Monk Chanting – Oral Tradition – Until the invention of writing, the transfer of knowledge was passed on in oral tradition!

During the monastery training, chanting (monk singing) is an important part in order to pass on the teachings according to oral tradition and to practice them correctly. Several hours a day are spent in the community memorizing the scriptures by having the monks and nuns read the texts aloud (chanting).

Oral Tradition

Until the invention of writing, the transfer of knowledge was passed on in oral tradition, from mouth to ear. We humans have been able to remember a sung story very well for thousands of years and reproduce it without errors. Singing together connects because the knowledge is passed on and thus each individual becomes part of a larger story.

Monasteries - Books - Monk Chanting

Making a book was very expensive and time-consuming, so only the monasteries could afford the expense of writing books. And so it was understandable according to the habit (mouth-ear) that the books and writings had been read aloud.

Visual Tradition

The fact that one could read books quietly (inwardly) for oneself had to be discovered first. With the advent of printing, books also became easier and cheaper to produce. But it's only been around 80 years that we've been reading exclusively visually.

Monk Chanting

To chant (recite Buddha, Jesus and God) is to practice righteous thought. Right thought will necessarily result in true pleasure. God means to protect oneself from the creation of sin (miss the mark) by awakening and watching the body and mind.

Thinking

Thinking is re-minding, which means, re-collecting the conducts of the precepts without forgetting and practicing diligently. Therefore you should know well, thought comes from the mind, not from the word.

By the net, the fish can be caught. By speaking, the meaning can be captured.

Without the reality of the essence of chanting, it is useless to recite only the empty name. What benefit can result? Remembering and recollecting are far different in name and meaning. Using only the mouth is chanting, doing with the mind is recollecting.

Therefore, reciting comes from the mind. It is gateway of awakening cultivation. On the other hand, chanting from memory belongs to the mouth, which belongs to the form of the sound. Attaching to the form of sound and looking for fortune is wrong.

Abbot Reding sings the Heart Sutra together with his monk brothers in Korean and Japanese.