Shared by Kaz
Omotenashi has been part of Japanese culture for a long time. Omote means front, nashi means nothing. Omotenashi means from the bottom of the heart, sincere. Omotenashi is an important concept from the tea ceremony which is closely related to zen. The host who is serving tea and the guest are treating each other sincerely.
There are a couple of zen phrases closely related to Omotenashi.
Ichigo ichie (一期一会）is a famous zen phrase, literary means “one time, one meeting”. Often this phrase is translated to “Once in a lifetime”. Each moment is unrepeatable and special in its own right. Appreciate this moment and focus on this special moment.
Mukudoku (無功徳）Don’t expect any returns or rewards for doing something.
We can prepare, sit and talk at our zendo with Omotenashi.
Deepak shared Atithi Devo Bhava, a similar concept in Indian Hindu-Buddhist philosophy.
Hakone Zendo 