~~OM~~

Chanting and Understanding

1. For those of us who know only Western languages, we still feel moved when we hear some chants of Sanskrit mantras, chants by Tibetan Buddhists, etc. Is the effect of hearing the Chandi recitation differ for those who understand the language and those who do not? If there is a difference, is it all beneficial in either case?

   It is all beneficial, but the more we understand, the deeper is the feeling.

2. At one point I heard you say that it's not necessary to understand the Sanskrit that we are chanting. That it is helpful but not necessary. We will get benefit because of the power (shakti) of the Sanskrit language. Could you explain?

   Sanskrit is special because the vibrations of the sounds have a direct correspondence to the meanings. So even if we don't know the intellectual dictionary meanings of the words, we will be able to intuit the understanding at least in the general sense. As we recite more frequently, we recognize more words, and ever greater depths of meaning become apparent to us. So the energies of the mantras make the meanings apparent.

Struggles in Chanting

3. I find that I am not enjoying the chanting very much. It seems to be a struggle. My voice gets raspy, and my back cramps up, esp. around anahata, and there is the feeling of frustration that accompanies that, the desire to just get it over with. My question is, is there anything I can do to help this process along?

   What you are experiencing is nothing that every other sadhu has not encountered. We all go through it. It is the Great Ego attacking us, sending us thoughts, memories, frustrations. It is the reality of the Chandi.

Chanting and Pranayam

4. When chanting a scripture with pranayam should the inhalation time and exhalation time be equal? If so, what is the recommended way to monitor/gauge this? Should I use a stopwatch or timer?

   No. Neither should they be equal nor should you use any external tool to monitor the length of the breath.

   What I recommend during chanting is to make the audible recitation equal for every breath. That means, if you are chanting one full verse for each exhalation, then maintain consistency. Your inhalation will automatically be the same each time.

5. At times while chanting, I find my breath expanding over time during that one recitation, and wanting to go beyond the original rhythm with which I started. For example, I may begin 3 verses to the breath, then experience a tendency in my breath to chant more; however, I stay with the 3 verses since that is how I started. Should we stick to one rhythm for each recitation, once we've begun? Can we add more verses to the breath, and continue in that fashion? If we must stay with one rhythm throughout, what is the reason for this?

   There are reasons for both expanding the length of the practice, the number of verses per breath, and also for maintaining consistency. We want to do both. When you are able to increase, then do so. But try to maintain that new rhythm throughout the balance. What we want to avoid is being erratic. Consistency is the key.

6. If I were to breathe or stop at a certain word in a verse, it may change the intonation or the meaning of the word? How must I solve this problem? Should I breathe according to the word spacing?

   Anushtup chanda has 32 syllables to the verse. You may breathe at the quarter, the half, or at the end of the full verse. Sometimes you can even do two verses in one breath. This will automatically make the recitation in accordance with the grammar and proper intonation.

Tone used in Chanting

7. When we chant, is it more effective to do it in a monotone voice? Does it make a difference?

   When we sing, we take more breaths. When we chant, we take in a deeper inhalation and pronounce the mantra(s) on the exhalation. The tone of our chanting, whether or not it is musical, determines the speed of the pronunciation. So when we want to recite more verses to the breath, monotone is best. When we want to be entertaining or explaining or both, then musical tones are best.

8. How important is it to get the intonations perfect when each teacher teaches it slightly different? I've been told Vedic chants must be perfect otherwise other malefic influences will be attracted when chanted incorrectly. How does one know the way they are taught is the way it was intended?

   First, that you do it, is more important than how you do it.

   The most important ingredient is your intention. The proscription against mispronunciation is for professionals who want to alter other people's karma because of their prayers. For students who want to purify themselves and reach to Godliness, the intention and effort is more valuable than the perfection of the technical presentation.

   Consider our own experiences. When our children brought home a drawing they made in kindergarten, didn't we praise them and place the picture on the refrigerator? If we could be so encouraging with our children, how much more the Divine Mother will do for us.

   There are 22 major languages of India, with 247 dialects officially recognized. The pronunciation of Sanskrit is different in every region, and every region does it differently. Try to come as close as you possibly can to what your gurus teach, and realize that wherever you go someone will say you are not correct. But their judgment does not matter. You will get your certificate from Her.

Pronouncing Phat

9. How do you pronounce phaT, as in astrAya phaT? Is it with an f sound as in fat or with a p sound as in pot?

   F or PH as in Philosophy.

Sanskrit Words and their Meanings

10. I understand that there are many layers to any Sanskrit word and that the same word can mean something slightly different, depending on the context. Is that correct?

    There are actually different kinds of meanings:

    • dictionary meaning: vach arth
    • meaning according to an attitude of awareness: bhava arth
    • meaning according to your guru: guru arth
    • meaning according to your school of philosophy: darshan shashtra arth
    • meaning according to your tribe of sadhus: sampradayi arth
    • meaning according to your own realization: svadaya arth
    • hidden meaning: gupta arth

11. Don't all languages have sounds that correspond to the meanings? I don't understand how Sanskrit is special and unique? I feel it, but can't articulate it.

    Sanskrit words are comprised of bijas, seed sounds, the sounds of which actually communicate the closet approximation possible to the vibration of the thing in itself. Therefore, the correspondence between Sanskrit words and objects is much closer than any other language.

What is a good quality chant?

12. What constitutes one good quality Grade A+ chant?

    If you are really there 100%!

Quality versus number of recitations

13. I know that both quality of the repetition and the number of repetitions is important but which is more important? Would it be more beneficial to chant one, slow, repetition with serious concentration as opposed to lets say 11 repetitions faster without the same quality of concentration?

    Remember the king who went to the rishi's son and said, "As a king I committed many kinds of crimes against humanity: leading my armies into war, we killed, plundered, pillaged, and destroyed our enemies. What can I do to be free from all of that sin?

    The rishi's son said, "Go home and say the name of Ram two times, and you will be free from all sin."

    The king was delighted and went home.

    When the rishi returned to the ashram that night, he asked his son if there were any visitors.

    "Yes, Father," replied the young boy, "a king came wanting to know what he could do to be free from all of the sins he had committed."

    "What did you tell him?" asked the father.

    "I told him to go home and say the name of Ram two times, and that will free him from all sin."

    The father was angry. "You could have told him to say it once!"

Chanting versus Singing

14. I have be told by many far wiser than I that one should not sing when chanting, yet when I look at a scripture like the Lingashtakam my mind breaks out in music and I sing it, tears are flowing like rivers and I am gone. This happens with a lot of verses. What should be done?

    SING!!!!