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Is there any value in repetitive chanting?
lobster
Crusty Veteran
@Tony1853 said:
Is there any value in repetitive chanting? I found a YouTube clip where the Vendana ("namo tassa...") is repeated 108 times. Ive used it a few times focusing on the spoken words...what do you guys think?
Yes there is value. Most certainly.
Some find chanting the easiest form of 'right concentration'. Formal chanting whilst engaged in extraneous focus elsewhere, is just going through the motions ...
Here is one of my pages on chanting.
http://yinyana.tumblr.com/day/2013/08/03
Personally prefer OM MANI PEME HUM HRIH at the moment. Just finished a meditation session with some chanting at the end ...
Others might attest to their personal usage as a valued resource/practice?
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I have found chanting can be useful to develop concentration, but also to develop a particular quality of mind.
Yes, it can drown out the constant monkey chatter
Have also had this same experience. Have found chanting most useful also. Sometimes if you chant for an extended time and then stop but continue the meditation - the resulting silence and stillness is profound
I find that sometimes returning to the breath doesnt always keep stray thoughts from capturing my attention. That's when I go to a purposeful mantra.
It's like my big gun.
Sounds good. How about laying a couple of your favorites on us?
I could use 'em. Thanks.
They are usually specific to my frame of mind at the time and I don't use any time honoured mantras. Actually they may sound kind of silly but they usually do the job for me.
For example yesterday morning my mantra was "Even the leaves are Buddhas" but it could be anything. "All beings deserve peace" is another one. Anything that doesn't leave questions to be tossed about and that is easy to return to works fine for me.
Thats brilliant David. I really like those mantras you have created. How is life in Canada?
That is a GREAT idea, @David! (I was expecting traditional ones, but this is right up my alley.)
I find that chanting mantras, plus the added rhythmical motion of counting mala beads for those of us who do, has an increasingly hypnotic effect that eases our passing into a meditative state.
An added bonus is the fact that the breathing gets automatically rhythmical too.
I feel our body becomes a vessel to an energy that ripples on from beyond us to the universe and beyond.
Hard to put into words...?
Life in Canada isn't bad. May be better once we get palm trees.
I have never counted the beads while chanting but I've always thought that I'll check it out one day. I'm hoping it isn't like counting sheep to fall asleep.
I too have used and been taught something simiar to this @David
Usually a single word, 'peace' or 'love'. I feel your poetic short phrases are potentially more skilful but must admit I tend to scripture phrases such as 'Cod is Greater' or 'Lord Jesus Christ have Mercy on me a sceener'.
The Buddha theming is also more appropriate here ... maybe ...
... nope ... think @David's are much better
Well, those are like profile mantras.
I have used "They are the Buddha, you are the Buddha, we are the Buddha, Boo Dah!"