By Choe Chong-dae

The aroma of Korean tea has pervaded my house since I began to drink this delicious traditional beverage.

The practice of drinking Korean tea is now spreading across the country and becoming a part of the lives of many Koreans, irrespective of social mores, age or religion. The practice is expanding not only because of the range of benefits to one's health, but also because of the order it brings to one's life through the cultivation of inner peace and spiritual awareness.

It is encouraging to learn that the ``Dado" (tea ceremony), a way of savoring tea, is very popular among Koreans who seek to revive this ancient tradition. Numerous people are awakening to the benefits of drinking traditional tea, primarily wild tea and cultivated tea, particularly among housewives, businessmen, scholars and intellectuals, as well as foreigners.

The drinking of tea and the performance of tea ceremonies have long played a significant role in Korean culture. Yet, regrettably these practices have declined in inverse proportion to rapid economic development and industrialization. Fortunately, the art of making and drinking tea is being revitalized in order to perpetuate traditional ways of life through a deeper understanding and appreciation of ancient Korean culture.

Tea was originally introduced to Korea at the time of the Tang Dynasty in China, during the reign of Queen Seondeok, (632-647 A.D.), the 27th monarch of the Shilla Kingdom. At this time, tea seeds were planted on the warm, fertile southern slopes of Mt. Jiri, where tea plants can still be found growing in the wild. The cultivation of tea was widespread during the Shilla Dynasty and the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties.

As a result of widespread belief in tea's innate spiritual properties, specifically, that its effect on the senses signified a union between the spiritual and the human realms, tea became an indispensable item in offerings at Buddhist temples, and played an essential role in a variety of religious rituals, particularly on ceremonial days. Consequently, the use of tea spread amongst Buddhist priests and scholars as well as royal families, and became popular not only in aristocratic society, but also amongst commoners.

While the practice of offering tea to ancestral gods is well documented in Korean historical records, the example of Choongdam Seonsa, a famous Buddhist priest who lived during the reign of Gyeongdeok, the 35th King of Shilla, recorded in the Samkuk Yusa (Legends and History of the Three Kingdoms of Ancient Korea) inspires me the most, fills me with peace and brings me the greatest spiritual consolation when I drink tea.

Rev. Choongdam, a devotee of tea and its healing, spiritual properties chanced on King Gyeungdeok on his way back to town after offering tea to the Maitreya Buddha, from Samhwa Peak on the slopes of Mt. Nam in Gyeongju. Noticing that the monk was carrying a barrel on his back, which contained supplies and equipment for making tea, the King requested the monk make him a cup of tea. The monk complied. The King sipped the tea and was immediately struck by its unusual taste and captivating aroma.

Deeply impressed by the unique flavor of the tea, the King was imbued with the peace and equanimity that foreshadows a prosperous reign. The King immediately asked the monk to compose a song for the Shilla people on the theme ``Peaceful Reign." Accordingly, the monk composed a poem and presented it to the King. The poem, ``Song of a Peaceful Reign," is as follows:

``The King is the majestic father, the vassal is the affectionate mother. The people are the happy children. Accordingly, the people should recognize their parents' loving-kindness. Since the noble parents feed and reign over myriad creatures (people), who would leave their home and journey elsewhere? The people should remain in their native land. If the King, vassals and people all perform their duty, Peace will reign in our land.''

There are numerous health benefits from drinking tea; for example, tea lowers cholesterol levels and protects against many diseases such as lung, prostate and breast cancer. Furthermore, it enhances digestion, detoxifies the metabolism, combats fatigue and is good for eliminating muddled thoughts, purifying our minds and improving our thought process. When I savor the extraordinary and subtle flavors of tea in the Tea Ceremony, my consciousness is transformed, my energy is focused and the result is increased transcendental wisdom and vitality.

Sitting alone in my tea room, silently contemplating, sipping tea slowly, with mindfulness, I become fully aware of my surroundings and of the various thoughts arising from within. It is as if I were awakened to an awareness of divinity, and of myself as a divine being.

I wish more people could appreciate the subtle taste and gentle aromas of tea, which act as a panacea for earthly disease, and as a healing agent of spirit, mind and body. If my wish were to come true, all Koreans could then sing together in harmony the ``Song of Peaceful Reign" composed by Rev. Choongdam and presented to King Gyeongdeok.

Choe Chong-dae is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and the Korean representative for Compagnie Cotonniere of Paris, France. A long time director of the Korean-Swedish Association, he can be reached at dkic98@chol.com.