Chanting in Buddhism?

identityless

I think Elohim mentioned that during the time of the Buddha, he never actually taught his monks chanting. All learning were based on examples and experiencing it yourself. But after the Buddha left, many monks began to start chanting in order to preserve Buddha's teaching through oral history. When oral preservation of Buddhism transform in to written history, monks still chanted.

If this is true, that's quite interesting since I always associate Buddhism with chanting, where Buddha taught his fellow disciples how to chant. However, he did not and monks chanting today is only a form of oral preservation?

What's the significance of chanting in Buddhism? Does the chant convey any mystic force? For instance, some sects of Buddhism have chant to ward of evil spirits away. Did Buddha taught about this or is this culturally constructed?

Jason

identityless,

I may have been wrong in my assertion that the Buddha never taught 'chanting' at all. There is evidence in the Suttas that he may have in some form. However, my main point was that the style of 'chanting' which was taught in the Buddha's time was not the same as it is performed now. For one thing, one of the rules mentioned for Theravadin monks in the Vinyana is that they refrain from singing and dancing, the playing of musical instruments and the watching of entertainments. Many stricter monastics feel that the modern way of 'chanting' is too much like singing. They in turn have a slightly different method. That was the way I learned how to 'chant'.

While the discourses taught by the Buddha were memorized for recitation, they were probably not 'chanted' in such a way as they are today. Even so, they are very significant for many reasons. For a better perspective than mine, I would suggest reading The Practice of Chanting in Buddhism for starters.

I hope this is helpful.

Jason

ajani_mgo

If you consider mantras as chanting, yeah he did teach.

Anywa I believe that chanting in Buddhism is unlike other religions. I never chant, 'cause I think the Dhamma cannot be felt via chanting. In the Mahayana Schools, not my own "Ajani School", chanting is done to understand the scriptures and at times to gain "good" karma, or entry to Western Heaven.

kinlee

Chanting is another form of meditation.

enan

Ok, i have this question that been on my mind for some time now. What does the chanting literally mean? if it were to be translated into english. I claim myself a theravada buddhist because my mother is one and her mother, etc. I don't know if theravadin chanting is different from other sect of buddhism. So...what does "Sah Lah Hung Samma..." mean literally? I asked my mother this question and she said it's a way of being closer to lord buddha, but she would never answer my question.
(I'm sorry guys, I know i haven't been here often (in months) because it's senior year and i'm getting ready to graduate. I'm in high school and other things been on my mind. Well, you guys probably forgotten me)

Jason

enan,

Please read A Chanting Guide. This is the Thai Dhammayut Order of Theravada Buddhism's chanting guide. It has many of the chants that you have heard and/or chanted yourself.

I hope that you find this useful.



Jason

enan

:bowdown: Thank- you- very- much Elohim.

federica

Enan, I go through the members' list every now and then, and even for those who have submitted no posts at all, I just send a quiet good wish, and wonder what they're doing at this moment. So for my part, I have 'remembered' you.....


I don't chant much myself, other than to sing along with a wonderful, albeit very modern CD with the Blue Buddha Mantra as the lyric. This may seem disrespectful to some, or irreverent and ineffective to others. All I know is that when I chant/sing this mantra, along with the wonderfully harmonious, peaceful voices on the CD, it makes me feel good, and brings me Joy and Serenity. I don't view it as wrong, therefore.
Furthermore, I used this particular track as the underlying music to a Meditation, about the Blue Medicine Buddha, that I led my Qi Gong students through. At the end, I cannot describe the overwhelming feelings they experienced, variously. Two cried; one said, a week later, that the stiff shoulder pain she had been feeling for months, which had impeded her movement, was completely gone. Another told me that the feeling she had been engulfed by had lasted all week.....
I have come to the conclusion that whatever we think, say and do - or chant - with a true sincerity and Right Intention, is beneficial.

Good luck with your studies. let us know how you get on.

ShinMeiDokuJoh

here are some chantings etc in Pali using Thai script
and a romanized version how to pronounce the Pali
and an english translation for Morning Chanting and Evening Chanting with text
in romanized Pali and Thai Script

http://paliinthaiscript.blogspot.com/

Morning Prayer สวดมนต์ทำวัตรเช้า Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX2EbVYthow...feature=related


Morning Prayer สวดมนต์ทำวัตรเช้า Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzFgNH0e4ZI...feature=related


Evening Prayer สวดมนต์ทำวัตรเย็น Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uai22E82mtg


Evening Prayer สวดมนต์ทำวัตรเย็น Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS5QYeR3YiA


Pali metta chant with subtitles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJQutoAuKyw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qUh2NPvGs0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRhHrTikFFU

ShinMeiDokuJoh

Dear all,

as this blog was getting too long

Pali in Thai Script http://paliinthaiscript.blogspot.com/

I created an additional blog:

Pali Sutta, Gatha and Paritta in Thai Script http://sutta-sutra-pali-in-thai-script-lette.blogspot.com/


With best Wishes
ShinMeiDokuJoh


.