----- Original Message -----
From: ryhorikawa <ryhorikawa@...>
To: <Pali@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 8:55 PM
Subject: [Pali] Re: chanting
> Aloha Mai Kakou Folks - Sorry for jumping into this in medias
> res. I'm brand new to this listserv :-)
Very glad to meet you--sorry I'm ignorant of Hawaiian!
> On this topic, wouldn't the fact that 1) the suttas were composed
> in metrical form (which unfortunately is lost in translation and 2)
> the suttas were -in the beginning- not "read" but orally
> transmitted by bhanakas indicate that the Dharma was - to some
> extent -"chanted" or "sung" ?
Yes, this seems quite clear to me, too, from the vinaya (not to mention the
existence of the word 'bhaa.naka'). chanting was clearly approved but
singing disapproved. One of my favorite characters from the vinaya, Dabba
the Mallian (a seven-year-old arahanta), is assigning viharas:
"...For those monks who knew the Suttantas he assigned lodgings in the same
place, thinking: "These will be able to chant over the Suttantas to one
another..."*
Culavagga IV, p. 99 (PTS)
This following was posted recently but is maybe pertinent enough to repost:
Bhikkhus, there are these five dangers when Dhamma is chanted with a long,
singing sound:
He is pleased with himself regarding that sound, (= pride)
Others are pleased regarding that sound (they have regard for it but not for
Dhamma)
Householders look down upon him (as music is for those who enjoy
sense-pleasures)
While trying for accuracy of sound his concentration is broken, (he neglects
the meaning of what he is chanting)
People coming after fall into views (by emulation) ("saying: Our teachers
and preceptors sang it thus" [Commentary] -- a source of both pride and
quarreling among later generations of Buddhists).
-- Vinaya Pitaka, ii. 108 (from ATI)
Looking forward to your correspondence.
mike
*Very interestingly, to me, this continues further on: "...For those monks
who were talkers on inferior matters and who were athletic he assigned
lodgings at the same place, thinking: "These reverend ones will live
according to their pleasure..."