MALCHA

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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MALCHA

Yesterday, I went to a tea festival in Daegu. There were many booths, and inside each of them Korean ladies dressed in their traditional dress called hanbok served tea. I tasted malcha for the first time. It is a kind of tea made of green tea powder. The lady in the picture made it by using a special tool and then offered it to the visitors.

In other booths they served other kinds of tea, including a very fragrant tea with lotus flowers.

Beside the special flavor of many teas, I appreciated the refinement and elegance of the ladies to make and serve tea in the booths.

Making and serving tea is an art, so as cooking, painting, writing, playing a musical instrument and even living is an art. Don’t you think that human relations would be smoother and more beautiful if we applied a bit of art to our behavior?

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:

– A Hidden Sicilian History

– The Vibrations of Words

– Travels of the Mind

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

MOUNTAIN IS MOUNTAIN, WATER IS WATER

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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MOUNTAIN IS MOUNTAIN, WATER IS WATER

Today I visited Palgong Mountain near the city of Daegu, the third biggest city in Korea.

To go up, I walked along a broad uphill walkway, and then I climbed one thousand three hundred and sixty-five stairs. I arrived at the top of the mountain with my tongue hanging out, because the stairs are steep and uneven; then the statue of Katpawi Buddha appeared to me.

It is the only Buddha with a hat on. It was carved by a monk who intended to placate his mother’s soul by this. The hat on Buddha’s head is a traditional Korean hat wore only by high class men in ancient times. It is said that if you make a wish (only one wish) to Katpawi Buddha, it will be fulfilled.

While I was facing the statue, the sound of a Buddhist song flooded my ears. The words were mountain is mountain – water is water.

Then, I sat down to contemplate Katpawi Buddha. I felt as if he was opening my eyes to see reality as it is, not as I want it to be. Yes, mountain is mountain – water is water, I thought. How many times we mistake mountain for water and vice versa! This happens because of our delusions which prevent us from seeing things as they are. We wrongly perceive things, people, and situations, so as a distort mirror reflects a distort world.

Ettore Grillo, author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
– Travels of the Mind
http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

 

BREXIT

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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BREXIT

I am Italian, and I would have preferred that Britain had not left Europe. Nevertheless, nothing is lost! I am convinced that eventually the UK will remain in Europe for two reasons: because the referendum was only consultative, and because the majority pro-Brexit was by no means overwhelming.

The referendum has left the country split in two halves: the young in favor of staying in Europe, while the older generations have voted for separation.

Obviously, in this delicate matter the opinion of young people carries greater weight, because to them belongs future!

As for me, I cannot imagine Europe without Britain. Centuries of history bind Britain to Europe; even Sicily, which is my island, has a special place in the history of England.

On the slopes of Mount Etna there is the castle of Admiral Horatio Nelson. It is worth visiting, because it is a European heritage which no referendum can wipe out.

Although I don’t do politics, I have my own ideas. For me workers are all equal. Individuals exist; not nations! Everybody has entitled to work and live anywhere in the world, because Earth belongs to everyone, regardless of the country where they were born.

Ettore Grillo author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
-Travels of the Mind
http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo