaard claims. "The quality of tea itself is the very best, and the fact that you imbibe the whole leaf in its powdered form insures you get all the health benefits and mental effects contained in tea. The philosophical and aesthetic values central to chado [the 'way of tea'] are a true contribution to humanity that can be shared with people in other cultures to enrich their lives."

Affinity with Tea
Tea has been an integral part of Bisgaard's life ever since he arrived in Japan 28 years ago. On just his second night in Kyoto, he found himself in a house five minutes away from where he now lives in the company of those who would eventually introduce him to the Urasenke school.

"I was 30 and I had come to the other end of the world," he recalls. "So I was very happy when I was accepted as a student." He enrolled in a three-year course in the school's international division and has since cultivated a very close and rewarding relationship with Urasenke, having received his chamei, or tea name, directly from the grand tea master.

His fondness for tea actually goes back much further. Lured by an interest in philosophy and ancient history, he visited Greece while still in high school and later traveled to the Middle East and Afghanistan and eventually spent much time in India. Everywhere he went, he found himself frequenting tea houses, which became his "home away from home."

While studying Buddhism and Indian philosophy he happened upon a small book that would change the course of his life: The Book of Tea, an introduction to Japan's artistic and spiritual tradition written in 1906 by Okakura Tenshin. "I was influenced by the book from my first reading. I was 19 at the time and became enchanted by the underlying philosophy of tea as well as traditional Japanese architecture and garden aesthetics." The book was a constant companion on his journeys throughout Asia and a source of inspiration, and it eventually prompted him to travel to Japan.

Here and Now
For Bisgaard, tea is much more than a drink to be enjoyed in the tea room. "For me, chado is a way of life, an opportunity to share something very beautiful and elevating with others in a highly refined and sublime way. The same care, attention, and concentration that you would devote to temae [tea-making procedures], the preparations in the mizuya, or the selection of flowers for the tokonoma [alcove] should also be reflected in one's daily life. In a sense, tea should be something you practice constantly, not only in the tea room but in everything you do."

In chado one learns to value each fleeting moment. "Each encounter between the host and guest is unique. It has never been experienced before and will never be repeated again. It exists only in that very moment, so you have to pay attention to the present with all your heart and mind. When everyone's attention is focused on the moment, that moment becomes eternal."

Bisgaard's appreciation for the here and now has, naturally, dampened any desire to go chasing after promises of a lucrative future. "I could spend my time making money, but then I would have to compromise and do things that I don't agree with. I may be poor as a result, but what I have you cannot buy. I don't own this house, and I don't have any pensions. But as long as I'm practicing chado I am at peace with myself and doing something that other people may appreciate. And somehow I feel that that would be enough. There's no safety net whatsoever. I trust in the divinity of life itself."

Sadly, he feels, many Japanese themselves have made the opposite choice. "For example, when I first came to Kyoto there were many gardens like the one we have here, but now there are few left. Just working with the plants takes out a lot of stress and relaxes your mind. It keeps you in touch with the changing seasons. All these things were completely normal until quite recently and gave people a deeper sense of belonging, purpose, and fulfillment. TV cannot substitute for those things, and neither will pachinko, karaoke, or computer games. All these machines have stolen the Japanese mind and heart."

Bisgaard believes that they have also distorted the way people spend their time. "So many people have no time on their hands because they are so busy working to pay for the machines that supposedly make life more convenient. These machines have not liberated man. On the contrary, we have become subservient to them. We have to work harder to obtain all that we need, and so there is no time to live.

"If you look at so-called primitive people, they spend maybe two to four hours a day doing what is necessary to maintain life. The rest of the time they spend with their family, being artistic, playing music, dancing, or just enjoying themselves. The people in less developed countries may be poorer by World Bank standards, but they have a richer life."

Transplanting Chado
Bisgaard is now, with the help of Genshitsu Daisosho, the former grand tea master of Urasenke, working to establish a Danish Urasenke Association and to promote the study of chado in Denmark. "I expect this endeavor to be very fruitful and to have great impact on the thinking, arts, crafts, architecture, and gardening in my country, and I also hope it will enhance the sensitivity of the Danes to nature and give them a deeper insight into life."

This poses a challenge that is quite different from those encountered in practicing or teaching tea in Japan. "Chado integrates all sorts of uniquely Japanese elements, some of which are completely alien to others. In transplanting a tree, we have to cut off the small branches but leave the big ones intact and protect the roots. In due time the transplanted tree will acclimatize and begin sprouting new branches, flower, and bear fruit. In a similar manner, when transferring chado to a foreign culture we have to maintain the roots and try to convey the essence. After a period of blind copying and doing everything like in Japan, eventually there will be an adaptation to local conditions, climate, and culture, and only then we will have succeeded in truly transplanting the Japanese treasure that chado is.

"Chado is, in its subtle way, perhaps one of the largest contributions Japan has ever made to the cultural life of the world. Japan in the past has inspired many artistic movements in the West like impressionism and art nouveau and spawned new design concepts. Chado," Bisgaard believes "can have an even deeper impact and can also make a big contribution to international goodwill and peace."

Søren M. Chr. Bisgaard
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1946. Became interested in philosophy at the age of 15, went to the Oracle of Delphi when 18, and became a sannyasin monk at the age of 20. Initiated interest in Indian philosophy and religion among young people in Denmark, leading to the foundation of a monastery. Studied Sanskrit, philosophy, and Japanese at Copenhagen University. Arrived in Japan 1976 and joined the Urasenke Midorikai program, continuing his studies to this day in Kyoto and engaging in tea-related activities in Japan and abroad. Took initiative to found International Society to Save Kyoto, now Mitate International, and is active in local environment protection.

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Copyright (c) 2004 Web Japan. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.