Maiko Behr’s February workshop at the Nikkei Centre will explore the historical, philosophical and aesthetic influences of Zen on the development and practice of the tea ceremony.

Behr, a long time tea practitioner is a certified instructor in the Omotesenke tradition of chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony. She will present a slide lecture and discuss how Zen is profoundly connected to the development of chanoyu as a cultural practice in Japanese society. Behr’s interest in the way of tea is interwoven with her own journey.

First time in Japan

Behr was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and a Euro-American father but came to America shortly afterwards as a baby. Her family settled in Maryland.

“When I was 12, I was sent for a year to live with my grandmother in Tokyo. I didn’t speak any Japanese or know anything about Japan at the time. But I had Japanese citizenship because of my mother and I attended a regular public school,” says Behr.

At first she felt lost but gradually caught on to the Japanese language. Eventually, she decided to stay for one more year. Although Behr returned to America, she would never forget her time in Japan.

Student of Japanese culture

Maiko Behr making tea. | Photo courtesy of Maiko Behr

“That was my first experience in Japan and I just really enjoyed it there. So I continued to study Japanese language at college,” says Behr.

She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Japanese and French literature from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. After graduating, she returned to Japan for a year of advanced studies in Japanese language.

“My aunt was a tea ceremony teacher, and she introduced me to her own teacher who was a tea master. He was a truly enlightened being who looked like a Zen monk – completely at peace. Whenever you would see him, it was a humbling experience,” Behr says.

Again, Behr decided to stay one more year but now she had to find work to support herself. Everyone told her she should teach English, but Behr wanted to practice her Japanese.

“I found work in a traditional Japanese sweetshop, and every season the sweets change. Sweets are such a big part of the tea ceremony – and in Japan even sweets are an art form,” says Behr.

In her spare time, Behr visited temples, shrines, gardens, museums and art galleries.

“Then I left Japan to come here to Vancouver to do my Master of Arts in Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia where I continued to study Classical Japanese literature and visual culture,” Behr says.

Life long learner

“I still go to Japan twice a year for two-week intensive training sessions. I teach but I have my own teacher who I have continued to study with for the past 20 years,” says Behr.

Behr has been giving workshops at the Nikkei Centre for many years. Her next workshop explores the influence of Zen on the development of chanoyu. In the late 12th century, Zen monk Eisai brought the tradition of tea drinking to Japan from China. She says even today Zen principles of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility are at the very heart of the Japanese tea ceremony.

“Zen is a philosophy of riddles, and the ideas of simplicity and impermanence – embracing the moment you’re in – are central to Zen and tea. The reason we hold these tea gatherings is because they are never repeated the same way again though there is the same structure that everyone understands and works within. Even though it is a very simple thing of preparing a bowl of tea and a little something sweet to eat before you drink it, [the ceremony is] presented in a way that makes it absolutely memorable,” says Behr.

Zen and Chanoyu workshop Sunday, Feb. 8
Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, Burnaby
Registration: 604-777-7000
info@nikkeiplace.org