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Chanting

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:15 pm
by Ceisiwr
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.

Re: Chanting

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:14 am
by appicchato
Hi clw,

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

Re: Chanting

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:14 am
by Cittasanto
clw_uk wrote: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.

Re: Chanting

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:24 am
by pink_trike
Understanding is the key, not verbal rotation.

Re: Chanting

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 8:48 pm
by DNS
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).

Re: Chanting

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 9:50 pm
by Ceisiwr
Thank you for you replies :smile:

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 :smile:

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?

:namaste:

Re: Chanting

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:43 pm
by DNS
clw_uk wrote: 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.

Re: Chanting

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 12:29 am
by Cittasanto
eventually found the chanting book I remembered above
http://www.forestsangha.org/Books/Chanting.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

it has indicators for tone in both english and pali chanting

Re: Chanting

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 12:36 am
by Ceisiwr
Thank you for that Manapa thats just what ive been looking for :thumbsup:

:namaste:

Re: Chanting

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 12:56 am
by 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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; 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

Re: Chanting

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 12:58 am
by Ceisiwr
Thanks for the link and the advice mike :smile:

:namaste: