If you were not living under the rock all these years of your life I am sure you’d have heard about ‘Chanting’. Well in case you were here is a brief explanation:
Chanting is repeating a sound or a phrase, usually called ‘mantra’ (with last ‘a’ silent) in eastern traditions. The mantra is repeated again and again (often verbally and sometimes in mind).
Personal Experience with Chanting
Chanting has proved to me miraculous in my own life. Yes I am using the word ‘miracle’ here. I’ve started out from chanting ‘Aum’ or ‘Om‘ then switched to ‘Gayatri Mantra’ and then tried many others and nowadays I am chanting ‘Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo’ – as practiced in Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism (based on The Lotus Sutra). And it’s been really effective. More on all these some other day but let’s explore chanting for now.
Who Can Chant?
Anyone can practice chanting because overall it’s a non-religious practice just like meditation. Teens, Parents of 3, Old, Wrinkled, Young, Shabby, Tired, Confused anyone!
Benefits of Chanting
The benefits of chanting are pretty much same as meditation but to be specific:
- Chanting helps you improve your control over mind.
- Clarity of thoughts
- Spiritual awareness increases – you will begin to notice good things that you never did.
- Curiosity increases
- Patience and peace of mind increases
Plus there are many more benefits depending on the mantra/affirmation you are using.
Mantras for Chanting
You can pick up any mantra on the fly or even use an affirmation but it works really good if you use one of the tried and tested mantras which are really powerful. I’ve listed some of the easiest one here:
- Om Mani Padme Hum (Popular Buddhist Chant)
- Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism – The Lotus Sutra)
- Aum / Om (Universal Sound)
- Shri Hari (Beautiful God)
- Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare
- Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
You can choose anyone, or maybe use your affirmation.
How to Chant
There are many ways to chant. Some are specific to traditions, mantras used etc. Here I am going to share my own.
- So let’s be seated in your meditation corner, or anywhere you won’t be disturbed.
- Set your alarm clock to 5-10 min if you are just beginning or longer if you are already practicing meditation since quiet a time.
- Take 2-3 deep breathes and began chanting the mantra.
- To those who are new to meditation, this might feel odd. Chanting something you don’t even know the meaning of, but have patience you get used to it. Remember people even chant in public and groups – practice.
- Decide the pace that suits you usually it pace is between 1-5 beats/syllable per second. But again, do what suits you.
- When alarm clock rings, don’t just close it off. Chant the mantra 3 more times only elongate the time period for each repetition this time.
- Take 2 deep breathes and that’s all.
Chanting During Meditation
If you would like to chant in meditation try this:
- When you have reached the state of meditation, just hmm the mantra in mind.
- It will be like a ripple in calm water and reflect again and again like echo.
- Enjoy the reverbs and echo, witness the power of your mind.
- Continue/Conclude the Meditation as you normally do.
How it Works
There is much more to power of Chanting than science or language can explain. Though I will try:
Mantras usually produce sound/vibration that transforms the body-mind chemistry. It works like the pill you take and then it get’s in blood stream and reaches every part of body though here there is no pill and chemicals and vibration are that of your own.
Chanting, being monotonous, make the conscious mind transcend to less dominant state and your natural being comes up and you communicate to and through your sub-conscious mind. And rhythm set’s a tone for discipline.
Let’s Discuss Further
Before we discuss anything, I’ve just added a video of Hart Sutra Chanting, listen to it and see for yourself how enchanting can chanting be.
So go ahead comment what do you think about chanting, do you have something to share? Also let me know if you are already chanting – share your experience and mantra (if possible). And after you practice it, do let me know how you feel. So let’s discuss, all questions are welcome. I will try to answer them all, – let’s interact people!
