Prayer/Chanting

[ShanYin]

I am reading a book called "The Power Of Meditation"

It has inspired me to start prayer or chanting. It says it should be done as often as one would brush ones teeth.

There are many chants in the bottom of this page:

http://arrowriver.ca/dhamma.html

Can anyone tell me something about chanting and praying in the Theravada tradition? Just assume I don't know anything about "which is virtually true".

[Mkoll]

Hi ShenYin,

There's chanting in the monasteries I've seen. There isn't any praying in the Judeo-Christian sense of the word.

A lot of meditators may start and/or end their meditation with some chanting such as paying homage to the Buddha, taking refuge, reaffirming the precepts, etc.

[waterchan]

It says it should be done as often as one would brush ones teeth.

Praying wasn't taught by the Buddha. There's nothing in the cosmos worth praying to. Theravada is based on the Pali suttas and you will not find prayer in the Buddha's teachings recorded in the suttas.

Chanting was occasionally taught by the Buddha, but it's not a core teaching in any sense, and is only of benefit when the words are understood. Usually the chanting done in monasteries is an expression of gratitude and a reaffirmation of the practices undertaken.

99% of the teachings are about practice and training the mind.

[tiltbillings]

http://ratanagiri.org.uk/talks/ajahn-mu ... -practice/

[tiltbillings]

http://nanda.online-dhamma.net/lib/auth ... ish/12.htm

[cooran]

http://nanda.online-dhamma.net/lib/auth ... ish/12.htm

Thanks, Tilt. Interesting article.

With metta,
Chris

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

In the Theravāda, we have this prayer:

Imina puññakammena — mā me bāla-samāgamo,
sataṃ samāgamo hotu — yava nibbāna-pattiya.

By virtue of this wholesome act
Never may I live with fools
But with the wise have company
Until nibbāna’s attained.

[ShanYin]

Can chanting be done in english? I could study the meaning of the chant's words.

I want to do this chant because it is a healing chant.

http://www.arrowriver.ca/chant/bojjhang.txt

[Sam Vara]

It says it should be done as often as one would brush ones teeth.

Once a year, whether they need it or not.