WHY DO WE CHANT in ZEN? 

Martine Taikai Palmiter, Sensei

When we first come to Zen practice, most of us are a bit surprised at Zen Chanting practice. It is not something we in the West do very much.

What is this practice about?  It is about our breath in harmony with others. It is about using our whole bodies to express a oneness of sound. It is an expression of our Zen Spirit.

As I harmonize my voice with others in the room, I am just a bit self-conscious. But also aware that Zen chanting is done all over the world daily. I am aware we are chanting with many others around the world who want peace. Oneness and also our singular voice merging with others in the room and even mingling with the bird sounds, the sounds of walls, the sound of wind and the entire universe. The sounds of peace.

It is a sound practice done together. Over the years, I have seen the beauty of chanting and using my body and voice to express my own being as an expression of gratitude--and of community.

Chanting each week also exposes us to deep teachings on a subconscious level. Words from chants may pop up for you as you are walking down the street or in conversation, or struggling with an issue. You suddenly understand a phrase of a Sutra or Chant and how they apply to your life. 

As we chant, we are paying attention to breath, sounds that are high and low, rising and falling off.

We find rhythmic patterns or sometimes dissonance and we merge our breath with that. We also need to surrender our minds and thoughts to this form of meditation--We may wonder What is this all about? Continuous practice with these thoughts, letting them go or letting them lose importance, letting your ego finally release them, is good practice.

Listen and feel the sounds of the chants throughout the body.

I remember being asked the first time to be the Chant Leader. I felt I did not have a good voice and certainly not a strong voice or loud voice, or one that carried any power. My Teacher urged me on and made me take this plunge. I found that Chanting is a form of giving and humility, of strength and courage.

Over time, I find that I attentively and confidently lift my Chant book in my two hands. And let my voice out in its best expression.