Chanting

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Chanting or Puja is a melodious way of reading as one reflects upon the Buddha's teachings. Besides aiding memorization, chanting in a soothing tune has a calming effect on both the reciter and the hearer.

Chanting should be done solemnly with mindfulness and energy. Like meditation, chanting helps one to concentrate and develop a peaceful state of Mind.

Words of the Buddha may also be recited in mindfulness of the Triple Gem in times of fear or disturbance, whether arising from external source or from oneself, so that such disturbances can be overcome.

This is possible as the Triple Gem is free from all kinds of defilements and hindrances such as craving, aversion and ignorance. Chanting can be done in any language. Popular languages include Pali, Sanskrit (languages used during the Buddha's time), Chinese, Tibetan, Thai, English, etc.

Lay Buddhists often chant once in the morning and once in the evening. The purpose of Morning Puja is to remind oneself to be mindful of the chanted teachings throughout the day. The purpose of the Evening Puja is to reflect whether one had upheld during the day what one had resolved to in the morning.

Though the choice of what is chanted varies from tradition to tradition, some of the general contents include: Going for Refuge, the Five Precepts, Praise to the Triple Gem, Sutras, Mantras, Homage to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Confession of Faults, Rejoicing in Merit and Sharing of Merits.

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