Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

Chinese temples there are different waiting rooms for
visitors graded according to social rank—some are
outside the main building and rather sparsely furnished,
while others are secluded in the complex of courts and
buildings and are most elegant. The tea with which the
guests are provided also varies with their status.
Mr. Chen rose and did a bit of acting. Pretending to
be a host monk, he called out rather harshly and
abruptly, "Bring tea." "This," he explained, "is the
order for poor persons and the attendant thereby
knows that the lowest grade of tea is meant. For
those of middle standing—" and Mr. Chen smiled
politely,—"the order is, 'Tea, please,' and such
people then receive a medium good tea." Beaming,
he called out in refined tones, "'Please give the best
tea.' That is for guests of the highest social
position." Bhante noted, "They must know that they
are getting the best." Said the yogi, "It is my good
luck that I can always give you the best tea. I have
just told you this as you should know what these
people think about when they go to a monastery,
even if it is to take the refuges."
Again, two kinds of comforts are spoken of in China:
"pure comfort" and "red comfort." The pure sort is
experienced from visiting some mountain peak and
there throwing away all cares, to discourse
philosophically with monks and nuns, and admire the
beauty, solitude, and quietness of the surroundings.
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