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Zen Practice and a Look at Chanting

Jim Redel
Albuquerque Zen Center

At the Friday beginner’s instruction, newcomers are invited into the zendo and introduced to the basics of zazen – posture, breathing, stillness and silence. And at the end of instruction, Seiju will always emphasize that, at AZC, zazen is just one aspect of a more complete discipline called ‘Zen practice’. And, for most of us, it’s the fact that the Center offers this complete practice that keeps us coming back to the zendo - again and again. Now, in considering the nature of this Zen practice, it’s often handy to think of it as being made up of six or so distinct parts. These parts being:

Zazen (sitting meditation)
Kinhin (walking meditation)
Tea Ceremony
Chanting
Samu (work practice)
Rubbing Elbows (personal interaction with the teacher)

And it's useful to recognize that each of these six aspects can be brought to bear on this problem of coming to an understanding of this thing that you call you. Stated slightly differently, these are additional tools that we can actively use (rather than passively 'tolerate') in coming to a better understanding of ourselves in relation to the world around us. In this article we will take a quick look at Chanting – or Chanting Practice – or Chanting Harmony.

Chanting Harmony

All components of Zen practice are, at their heart, the investigation and practice of relationship - and chanting practice is no different. While we can always use this term ‘relationship’ in describing any of these six parts of Zen practice, when we think of the activity of chanting, it is often intuitive to use the term ‘harmony’, and so we shall. Chanting, then, is the investigation and practice of harmony and in chanting practice the zendo is involved in the harmonizing of three entities:

The Eno (the person leading the chant)
The Eno’s assistant (the drummer)
The students (during practice, everyone who is not an 'officer' is a student)

In dissecting chanting harmony a bit further, we can then think of this harmony as having two aspects: harmony in voice and harmony in bowing.

Harmony in Voice

So what are we harmonizing in an actual chant? In a nutshell, we are harmonizing pitch, pace and volume. Before starting to chant, the Eno gets a sense of the general level of the zendo’s chanting experience and then, often intuitively, sets the chant in motion. Chanting begins as the Eno sets the pitch and volume and communicates the pace to the drummer while the entire zendo joins in. Of course, while this beginning of chanting all happens in a matter of a few seconds, it's very dynamic and offers those in the zendo a real chance to examine the nature of their relationship to each other and to the activity of chanting itself. In general, we can say that the zendo is in harmony when:

The Eno sets an appropriate pitch and volume of the chant.
The Eno effortlessly communicates an appropriate pace of the chant to the drummer.
The drummer accurately captures the desired pace and maintains it throughout the chant.
While chanting, all can hear the Eno’s voice and, when necessary, the drummer’s voice.
If one chooses to do so, one can identify every other student’s voice in the zendo.
The sound of the chant is generally pleasing.
All voices are in perfect sync with the drumming.

Harmony in Bowing

At the end of the chant, the Eno, through the use of the small bell, will signal the start and end of 3 great bows and a final bow … and the zendo harmonizes. In general, we can say that the zendo is in harmony when:

The Eno is giving the students ample opportunity to get into bowing positions (to the start of the first bow and in-between all subsequent bows).
The students are initiating and ending 3 well-executed and mindful great bows in sync with these bells.
After 3 great bows, the Eno is giving the students enough time to return support cushions and set for the final bow.

Last

It’s worth remembering that all aspects of Zen practice are ultimately about examining ourselves within the context of that particular aspect of the practice. In the teaching of Joshu Sasaki Roshi, we are seeking to investigate and validate ourselves as a manifestation of the activity of zero. (For those who are not familiar with Roshi’s teaching of zero, it is helpful to recognize that we naturally cycle between a sense of “I am” as a separated identity and a sense of emptiness or oneness or selflessness (or harmony) – and it’s this natural cycling that Roshi want us to see for ourselves as the activity of zero.)

And, specific to chanting harmony, we can investigate for ourselves what exactly is going on when we seem to be chanting in harmony. And we can investigate for ourselves what else is going on when the zendo does not seem to be chanting in harmony. And in complete Zen practice and in our chanting and in our investigation of ourselves while chanting, we all have the opportunity to awaken to the purity and inevitability and universality of this thing we call our true nature.

Always keep in mind that, in Buddhism, there are the concepts of great doubt, great faith and great determination ... and realize that this notion of great faith should be that of our being able, through our own efforts, to come to the exact same realizations as the Buddha ... and a complete Zen practice gives us several tools to do just that.

Zen Classics

Daishin Patrick Vigil
Albuquerque Zen Center

Each moment is the Universe.
Zen and the way of being time.

Dainin Katagiri

Observation shows you that you don't have to be upset and try to escape when you realize that time constantly cuts off your life, because there is another aspect of time. One aspect of time is to separate; the other is to connect the aspect of time that separates you from others is the human world. The aspect of time that connects you to others is universal truth. You are connected with all beings in time, which permeate into every inch of the cosmic universe, and space, where everyone and everything exists together in peace and harmony. So you are you, but you don't exist alone; you are connected with others: to dogs, cats, trees, mountains, the sky, stars, and Buddha.

Having the two aspects of separation and connection is called impermanence. It is called moment. This is the original nature of time. When you see this, you feel deep relief and live with a warmhearted feeling, because you understand yourself very deeply. You understand what human being is. And you understand the one place, called the domain of impermanence, where you live alone and at the same time live together with all beings in peace and harmony. This is spiritual security.

Samu Saturday

Through the rest of the summer, the first Saturdays of each month will feature an expanded samu (work practice). As most of you already know, the regular Saturday schedule features bagels and coffee from 7:30 - 8ish, followed by work practice from 8ish - 9:15.

For the expanded Samu Saturdays , the Saturday's schedule will be adjusted to look like this:

6 - 6:20: tea and chanting
6:30 - 8:30: samu
8:30 - 9:15: bagels and coffee

So, this coming Saturday is indeed the first Saturday of August ... so Samu! We will be focusing on general weeding and maintenance and decent amount of repair and expansion of the back patio flagstone. We would be very happy to get your energy!

No need to call ahead - bring a hat, sunscreen and some gloves. See you Saturday.

Zen and Aikido Classes

Starting The Week of August 10th

Albuquerque Zen Center and Both Hands Clapping Aikido are partnered in offering traditional Zen practice integrated into the modern self-defense art of Aikido.

A quick note to let you know that the Both Hands Clapping fall session Zen and Aikido classes will be starting the week of August 10th - and they are now open for registration. All currently active AZC members are eligible for discounted rates (just $110 for the 13 week session).

The fall session Zen and Aikido classes will feature the classic Aikido attack called 'katate-tori' (wrist grabs). Many attacks actually begin with grabs to the wrist, arms or clothes. Wrist grab techniques are ideal for the beginning student, as they are generally done from a static position, allowing the student to fully focus on the necessary hand and foot movements.

There is a noon class and an evening class. It looks like there may be only a handful of slots available in the evening session, so if you are interested you may want to decide fairly soon. As always, the noon session will be wide open. You can follow this link for more info.

The Zen and Aikido classes are suitable for both men and women of all ages (and mature teens), but realize that this is a fairly complex martial art meant for serious students.

Consider the Beginner's Instruction ...

Every Friday evening there is a beginner's instruction - starting at 5:30 and lasting about an hour. Regular members are always welcome ... maybe to get a refresher or maybe to just add some support for those coming for instruction or maybe it's just that Friday evening is the perfect time to get in a little extra practice. Hope you can join us!