Ripples in the Silence

Among the many stereotypical images of any monastic tradition is the chant. Early morning hours, robed figures in candlelight. The hum of energy fills the air and the drone of a low, solemn dirge.

To many observers, such a ritual seems strange, outlandish. The mysticism is enough to drive most away. Of course, many monastic traditions also haven't bothered to make their chants sound anywhere near pleasing to the ear. Perhaps that's part of the point? Most spiritual traditions teach non-judgement, non-attachment to views. A sound is neither beautiful or ugly.

Who determines a chant? Where does the musical style originate?

Often spiritual traditions are carried on by cloistered communities of monastics who have chosen to shut themselves off from the outside world. Indeed, spiritual work, especially spiritual development, requires a certain distancing from the mainstream popular cultures of the centers of civilization. Hustle and bustle, constant sound and the rabble of the market, is not conducive to the quiet reflection and contemplation that allows concentration on the inner world - the realm o the spirit.

The elder monastics of a tradition are typically those who teach the chants. Very few traditions carry the flexibility and innovation to develop new chants. Indeed many monastics never truly reach the stage where they may be enlightened enough, or musically sophisticated enough, to compose a new chant, or to bring a new melody into the fold.

Today, in the West, chanting is associated with many Gregorian traditions. In the East, Buddhists, especially the Pure Land tradition, are known for chanting. Yet, in the West, we see choirs in churches singing the hymns of angels. The church choir, and the development of choirs in schools and community centers, is rooted in spirituality and creating music together. Several prominent spiritual traditions have been greatly innovative in developing beautiful melodies, including Taize, a French-Catholic monastic community; and Plum Village, a Vietnamese-Buddhist tradition. The only barrier preventing any given tradition from adopting a beautiful melodic chant is the musical ability and creativity of the monastics.

What is the purpose of chanting?

Why bother with all this singing in the first place?

As is mostly the case, one can only truly understand the effects by personal application and practice.

However, the roots of chanting lie in metaphysics and quantum physics - which are basically the same thing once the mind is wrapped around the Unified Field Theory. The astute reader may be aware of string theory. That was a theory for some time, but it is not much of a theory anymore. It's basically accepted as truth that the smallest parts of atoms are composed of small, vibrating strings.

The musically inclined may also be aware that all music is made from vibration. More spiritually developed individuals may also understand that everything is vibration. Those who read the recently popular book The Secret would know that one's thoughts can carry a positive or negative vibration. Naturally, the link is in vibration and the fields of acoustic and harmonics.

Included in our physiological structure as humans is the ability to create sound. It is one of the most important - ancient spiritual texts like The Bible mention that "In the beginning there was the word, and the word was God." The linguist would tell you that the word god actually means 'word', 'sound'. So God is sound. That correlates strongly with the the whole string theory business. So let's get back to chanting.

When a person chants, they are creating vibration in the space around them. Much like a ripple in water, sound waves reverberate in space and enliven it. They create energy in space. This can be positive or negative. It can carry with it power. It can transform everything that is within that space.

It is no coincidence that churches, temples and other spiritual places have very distinct feelings to them. Did you feel peace, serenity or tranquility last time you walked into one of these places? Consider for a moment how one would create a feeling of peace, serenity or tranquility. How about by singing about peace, serenity or tranquility? Singing about gratitude, forgiveness, compassion, faith, or other spiritual values?

A careful study of any religious or spiritual chanting book will reveal that, regardless of the language of the material - whether it is Sanskrit, Latin, Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese - the core message is the same: love, harmony, peace, serenity, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, faith, and similar strongly positive spiritual values.

Have a think about it.

Check out a spiritual chanting book.

Give it a try.

Shanti.