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History
Either performing or watching "tea" results in an elevation of consciousness, and it becomes a healing process. An hour in the tearoom is refreshing and rejuvenating-one emerges with a "new lease on life".
The Japanese have long known and appreciated the beneficial results of starting the day with a ritual cup of tea-performed in the proper way. The actual movements that the host performs have a mesmerizing effect. One must just relax and "let it happen".
Unfortunately, the rush of modern life has deprived the younger generations of this "miraculous" way to start the day. But as one grows older and as time becomes more important, the older generations, one hopes, resort to the time-honored custom of tea. It provides a welcome in the workaday world, and benefits them medically, emotionally, and spiritually.
To have a true and proper Japanese tea house in Santa Barbara is a wonderful and rare treat. To have it presently disassembled is a sorrow. But with enough interest and understanding of the benefits of "cha no you" (tea ceremony-"tea of hot water") it should be possible to reassemble the teahouse and use it for classes in Japanese culture.
The world grows smaller and more closely-nit. The more we can understand other nations and cultures, the better for us all. American "culture" seems to have swallowed the world. Let's not let it swallow a lovely treasure of cross-cultural understanding.
This teahouse in Santa Barbara has special significance. It was given in gratitude to a Santa Barbara resident for help given before, during and after World War II. The construction of a teahouse is the most exacting and expensive of any type of Japanese construction. Therefore, this small building represents the ultimate in gratitude-more than diamonds.
Having this Teahouse rebuilt, restored and used again gives us the tranquility we need in our western world.
