Happiness and the two selves

What your in-the-moment self considers happiness is entirely different from how your reflective self defines as happiness. The latter decides whether you consciously feel satisfied with your life, but it’s the former that determines whether you are truly happy deep down.


That is the conclusion that Daniel Kahneman suggests from his research into how we can feel very differently about an event when looking back than how we actually felt while experiencing the event as it happened.


For instance, have you ever looked back fondly on some past event or past era in your life and thought that you were happy but didn’t realize it at the time? That you wish you had lived more thoroughly?


Conversely, have you ever enjoyed an experience but then looked back on it, focused on some negative aspect, and then begun thinking of that formerly “good time” as a bad time?


This is what Nobel laureate Kahneman calls the conflict between the “experiencing self” and the “remembering self.”


This certainly dovetails with the concept of mindfulness—focusing on the here and now—which is a fundamental part of the Philosophy of Tea. In other words, if our in-the-moment self is the one who truly determines our happiness, then would not focusing on the here-and-now as much as possible make us happier?


This is something worth contemplating over a cup of green tea—or would that not be in the moment?



You do not need to be in a place like this to be completely in the moment, although it definitely helps.


—Mellow Monk

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Mellow out to some eye candy

Bestiario's Eye Candy isn't just "weird" or "trippy"; it is downright enthralling and even strangely relaxing. I feel as if I could actually meditate to it.


Use caution, however, if you are prone to visually induced epilepsy.



This screen capture does not do Eye Candy justice. You have to see the moving, changing images to appreciate it fully.


—Mellow Monk

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Green tea and exercise stave off depression in breast cancer patients, study finds

Dr. Xiao Ou Shu, a researcher at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, has found that "[b]reast cancer patients who exercise and drink tea on a regular basis may be less likely to suffer from depression than other patients."


Dr. Shu's study examined 1,399 Chinese women living in Shanghai, and "the type of tea [they] most commonly consumed was green tea."


The importance of avoiding depression is that "[d]epression may reduce a patient’s quality of life, increase the length of hospital stays and affect compliance with cancer therapy."



Vanderbilt's Dr. Shu.


—Mellow Monk

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Such a beautiful water lilly

—Mellow Monk

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The green, mellow island

Located at the southern end of the Izu archipelago, Aogashima ("Green Island") is one of Japan's most remote inhabited islands. The fewer than 150 residents are watched over by a lone policeman, whose duties include welcoming—with a salute—the daily helicopter that begins its trip from the island chain's northern end.





The island administratively belongs to Tokyo, but life there is about as far removed from Tokyo as can be—and the islanders wouldn't have it any other way. Many of them have cellphones, but one mother is proud that her young children don't have one. "It's safe here, so they don't need one," she explains.


In addition to cellphones, the locals also have Internet access, allowing them to sell their wares directly to consumers. The most famous of them is potato shochu.


What keeps these people from leaving their island? A big reason is a sense of obligation to their ancestors. In 1785, a volcanic eruption forced the islanders to evacuate to Hachijo Island. Thirty-nine years later, a noble named Jiro Sasaki rallied his fellow Aogashima islanders and organized a move back to their beloved island. Even today, Sasaki is revered as the "Moses of Aogashima," and residents consider themselves his descendants and stewards of his legacy.



The volcano today.


"We wouldn't be here if it weren't for our ancestors," said two teenaged brothers. "They worked hard to protect this island, and that's why we have to, as well."


When asked why she stayed, the 86-year-old mother of a shochu distiller answered: "In the old days, life here was so difficult, and my parents went through a lot of hardship. That's why I have to continue [this way of life]."


[Source: Sankei]


Such words embody a spirit that is widespread in Japan—a sense of obligation to their land. This feeling of responsibility is strong among the country's farmers, too.


If you have a Google account, you can check out these pictures of a traveler who was stranded on Aogashima when rough seas stopped the ferry traffic for consecutive days.



I only half-seriously put this in the "sights to see in Japan" category, but if anyone ever does get to Aogashima, or has been there, I would love to hear about it.


—Mellow Monk

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Teaching the yout' the calming art of tea

A nice story about a tea ceremony teacher and her pupil—who said she used to be stressed out "like a spinning top"—demonstrating sado to a group of 8th graders in Pittsburgh.



Learning a skill—mellowness—that will come in handy later in life.


—Mellow Monk

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Mellow Monk's radio

Check out some mellow Hawaiian music on our Pandora station.


—Mellow Monk

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Mellow like a rock garden

A nice, mellow photo from Christian Houge's Okuriomono series:





—Mellow Monk

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It's official: green tea drinkers are mellower

Once again, science proves something we already knew—that green tea drinkers are mellower.


To be more specific, a study showed that people who drink at least five cups of green tea per day are less likely to suffer from psychological distress.


This finding, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, is just one of the many results gleaned from the "Ohsaki cohort," a group of over 40 thousand people in Japan whose health was monitored over many years.



A nice mellow grove of bamboo. Photo taken in Aso.


—Mellow Monk

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Tea time

—Mellow Monk

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Hachinohe beach

Here is a photo of a beautiful beach in Hachinohe, Japan.



As you gaze at this photo—click for the larger version—imagine you are sitting on these rocks, enjoying a cup of green tea as you take in the sounds and smells of the ocean. Having an actual cup of green tea in your hands will help enhance this mellow-inducing mini-meditation.


—Mellow Monk

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In which Dolly Parton mindfulness breaks the cycle of stress

Naturally rich in theanine, green tea helps promote mellowness.


When incorporated into your daily routine, a green tea break—your own personal tea ceremony—is also a great way to practice mindfulness, which can also help break the viscous cycle of stress.


But did you realize that everything you needed to know about mindfulness you can learn from Dolly Parton?





—Mellow Monk

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Life advice from old people

When you need life advice, the best folks to turn to are the old ones, such as Bubby.




—Mellow Monk

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Get mellow—get outside

To truly recharge your emotional/spiritual batteries, it's not enough just to take time away from work—you have to go outside.



One of the sights that awaits you outside—if you come to Aso. (We took this photo on the way to the top of Mt. Aso.)


—Mellow Monk

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The reactive way of the sword ... and the teapot

The Japanese martial art iaido is sometimes referred to as the art of drawing a sword from its scabbard, or its practitioner as wielding a sword "not to control the opponent, but himself."


But like most martial arts, iaido has its roots in actual combat—in this case, reacting to an opponent who has drawn his sword first and already begun his attack.


Think about that: Facing an opponent coming at you with sword drawn, when yours is still in its scabbard. Being in that situation must have been frightful indeed, hence the need for this highly specialized training.


A key concept in iaido is being completely reactive—restraining your emotions so thoroughly, and focusing so completely on your opponent, that you can anticipate his movements and begin countering his strike before it begins.


But it is impossible to read an opponent so deeply while being distracted by one's own emotions, hence the need to subdue fear, anger, and all other emotions.


And in the tea ceremony (sado), as a host about to receive a tea guest, one is trained to similarly subdue one's emotions completely (kokoro wo mu ni suru) and instead focus on your guest to the point that you become the selfless host, instantly anticipating your guest's needs and preempting any displeasure before it occurs.


It's ironic, though, that a skill honed for battle is the same needed to fulfill the aesthetic and spiritual potential of something as peaceful as the tea ceremony.



Filming an iaido student last year at the Senshinkan (洗心館) dojo in Hitoyoshi City. The sword is real ... and real sharp, hence the respectable distance the crew is keeping.


—Mellow Monk

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How could you not be mellow at an aquarium like this?

A trip to an aquarium can be a most mellowing day indeed. But if you can't make it to one right now, you can sit back with a cup of green tea and relax to this amazing high-definition video of sea creatures swimming elegantly through a giant tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium:





—Mellow Monk

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Raising mellow kids

"Children Full of Life"—an episode of the Canadian TV series "The Passionate Eye"—focuses on a 4th-grade teacher in Kanazawa, Japan, who teaches his students to find happiness for themselves and compassion for others ... and that the two are inseparably intertwined.


You will also be surprised to see what painful experiences some of these young and otherwise cheery-looking kids had been keeping inside them—and how that inner pain was manifesting itself outwardly.

































—Mellow Monk

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The way to tea: It's all about the mellow

Green tea is more than just a beverage—it is the cornerstone of a healthy, mellow way of life.


But the tea can't do all the work. You have to make a little effort, too.


To maximize the mellow during your green tea break, Jennifer Sauer—author of The Way to Tea—suggests following these simple steps [excerpted from a recent issue of Better Homes and Gardens]:

1. Create an atmosphere of relaxation by arranging fresh cut flowers and playing soothing music.
   
   
2. Find a quiet comfortable place on the floor or in a chair by a window so you can benefit from the natural light.
   
   
3. Steep the tea in a small pot to your desired strength. Remember, don't use boiling water on green tea. "You want to extract the nectar contained in the leaf, not cook it" says Pratt.
   
   
4. While the tea is steeping, notice what's going on around you-the light, the temperature, the weather. Don't think; just observe.
   
   
5. Before you take your first sip, give thanks for this quiet moment you have created.
   
   
6. During each subsequent sip give thanks for a different aspect of you life, such as friends, health, children, spouse, job.
   
   
7. On the last sip of tea, smile softly to yourself and say one last sentiment of gratitude, such as, "I give thanks for the great abundance in my life."
   
   
8. As you clean the tea ware, contemplate on how the ritual cleansed your mind and body.
   

—Mellow Monk

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Horseshoe Bend at sunset

If this desktoppable photograph of Arizona's Horseshoe Bend doesn't mellow you out, then you just have to brew up another cup of tea and meditate to it a little longer.





—Mellow Monk

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Green tea's theanine comes into focus

Beverage makers are focusing in on a substance in green tea that improves mental focus and alertness:

Loaded with caffeine and taurine to stimulate the central nervous system, energy drinks have become the go-to solution when you need a quick, energizing pick-me-up.

But sometimes energy isn't what you need. Concentration and attention can start to fade in the face of those midafternoon doldrums and a host of distractions. Something to enhance focus would do the trick.

Some beverage manufacturers say they have just the solution. They're touting a new kind of drink that emphasizes focus over ferocity. The key substance is the amino acid L-theanine, which preliminary research suggests might calm the brain to enhance concentration and mental stamina.

Green tea naturally contains just the right amounts of both caffeine and theanine, so why not get them naturally?



There exists a magical plant whose infusion contains all of the things in these bottled drinks that you need—and none of the things you don't.


—Mellow Monk

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In Japan, stressed-out city folk head to the hills for "farm therapy"

Stress-out city dwellers are discovering the rejuvenating properties of a day of farming in the country:






Pounding mochi: The farmer gets a helping hand, and the lass gets some much-needed sunshine, exercise, and stress relief.


—Mellow Monk

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Tulips against a blue sky

I spent a few relaxing minutes this morning, tea in hand, mellowing out to this simple but beautiful image of tulips against a clear blue sky.



Then again, they also look like giant Triffid tulips!


—Mellow Monk

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Calm-A-Sutra tea video contest

Attention, all up-and-coming filmmakers: The Tea Council of the USA is having its third annual scholarship competition, Calm-A-Sutra of Tea, which "challenges college students to create a one- to two-minute video about the positive benefits of black, green, white or oolong tea in order to win a $15,000 scholarship."


Not bad, eh?


Here is last year's winner, titled "Interrogation." It's actually quite funny and very well done.





—Mellow Monk

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Be mellow at work. You’ll reduce your stress and your chances of losing your job.

By not worrying about losing your job, you will not only avoid unnecessary stress but also improve your chances of not losing your job.


So just sit back, brew up some green tea and relax.


But don't forget to get some work done—that will improve your prospects, too.



What, me worry?


—Mellow Monk

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Adobe Girl's pics

Here are a couple of photos sent in by customer and Monk's friend Mary Palmer, a.k.a. The Adobe Girl. From her beautiful photographs I can tell her mission is the same as mine—to create more mellow in the world.








—Mellow Monk

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Long exposure

Got mellow?


If not—and even if you do—Session Magazine has a great collection of long-exposure photographs for you.



As the world turns. Literally.


—Mellow Monk

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Mindfully mellow

Mindfulness—focusing on the here-and-now, on what is going on all around you at this moment—is a fundamental element of meditation, including Zen. This state of mind is also key to the green tea ceremony and to happiness in general.


In contrast to mindfulness is rumination—obsessing over the negative—and it's not conducive to mellowness.


When you brew your green tea, do so mindfully. Watch the water boil. Listen to it boil. Take in the aroma of the dry leaves. Feel the warmth of your teapot or cup as the tea brews. Before sipping, breath in the luscious aroma. Sip, and focus on the flavor tingling in your mouth. Then feel the tea's warmness travel into your belly.


There. Don't you feel better already?



We can all create our own mindful ceremony whenever we drink green tea.


—Mellow Monk

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Get happy. Now.

If you're feeling down, there are ten things you can start doing now to fix that.


Green tea will also help boost your mellowness factor.



These Tibetan monks seem happy.


—Mellow Monk

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Two lovely autumn images

—Mellow Monk

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Ride the scenic rails

I could mellow for hours staring at this massive photo of a Kuranda Scenic Railway train traveling through magnificent Australian scenery.



Click to see this shot in all its glory.


—Mellow Monk

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D.C. cherry blossoms

This beautiful photograph of cherry blossoms near the Washington Monument is part of an album of travel pictures from all over the world.



Click on this pic to go to the ShareAPic website, then click on the image there to see the breathtaking full-size version.


—Mellow Monk

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Van Gogh galleries

Does somebody have a case of the Mondays?


If so — and even if you don't — the Monk has the perfect cure: sipping green tea while perusing four online galleries of paintings by Vincent Van Gogh.


(Click on each thumbnail to view the full-sized image.)



"The Langlois Bridge at Arles with Women Washing."


—Mellow Monk

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Mellow furniture

Even if you can't afford to buy such things now, the furniture at Green Tea Design is simply soothing to look at.


Such as the Yoshida Wall Unit, shown below.





—Mellow Monk

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Winter wonderlands and a cotton sky

The first picture below is one of a beautiful collection of winter scenery.



"Crater Lake Winter," by Marc Adamus.





"And One For All," by Eric (and sometimes Jessica).


—Mellow Monk

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Nilgun's haunting pics

If this sample of photographer Nilgun Kara's haunting photographs piques your interest, you can view more at this gallery.



The Lonely Ones.


—Mellow Monk

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Mellow mehameha music

One of my favorite songs on the oh-so-mellow album "Ho'oluana" is "Mehameha/White Sandy Beach," which is a medley of two classic Hawaiian songs, including one immortalized by the late great Kui Lee.


But on this album, the late great Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and the rest of the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau really save the best for last — their excellent rendition of another Kui Lee classic, "I'll Remember You."


Sample more of IZ's musical legacy here.



One of my favorite album covers.


—Mellow Monk

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The world's mellowist canoeist?

Even if I couldn't trade places right now with one of the people in this canoe, I would gladly settle for standing where John Frisch stood when he took this picture.





—Mellow Monk

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A beautiful Japanese garden — in Oregon

If you like Japanese gardens and you are ever passing through Portland, Oregon, be sure to stop by the the Portland Japanese Garden.


Here is a large-size version of the amazing shot shown below. And here is a whole gallery of photos taken at the PJG.





—Mellow Monk

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Mellow sunrise pictures

Brew up a cup and relax to these photos of beautiful sunrises.



Bald cypress trees in the Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge.


—Mellow Monk

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Green tea: Good for the body and soul

The travel website Galding discusses how green tea is not only healthy but also good for us spiritually, as well.



As you sip your green tea Grasshopper, close your eyes and imagine you are here.


—Mellow Monk

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The world's most relaxing room?

If you're ever near the University of Hertfordshire, you can stop by for a 15-minute session in what's billed as the world's most relaxing room.



"Could I also have a cup of green tea?"


—Mellow Monk

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Russia's old-school trains

I've always been fascinated with trains. There's something calmly reassuring about them. Maybe it's a guy thing: Guys hate to ask for directions when they get lost, and it's almost impossible to get lost when traveling by train.


At any rate, if you like trains, then you'll positively love this photo collection of old Russian locomotives that are (mostly) still in operation today.



Reminds me of a scene from the film "Runaway Train."


—Mellow Monk

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An unspoiled South Pacific island paradise

You can take a virtual yet still invigorating trip to Lord Howe Island by gazing at these three photos.



I hope Lord Howe Island stays unspoiled for a long, long time.


—Mellow Monk

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The mellow Hawaiian sounds of Sistah Robi

One of my favorite contemporary Hawaiian music artists is Robi Kahakalau, a.k.a. Sistah Robi.


To get a feel for what her mellow music is like, you can sample the song "Ku'u Mau Lei Onaona" (which means "beautiful scented leis") from the album "All I Want."


Here's her singing "Dreamland":






Robi Kahakalau, a.k.a. "Sistah Robi."


—Mellow Monk

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Banya tree panorama (and other amazing pics)

Every wonder what it's like to stand in a grove of banyan trees?


Well, brew up a cup of green tea, sit back, and prepare to be astounded, because you can experience what it's like with this amazing panorama.


There are more panoramic pics here.





—Mellow Monk

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3 ways to improve your life — and live longer

You can improve your life and live longer by (1) stretching you muscles, (2) improving your outlook and attitude, and (3) striving to get along better with others.



A loose, flexible body is better equipped to stave off stress, too.


—Mellow Monk

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Self-massage while faffling

The Britishism to faffle roughly corresponds to the Yiddishism to putz around. Both terms express a concept that we should all learn to embrace in this über-hectic world of ours:

Faffing is good. It is an important part of life. Faffing is when we disconnect from the matrix and idle for a while, like a car. Our body and spirit know deep down that human beings were not made for constant toil so subconsciously creates space through the mechanism of faffing.

A good non-activity to engage in while faffling is self-massage. For instance:

1. Every morning and evening, hammer out the kinks. Using your fists, gently thump the outside of your body, starting with your legs and arms, working from top to bottom. Then move inward to your torso and thump from bottom to top. "Pummeling your muscles and bones will help strengthen the body, stimulate blood circulation, and relax nerve endings," says Walsemann. When done in the morning, this self-massage technique will waken and prepare your body -- and mind -- for the day ahead. When done before bed, it calms down the mind and beats out the stress and tension of the day. One warning: If you're taking any kind of blood thinner, such as Coumadin (warfarin), avoid this one; you could wind up with bruising.

By the way, Grasshopper, brewing and drinking green tea is another great excuse for a faffling session. And green tea has the added benefit of also being good for your body, too.



"Ah, I can smell the green tea brewing."


—Mellow Monk

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