Nembutsu chanting demo (mp3)

[Susthama]

Here is a list of the chants (first three) along with a demo that we will be chanting on Saturday 31 October

Nembutsu with mokujo (to the beat of a wooden fish)
Amitabha (chant that we do in the evenings)
Namo Amida Bu - (chant that we do to prostrations)

See next discussion post for the last 3 chants

[Susthama]

Namo Omito Fo (chant that we do in the morning service)
Namo Amida Buddha (a new chant)
Om Amitabha Hum (chant that we do as the sun goes down)

To read more about Pureland Taize' please go to Massimo's thread.

[Ray K]

The new chant is beautiful! Thank you for posting these audio files.

[Katrien Sercu]

Thank you so much Susthama. Dankwart makes loudspeakers here on computer and now i can listen on a relaxed way to your chanting. It comes deep in my heart and makes me joyful. With that i go into life. Namo Amida Bu.

[Susthama]

Thank you Ray and Katrien - am glad that you enjoyed them.

I'll write the words out (or instructions that go with the nembutsu chant) in full so that everyone has them.

1. Nembutsu chant

During the Bodhi retreat we keep the Nembutsu chant going continuously which means we have two groups of chanters. In order to keep things simple, the gruops are divided into male and female teams - so the men chant together starting and then the women chant together.

At the start of the continuous nembutsu there are four beats on the Mokujo (wooden fish). The men start chanting Namo Amida Bu four times and then the women start chanting when the men are chanting the fourth line of Namo Amida Bu. So both men and women are chanting one line of Namo Amida Bu together and then the men pause (to breathe) and then after the women have chanted two lines of Namo Amida Bu the men join them again.

Start
Namo Amida Bu - men
Namo Amida Bu - men
Namo Amida Bu - men
Namo Amida Bu - both men and women
Namo Amida Bu - women
Namo Amida Bu - women
Namo Amida Bu - both men and women
Namo Amida Bu - men
Namo Amida Bu - men
Namo Amida Bu - both men and women
Namo Amida Bu - women
Namo Amida Bu - women
Namo Amida Bu - both men and women
continuously for many hours. . .

If this is too confusing then don't worry about it and just chant along as often as possible - while taking time to breathe.

[Freya M]

Thanks for this Susthama - what a wonderful resource to have all these chants together. I'm not very expert with my mp3 but I'll attempt to put them on there as I enjoy just listening or chanting along - makes me feel I am with you all, even when not! Namo Amida Bu.

[Susthama]

Hi Freya,

Good to hear - we had a good 12 hour session yesterday at Amitayus and the best thing about chanting is that it inevitably sounds better when there is more than one person.

Hope to see you soon,
Namo Amida Bu

[Susthama]

Photo taken of the core group that did the 12 hours continuous nembutsu and raised around £300 for Acorns Children Hospice.