A Buddhist Mantra.

Originally Posted by Gem

Yea, you'll be hard pressed to find mantra Buddhism unless you go pretty far out into the fringe sects.

Just google Medicine buddha and see what comes up.
One Mantra, sung by many a Mahayana Buddhist and laypeople. often on a daily basis to alleviate this world of illness. If that's not mantra Buddhism on a large scale I don't know what is.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Eelco

Just google Medicine buddha and see what comes up.
One Mantra, sung by many a Mahayana Buddhist and laypeople. often on a daily basis to alleviate this world of illness. If that's not mantra Buddhism on a large scale I don't know what is.

It's amazing how one word 'Mantra' can cause so much Nit Picking, thanks for bringing up Medicine Buddha

[Gem]

Originally Posted by Eelco

Just google Medicine buddha and see what comes up.

Yea, you'll find the Tibetans do all sorts of things like conjure deities and chant mantras and so on, but it's irrelevant to universal dhamma. It follows that being a Buddhist is irrelevant as well. It makes no difference either way. Personally I consider mantras, statues, robes, shaven heads and all the noisy bells and stuff to be a bit ridiculous and have no interest , which is just me, but others think it means something and get involved with all that. I'm just saying it doesn't matter because nature's way is the same for everyone, and that's what makes it "dhamma".

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

Personally I consider mantras, statues, robes, shaven heads and all the noisy bells and stuff to be a bit ridiculous and have no interest

Does that include Chanting ?
SN Goenka’s is known for His ' Legendary Chants.' SN Goenka chanted phrases in an ancient Indian language called Poly, in order to create good vibrations for the meditators. At the end of the meditation, Meditators chanted 'Sadu' three times, meaning 'I Agree'
It looks like Chanting is also Universal

[sky]

Vipassana Metta Chant (aka Sabka Mangal Hoye Re)
Which means... May Goodness Happen for All...
Sounds good to me

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

To whom it may concern:-

Just to say that the Nembutsu is in no way a mantra. Put simply, it is simply "thank you".

Its origins are lost back in time. Maybe from the Hindu traditions, pre-Buddhist.......maybe as the Mahayana traditions emerged out of Gotama's original teachings (if they ever were "original") Then again, maybe it came over from Palestine?

Then I think of Meister Eckhart, who said that if our only prayer was "thank you" it would be enough. I suspect he nicked this from us Pure Landers, but I'm not able to substantiate this.

Anyway, namu-amida-butsu

[Gem]

They have what's called chanting, which is like reciting suttas off by heart, as different to mantra, which is repeating a word, phrase or sound repetitively. Personally I don't get involved in chanting, mantras, saying saddhu or anything like that. Some people do, but it makes no difference. I did 'take refuge' and the sila vows when I understood meditation requires a high degree of morality and surrender to the way of nature.

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Originally Posted by Gem

They have what's called chanting, which is like reciting suttas off by heart, as different to mantra, which is repeating a word, phrase or sound repetitively. Personally I don't get involved in chanting, mantras, saying saddhu or anything like that. Some people do, but it makes no difference. I did 'take refuge' and the sila vows when I understood meditation requires a high degree of morality and surrender to the way of nature.

Who are "they"?

(The nembutsu is neither mantra nor chant)

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Just to clarify, I do not see mantras or chanting as "ridiculous". Just not particularly my thing, being totally secular.

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Further clarification.....

There were disputes about how many "nembutsus" were required for true faith (shinjin) Shinran thought the question ridiculous.

Saichi the cobbler had it right....

"O Saichi, do, you recite the Nembutsu only when you think of it? What do you do when you do not think of it?" "Yes, well, when I do not think of it, there is the 'Namu-amida-butsu' just the same........"

(I'm glad I got that apprenticeship when I did..... )