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Is chanting meditation?
I have been reading (dangerous I know) many books and online articles on Buddhism & meditation.
In some of the stuff I read it implies that chanting is not actual meditation but a mind calming precursor to actual mediation, or that it serves a different purpose altogether.
I have been chanting Om Mani Padme Hum as my meditation, since I have such a hard time with breath meditation.
Am I actually meditating, or just taking the easy road (since I have no trouble with the chanting like I do with breath) and avoiding the discipline required to do zazen like I desire.
I really like the chanting and was using it as a stepping stone to zazen, but if I am just fooling myself that this will actually help or prepare me for zazen I would like to know.
I guess I am asking if I can get the same results from chanting meditation (if it is meditation) as from zazen.
I hope this makes sense.
In some of the stuff I read it implies that chanting is not actual meditation but a mind calming precursor to actual mediation, or that it serves a different purpose altogether.
I have been chanting Om Mani Padme Hum as my meditation, since I have such a hard time with breath meditation.
Am I actually meditating, or just taking the easy road (since I have no trouble with the chanting like I do with breath) and avoiding the discipline required to do zazen like I desire.
I really like the chanting and was using it as a stepping stone to zazen, but if I am just fooling myself that this will actually help or prepare me for zazen I would like to know.
I guess I am asking if I can get the same results from chanting meditation (if it is meditation) as from zazen.
I hope this makes sense.
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Comments
However chanting is not the same as zazen.
It is a type of meditation but it's a complimentary practice, not a replacement.
What is the difficulty?
Easy road.
The way to "prepare" for zazen is to do zazen.
No.
The problem I have with breath meditation is that instead of focusing on it I end up controlling it then become self conscious of how I am breathing and try to control it by not controlling it and it makes it worse.
I have seen posts here about others with this issue and will seek out those posts and apply any advice given.
*waves goodbye to the easy road
If focussing on the breath is a problem, why not - as a interim measure - try the "buddho" method, and see how it goes. But, I am not too sure whether this method is suitable if your ultimate intention is zazen. See quote below for a very brief description of "buddho" meditation:
If this interests you, read the full text on Buddho (by Phra Ajaan Thate Desaransi translated from the Thai by Thanissaro Bhikkhu).
Wish you well in your meditation practice.
Sure, and so is pooping, and eating breakfast, and walking your dog, and sleeping.
There is no meditation and no distraction, the key point is to know your awareness despite any and all actions and conditions. Whether you are on the cushion or running a marathon.
Try this excellent meditation series by Ajahn Jayasaro. This one is the introduction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd7a9Ur2x0o
Kind regards,
Dazzle
.
Thanks for the link Dazzle, I have watched it a few times and it is very helpful.
:bigclap:
The sacred mantra of Avalokitesvara is my main mantra practice!
I don't see anything wrong with this. My take on zazen is that it isn't as difficult as people make it seem. All practice is valuable; it's about finding what works for you. Maybe you start with mantra recitation, try working in some simple sitting meditation, and go from there.
It's your journey, the path is the goal
I read this and looked for links and found a Soham website that describes what I think is the method referenced in the first sentence.
While I understand the best way to practice for zazen is to do zazen, I am thinking that this might help me initially until I become comfortable with my breath.
Is the Soham method what is being talked about?
I found something that said Om Mani Padme Hum is too long to use to correspond with in & out breath.
I am sorry for constantly revisiting this issue, but it is gnawing at my monkey mind
Thanks for all the previous replies
Mantra recitation is a form of meditation, if done correctly it contains nearly all other practices.
I understand why you feel confused, these days we're flooded with information, but most of it is untested regurgitation. This I'm sure many on this forum would agree with.
In short, my zen monkey friend, you can use any of the 6 sense bases to develop stillness naturally. Every type of training is a pre-cursor to insight meditation. You first observe an object and not too hard or too soft let thought rest in an almost peripheral awareness as the primary gentle focus stays with whatever your chosen object of attention is. This is to purify the mind or clean your microscope for clearer viewing.
The next stage goes in to observing clearly the nature of what is! This is where having overcome a wandering mind and now being clear of pre-conception, you can meet life anew, ready to know what it really is directly.
So as you can see, samadhi states, and higher levels of stillness are only meant for developing realisation, they aren't going to free you from self perpetuated suffering because the state is still caught in causes and conditions. You use the clear mind developed from mantra; breathing, hearing, looking, etc to observe directly.
This is where books start to become what it should be, an invitation to investigation : ))))
Hope that helps : )))) Best of luck on your continuing development.
Hi Zenmonkey, chanting will lead to authentic meditation... it is a very solid path. Many masters will recommend chanting to a sufficient degree before meditation. But when chanting, maintain mindfulness. Don't let your mind run around without control. Mindfulness itself is a quality that even most people who practise meditation solely are unable to achieve. You can do it with your recitation of the mani mantra...
You can chant all the time even when travelling to work etc... there have been cases of people receiving realisations through chanting as chanting brings blessings of the Buddhas.
The mani mantra is truly a wish-fulfilling gem, it creates vast merit, opens your heart, and purifies bad karma. Rejoice that you are doing this wonderful practice.
Remember to have (1) a proper Bodhichitta motivation and (2) dedicate your merits properly. This two points together with (3) mindfulness during your practice, make the 3 excellences with which one can obtain Buddhahood. Anything less than these 3 factors will be insufficient, anything more than these 3 is not necessary.
This thread has some teachings on the mani mantra
http://newbuddhist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7202
sitting, chanting, visualization, ritual and others are just means or method to unlock this door of ours in Buddha Dharma
Thank you for your reply & encouragement. I do occasionally chant mentally when in a place with others present (gym, work) and out loud when in my car driving somewhere (chanting along with a youtube video on my ipod).
I like doing this but it feels "sacrilegious" if you take my meaning. It feels hollow since I am actually doing something else (driving, rowing, treadmill etc) instead of focusing on the mantra, so I stopped doing it in those situations.
I don't quite understand what you mean in the second part of the quote above (I don't really understand merits, even with some internet research) but I feel it may have something to do with what I mentioned above.
If you or someone could expand on / explain exactly what you mean in the first two of the three points you made I would appreciate it.
Thank you so much to all who have replied.