The guest receives the tea with thanks. If there are other guests present, the first guest does not assume the right to drink first, but excuses him or herself for drinking before the second guest. In Tea, there is space between things, both in the physical setting of the tea room and in the Ceremony itself. To a Buddhist, this is the way the universe itself is structured, and in tea this is the principle of harmony with the rhythms of nature. Sen further suggests that in order to attain the Zen ideal of emptiness of mind, we need a discipline or way to guide our practice.
Tea provides such a discipline.
In Tea, mind and body are disciplined by adding certain restraints, which, in a sense, leads to a greater freedom. It is by practicing Tea within this disciplined formality that host and guests obtain a true sense of tranquility.