Recently a student asked...

Recently a long time student of Ajari Tanaka explained that he had been recently asked by a colleague, "what is the purpose of chanting mantra?".  Further noting that they had no ready answer for that simple question, he asked me if I'd weigh in.  This is what came of that discussion:

So let's start from the ground up....

First when we chant a mantra, especially in the style that Ajari has trained us in, the first thing that one might notice is our normal stream of conceptual thought is interrupted and replaced by the mantra.  The incessant and often undisciplined/unproductive thought-stream is abruptly abandoned and replaced with neutral sound and vibration.  This might be understood as a rudimentary form of meditation in which we first experience our mind without its typical thought habits.  As this progresses, we can experience a level of concentration (facilitated by really trying to stay with the mantra during recitation enforced by whoever is leading the practice) that most of us don't regularly experience.  This is called smirti, or the re-collecting of our scattered mind.

Secondly, our style of mantra recitation is physically vigorous.  It requires lots of deep exhalation and then rapid inhalation.  Not only physically invigorating but oxygenates our system in ways that are very different from most of our normal experience and stimulates a mental sharpness we often rely on coffee to achieve.

As we learn more about the symbols of Shingon this naturally marries to the practice, enriching it with a contemplative element.  For example, this is the mantra of Fudo Myo-o, and I know he is a wrathful protector, powerful but kind, an emanation of Mahavairocana, which is none other than the entire phenomena universe, but in a form which leads even the most resistant student.  As we recite the mantra all that understanding is there even if it is not conceptually expressed during the recitation.  Through the mantra practice, we are relating directly to the symbol, with its internal and external import as all these symbols depict awakened qualities that exist within us and those naturally resident in the world around us.  This is now on top of suspending thought and the physical invigoration.  

Next, if we are lucky enough to expand our understanding to the individual mantra's meaning the contemplative/symbolic element expands greatly.  For example, the mantra of Nyoirin Kannon, Om padma cintamani jvala hum, means something like, "O the flaming jewel in the lotus hum".  The wish fulfilling jewel is the awakened mind that solves all desires, the lotus is great compassion and the flame is variously deemed to indicate energy/effort, protective defense of the awakened element and the warmth of kindness/compassion.  So not only is the mantra indicative of the particular honzon, but has a specific meaning and contains profound symbolic content in and of itself.  This is especially interesting when the mantra uses seed syllables (Om, hum, A, Ra, phat) that are multivalent and often elastic in their meaning.  A good example of this is Master Kukai's Meaning of the Syllable HUM, which when read makes it seem that nothing is not meant by the syllable HUM.  Collectively, understanding all this is an form of esoteric knowledge that enhances and deepens both the meaning, associations and significance of the practice.

But, returning to the most basic question, mantra recitation is meditation - full stop.  Its not a warm up to get you in the head space for real meditation.  Rather it is a unique form of meditation, as is sadhana practice, ajikan or sutra recitation which on their face do not seem similar to commonly understood sitting methods.

It is a path to experience your mind as it really is, directly.

In these crazy times its really nice to field these questions from our sangha and then spend time on these topics.  If you took the time to read this, I hope you found it useful.

jim