“Mind is unlimited. Chanting, when
performed egolessly, has the power to penetrate visible and
invisible worlds.”
-Philip Kapleau Roshi
“By chanting in Asian tones, we retain a sense of
our roots. The quality of these ancient sounds puts the student
into the timeless. Meaning is set aside and we are chanting
with all the Buddhas.”
-Robert Aitken Roshi
Chanting
Chanting is an important part of practice at the Lotus in the
Flame Temple and the Zen tradition as a whole. A variety of
verses, sutras (Buddhist scriptures), and treatises written
by ancestral teachers are chanted or recited, using the ancient
languages of Pali and Sino-Japanese, and modern English. Chanting
is basically another form of zazen. To be effective, chanting
must be clear, wholehearted and concentrated. Conscious awareness
of the meaning of the words is not as important as the mind
state created by chanting. By absorbing ourselves deeply in
the ancient sounds, we enter into the timeless. When we absorb
ourselves completely in the English translations, the meaning
permeates our mind on a subconscious level. In either case,
the aim of chanting is absorption to the point of self-forgetfulness.
Chanting is also a way of generating spiritual merit, which
can then be dedicated to the welfare of others. Some dedications
are for the general welfare of all beings, while others are
for specific persons, ancestral teachers, Buddhas, or Bodhisattvas.
Special dedications can be made for friends and family members
who are suffering from major illness or injury, and for those
who have passed away.
Chanting is lead by the tanto during morning and evening sittings,
and by the ino (lead chanter) during Zen talks, Thursday evening
chanting services, and ceremonies. The ino or tanto alone intones
the introductions to each chant, and the main part of the dedications.
The assembly joins in, selecting a note in unison or harmony
with the Ino as indicated by the instructions on the left hand
column adjacent to the chanting text.
When using the sutra book, hold the book using a modified gassho
while keeping the book at chin height. Don’t hold it in
your lap, as you will not be able to project your voice as effectively.
Never place the sutra book on the floor, rather, place it on
your mat when it is not in use.
The preferred posture for chanting is seiza, the traditional
Japanese posture, i.e., kneeling with back straight and buttocks
resting on the heels. The knees should be two fist-widths apart
to create stability. It is important to keep the body relaxed
and especially not to tense the shoulders, chest or throat.
The energy for chanting comes from the hara (lower
abdomen) with the sound resonating in the chest and head cavities.
Do not sway or rock during the chanting but maintain an erect
posture. Unless you are holding a chant book, the hands are
either in the zazen mudra, or in gassho, as appropriate to the
chant.
Ceremonies
Although Zen Buddhism is a path of self-realization based
upon self-inquiry or introspection (zazen), as opposed to a
path of emotional mysticism and devotion, it does use devotional
practice as an adjunct to zazen to help in the attrition of
ego and the realization of reverence and compassion. Every time
we light incense, make offerings at the altar, bow, prostrate,
and chant earnestly and wholeheartedly, we actualize the mind
of reverence and compassion. Insight or wisdom without compassion
is a cold thing, just as compassion without wisdom can be weak
and sentimental.
—Danan Henry Roshi
Without a sense of the sacred we are just
humanists going through certain intellectual and emotional exercises.
—Robert Aitken Roshi
A monk asked Joshu, “What is the Buddha?” Joshu
answered, “The one in the shrine.” The monk said,
“But that's only a clay figure. What is Buddha?”
Joshu whispered, “The one in the shrine.”
A variety of ceremonies are conducted throughout the year,
as indicated on the calendar.
