HOW TO CHANT
"
The
"Daimoku" or "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" is chanted repeatedly
and rhythmically.
The voice should
be strong but controlled.
Aim at a
perfectly even pace.
The phrase is
broken down into SIX syllables, each taking exactly the same time to chant.
That is to say the two syllables in each of the words "Myoho" and
"Renge" are given equal weight as follows:
The syllables are
pronounced as follows
MYO Imagine
the word Yo-yo. The "yo" part of "Myo" sounds
like the
"yo" of "yo-yo" .
Now suppose
there was a man named "Tim Yo". Say the name out loud.
The sound of
"m" at the end of "Tim" "blends" with the
"yo" to form the combined sound "myo": Ti"M YO" Cut out the "Ti" sound and
you are left with the correct sound for "Myo"
HO The word "HOE"
(the garden tool) sounds exactly right.
REN The name of the bird "WREN" sounds exactly right.
GE The word "GAY"
sounds right.
KYO This sounds exactly like the "KYO" in
PACE: Most people chant at about 1½ seconds per Daimoku
or 40 Daimoku per minute. Some people chant much faster. When chanting on your
own, choose the speed you feel comfortable with. In a group, follow the pace of
the leader without trying to force the pace slower or faster.
DURATION Chant for as long as you feel like chanting.
Nichiren Daishonin's only instruction to his disciples (us) was "Chant to your heart's content".
Click here to listen to an mp3 file of
Daimoku chanting
Click here
for the meaning of "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo".
Click
here for the origin of "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo".
