John Seavitt

John Richard Seavitt, Ph.D., was first introduced to chado (茶道), the Way of Tea, through the Urasenke School in Kyoto during his time in Japan in 1991. Upon returning to the United States, he continued his studies with Tankokai (teaching chapters) affiliated with the Urasenke School in both Boston and Houston. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, John now resides in Bar Harbor, Maine, where he continues his practice of chado and classical martial arts. He has participated in numerous lectures and demonstrations across the United States, sharing the Way of Tea with others. He also returns to Japan regularly to deepen his studies.

Sen no Rikyū (1522–1591) envisioned chado as a path to Zen enlightenment. Tea gatherings, held in specially designed settings, bring together many traditional Japanese art forms, including poetry, ceramics, woodworking, metalwork, calligraphy, flower arrangement, architecture, and garden design. Sen Genshitsu XV, the current headmaster of Urasenke, promotes the practice of tea with the ideal of “spreading peace through a bowl of tea.” It is in this spirit that John continues his study of chado.