One Time, One Meeting: Learning to Live in Now

一期一会

Have you ever heard the Japanese idiom “Ichi-go, Ichi-e” (一期一会)? It means “one time, one meeting.”

I first encountered this idiom a few years ago and believed I was living by it until I traveled to Japan. Today, I would like to share the origins of this idiom and how a simple tea ceremony based on it shifted my perspective on life.

“Ichi-go, Ichi-e” is a four-character Japanese idiom that traces back to the 16th-century tea master, Sen no Rikyū. His teachings emphasized giving one’s full respect and undivided attention to every gathering, as no moment can ever be exactly repeated. Although the idiom originated in the world of the tea ceremony, it serves as a powerful reminder for our daily lives, highlighting the importance of presence, focus, and appreciation for the “now”. The philosophy encourages us to live fully in the present and treat every interaction as unique, even routine meetings or daily habits. As in reality, they are also one-of-a-kind occurrences.

All sound simple, doesn’t it? You might even think, “How could a phrase associated with a simple tea ceremony possibly change my lifestyle?” I thought the same until I attended a traditional tea ceremony in Japan.

Let me walk you through the experience. The moment the host entered the room with her tools, a profound silence settled over the space. Everyone was purely focused on her. She carefully purified each utensil: the bamboo tea scoop, the bowl used to prepare matcha tea, the whisk, and the matcha container. She placed a scoop of matcha into the bowl, tapped the scoop to the edge of the bowl and added the hot water. Then, she began to whisk the tea with rhythmic precision. Once the matcha was ready, she cleaned her tools and returned them to their exact places.

Tea Ceremony utensils

When she served the tea, the goal was not merely to drink, but to appreciate: the rich aroma, the vibrant green color, and the craftsmanship of the bowl.

First, she gave the bowl to the closest guest. And one by one, each guest shared this appreciation. No one spoke, we simply inhabited the moment.

Matcha in a bowl with whisker

After the ceremony, I felt an unfamiliar sensation. Soon, I realized it was a sense of calm. My nervous system was relaxed. I was, finally, truly present. This emptiness brought to my mind Mu (無), a Zen concept intertwined with “Ichi-go, Ichi-e”, which encourages us to experience the world directly, free from labels or judgments, by embodying emptiness. But that, as they say, is a conversation for another day.

Today, we live as if we are competing with time, rushing toward a destination we never quite reach. We multitask, “doomscroll,” and obsess over productivity, live in our minds and procrastinate, fearing that stopping to sit in silence is a waste of time. But it is not. Silence refreshes the mind and the soul. It settles the body and sparks creativity. Living in the present allows us to find happiness in small things and feel gratitude for every person we meet, most importantly, for ourselves.

The ceremony wasn’t a performance of silence or a study of ritual. It was a lesson in arrival. The real work was simply being there. In that stillness, I found that even the smallest bowl can hold the weight of a transformative moment.

Remember the spirit of “Ichi-go, Ichi-e”, “one time, one meeting”. Live in the now, cherish every moment of your day, and thank you for sharing this one with me.