Sound In Buddhist Belief Systems

In Buddhist belief systems, sound is considered to be sacred and one of the many forms through which Dharma and spiritual beings manifest themselves. Through the way of speech, sound is believed to be a doorway as vibrations are understood as the vehicles that carry us to the boundless energetic dimensions. When being communicated through poetry and music, sound has the ability to purify the emotional energies of the body. 

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What Is a Mantra

A mantra is the divine utterance of an enlightened being, Buddha, or Bodhisattva. It can be used as a devotional prayer and a tool for inner cultivation to discover our true, deepest selves. 

 

Mantra can be used or practiced as an act of respectful address and a request for blessings or protection to the deities for whom the mantras are being chanted. Although the act of chanting requires proper intention of heart and mind to make the action effective and meaningful, the act itself effectively helps bring one back to the state of equanimity and pure mind and contact with the divine. 

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Practices Using Mantras

Practices using mantras help heal and protect the body, heart, and mind by connecting the practitioner with the divine. They also help clear our negative or inappropriate mental and physical patterns by settling our body, heart, and mind in the present moment and expanding our awareness. 

 

In silent meditative recitation, mantras serve as our inner sound and vibration, bringing us subtle internal experiences. In chanting, mantras are repeated out loud rhythmically and in succession. Chanting mantras benefits not only the practitioners but also all sentient beings, since the energy of the sounds and vibrations moves outward infinitely.

 

The positive effects of mantras can only be realized and received by those who open their hearts to the mantra, and who believe in the powers of the divine beings they are connecting to through the act of chanting. But keep in mind that such openness, faith, and devotion cannot be physically validated or rationalized, but can only be perceived and realized depending on the practitioner’s own spiritual development. 

 

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Mantra Music from Jinyin Temple 

Sino Esoteric Buddhist practices involve chant in many forms, some are in the form of mantra and sutra recitation, and some also make use of instrumental music. Music can act as an offering to the Guru and to the Triple Gem, as a means to memorize mantras and sutras, and to be integrated in one’s cultivation practices, such as meditation. 

 

The mantra music from our lineage is composed and created entirely by both our guru and disciples. We offer these tracks below for you to enjoy, heal the body, receive their spiritual powers, protect the mind, and to practice chanting and meditation with. 

 

Ankele Yekesuo! 

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