Chanting

[clw_uk]

Does one have to chant in pali, can you chant in english?

Reason I ask is that I understand the chants more when I say them in english than in pali.

[appicchato]

Hi clw,

Not a problem at all...no, and yes...

[Cittasanto]

Does one have to chant in pali, can you chant in english?

Reason I ask is that I understand the chants more when I say them in english than in pali.

You can chant in English, and many do.
their is a chanting guide in english from the forest sangha I'll have a brouse around for it and post it when I find it.

[pink_trike]

Understanding is the key, not verbal rotation.

[David N. Snyder]

The Buddha did not believe in the notion of an ‘original,’ ‘pure’ or ‘sacred’ language as is clear from his exhortation that we could and should learn the Dhamma ‘each in your own language’ (Vin.II,139). He also stated that when teaching the Dhamma he would always adopt the language of his audience in order to be able to better communicate with them (D.II,109).

[clw_uk]

Thank you for you replies

The Buddha did not believe in the notion of an ‘original,’ ‘pure’ or ‘sacred’ language as is clear from his exhortation that we could and should learn the Dhamma ‘each in your own language’ (Vin.II,139). He also stated that when teaching the Dhamma he would always adopt the language of his audience in order to be able to better communicate with them (D.II,109).

Thank you for this, this was in line with how i felt about chanting in english to its uplifting to know that the buddha thought the same way, from now on i will chant in english

One last question though, when in a temple would it be frowned upon so to speak if i chanted in english then or wouldnt it matter?

[David N. Snyder]

One last question though, when in a temple would it be frowned upon so to speak if i chanted in english then or wouldnt it matter?

That depends, I suppose. If you are chanting by yourself, English should be okay; but if you are chanting with a group and they are all doing it in Pali, then you probably don't want to make a spectacle by being the odd-one-out.

[Cittasanto]

eventually found the chanting book I remembered above
http://www.forestsangha.org/Books/Chanting.pdf

it has indicators for tone in both english and pali chanting

[clw_uk]

Thank you for that Manapa thats just what ive been looking for

[mikenz66]

As others have indicated, chanting in English is fine. If you want to do chanting in English or Pali/English combinations you might listen to some of the chants at Abhayagiri http://www.abhayagiri.org/index.php/mai ... wnload/C20 which are rendered in sort of English Church Chanting style.

However, I see some advantages in practising chants in Pali (while following English translation):
1. You learn some of the Pali terms and how to pronounce them.
2. You can chant with non-English speakers. Doesn't matter if they are Thai or Chinese or whatever.
3. Sometimes the available English translations sound a little silly, which can be distracting.
4. Some chants sound incredibly inspiring in Pali because they have been composed to make use of the rhythm of the particular words.

Metta
Mike

[clw_uk]

Thanks for the link and the advice mike