2/12 “Tea & Talk - A String of Pearls” Report

In February 2023, Chan Meditation Center kicked off its newest program "Tea & Talk" in-person.  The program will be held each second Sunday of every month from 2:00-3:30 pm, supervised by Venerable Chang Zhai. The first event "A String of Pearls" was on February 12 and led by Sally Boon Matthews, a visual artist and arts educator.

 

During the course, Sally introduced the steps and essentials of threading and stitching. In the past, Sally invited different people including venerables from CMC and the general public in the New York area to experience and participate in the project of "Threading the Heart Sutra". She showed videos and photos, recalling touching and unforgettable moments. Different groups of participants collaborated at different times to thread the Heart Sutra in English until the full text was completed, just like putting together a string of pearls.

 

The process began with tea meditation. In the quiet and relaxed atmosphere, participants took turns practicing, collecting the body and mind through the orderly operation of washing, brewing, and tasting the tea. They also "broke the ice" through cooperation and narrowed the distance between each other.

 

After that, participants chose the title or a sentence from the English version of the Heart Sutra for threading according to Sally's guidance. First, they wrote the letters on the back of some thick paper. Then they punctured the paper following the writing and threaded the words and patterns with needles and string. Finally, they created texture with a hammer. Everyone integrated ingenuity and creativity into their design and completed the unique artwork with concentration and patience.

 

Venerable Chang Zhai said that the surface behind the front of the threaded work turned out to look unexpectedly beautiful. It was not purposely designed but the effect was inimitable. The process of focusing on the needle and thread shuttle across the paper is similar to the method of meditation. She encouraged everyone to make good use of sensation during practice and be mindful and aware of everything they are doing. 

 

At the end of the event, the participants spoke freely and shared their experiences. A young participant named Minglu Gao recently began her graduate studies in New York. She shared that in the repetition of the needle and thread moving up and down, she became more experienced and skilled. As an international student drifting in a foreign country, this event helped her to find a way to settle her body and mind, and relieve her anxiety and worries. 

Article by Hang Yeung

Photo by Yin Ting