| Chanting is significant in Zen practice. The | | | | get concentration. It helps you to settle your energy |
| practitioners chant major sutras prevalent in Zen | | | | and open your breath. Once you get sufficient |
| tradition. The most important among them are Heart | | | | practice, you can chant comfortably and voice |
| sutra, Lotus sutra and song of the Jewel Mirror | | | | deepens. Your chanting becomes more powerful at |
| awareness. The sutras contain deep meanings. You | | | | this stage. It is an exploration of reality and your own |
| can receive many benefits by chanting the Zen | | | | mind. You can start mobilizing your practice through |
| sutras. They help harmonizing your body and mind. | | | | chanting. |
| They also help in creating inner state of | | | | The texts and sutras chanted in Zen practice are |
| consciousness. | | | | extremely rich and include philosophical, ethical and |
| It is advisable to chant with your ears and not with | | | | spiritual content. A Zen practitioner can use chanting |
| the mouth. This is in fact one of the main instructions | | | | to connect with celestial beings. According to |
| in Zen practice. The Zen Gurus guide to listen with | | | | Mahayana Buddhism, Bodhisattvas are the celestial |
| the eye and see with the ear. It is important to blend | | | | beings. |
| your voice with voices of others in group chanting. | | | | Chanting in Zen practice helps you get relieved from |
| The voices of all practitioners seem all together. | | | | selfish ideas and to realize the power of oneness. It |
| Chanting in Zen practice needs to be made in a | | | | is important to recite chanting in a clear voice. |
| steady frequency- neither high and fast nor low and | | | | Shouting the sutras is strictly prohibited in Zen |
| slow. You can learn the correct method of chanting | | | | practice. Maintaining the harmony on group chanting is |
| from a senior Zen practitioner. | | | | particularly important. Mild and consistent chanting |
| Repeatedly chanting the Zen sutras can instill the | | | | benefits more. |
| ideas of Buddhism in your mind. You are able to | | | | The act of chanting requires sheer practice. You can |
| realize the emptiness of oneness, which is the | | | | master them by expressing the mantras in clear |
| ultimate goal of Zen practice. You can gain wisdom | | | | voice regularly. Hearing other people chanting the Zen |
| and compassion for Zen Buddhism through chanting. | | | | sutras can also benefit. In group chanting, it is wise to |
| Chanting is a part of daily life in Zen Buddhist | | | | be aware of how others are chanting. The sutras can |
| monasteries. The monks chant scriptures from heart | | | | fulfill all your spiritual needs. |
| sutra and short writings by lineage masters. Zen | | | | The purpose of chanting in Zen practice is to express |
| monasteries also recite dharani, which are long | | | | the inner state. It helps to strengthen and reinforce |
| mantras. They chant for many hours together, which | | | | your mind. You can become more aware about |
| is however not possible for a common man. Yet you | | | | yourself and can lead to real harmony. This in turn |
| can chant Zen sutras for few minutes in a group. | | | | helps to be in harmony within the group and within |
| Chanting in Zen practice offers a wonderful way to | | | | the atmosphere. |