Re: Rosary-chant in Pali Buddhism

The first chant that you describe is very similar, if not identical with, a
mantram that was described to me by my father-in-law (who is Thai). I
don't, however, know much about the antiquity of this practice; Mahayana
influence (either from the period prior to Theravada dominance in Thailand,
or as a more recent import from China) may account for the use of this
practice. My wife also has a mala that was a gift to her family from a Thai
temple in either Texas or San Diego, I believe.

The second practice that you mention is similar to one that I've heard
several places- one that comes to mind is, I believe, in Kamala Tiyavanich's
"Forest Recollections". Using a rosary of 108 beads, the practitioner
counts off repetitions of either Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, or recites each
one individiually- Buddho 1-108, Dhammo 1-108, Sangho 1-108, etc. The
descriptions that I read also included a forest monk improvising a rosary by
tossing nuts or pebbles into a bowl or tin can. I think that in "Buddhism
in Practice" there is a translation of an older (18th Century) Thai
meditation manual that describes a number of practices relating to the
recitation of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha that are very similar. It's
also interesting to note how many more devotional elements were present in
the presentation of meditation practice, contrasted with the modern
presentations that are often very tied to the idea that meditation is not a
'religious' practice.

Clay Collier

On 12/6/05, thomaslaw03 <thomaslaw03@...> wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
> In the book, An Introduction to Buddhism, the author (Peter Harvey)
> states that rosaries are used in Southern Buddhism to count off
> repeated chants as a mantra: (1) "du sa ni ma; sa ni ma du; ni ma du
> sa; ma du sa ni" (the initial letters of the words for the Four Noble
> Truths, dukkha, samudaya, nirodha, magga); (2) a devotional rosary-
> chant: "Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha". (p. 176).
>
> I have never seen such a practice in Southeast Asian countries. Can
> anyone give me any advice about this chanting style?
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Thomas Law
>
>
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