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Nichi nichi kore ko jitsu - every day is a good day

Posted on Sep 28th, 2007 by margie : Tea Ceremony Instructor margie

In chanoyu, the scroll sets the theme for the tea gathering.  It is displayed in the tokonoma, or alcove and is probably the most important utensil in the tea room.  By convention, the scroll for a tea gathering is a single line of kanji characters and is usually a fragment of a poem, Zen phrase or part of a Zen phrase written by a Zen priest.    A common scroll for a tea gathering is "Nichi, nichi, kore kojitsu," or "Hibi kore ko nichi" Literally translated it means - everyday is a good day.

When this scroll is hung in the tea room alcove, (tokonoma) it reminds us that the day is not good or bad. It is just a day.  Our attitude is what changes the day into either good or bad. 

It is like the story of the farmer who had a horse and his neighbors said he was very lucky, but one day the horse ran away.  And the neighbors remarked how unlucky he was.  But the horse came back with two others and they said he was lucky again.  Then his son fell off the horse and broke his arm while riding it and they said he was unlucky. But when the daimyo came to draft men for his army, the son wasn't chosen and they said he was lucky again.

It all depends on your attitude to the day.  Every day can be a good day or everyday can be a bad day.  What kind of day is today?

Access_public Access: Public 4 Comments Print views (728)  
about 15 hours later
Claudia said

This sentence is one of such wisdom, I would gladly post it in my house! Through the last few days exspecially but the last few years in general, that way of living made such a difference in my life. Each day is what you make it. Every day should be a good day, it might just be hidden behind some clouds, or dust, but once  they settle, the lesson is there, and the day can be checked off as a good one.

Thank you

Claudia

margie : Tea Ceremony Instructor
1 day later
margie said

Claudia,

I have this in kanji and I will send you a photo so you can print it out and post it in your house.

Take care,

Margie

2 days later
Claudia said

Hi Margie
Thank  you so much, that is very considered of you! Let me know, if I ever can be at your service!

Claudia

gary : generalist
3 months later
gary said

 

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