I like combining the two big forces in my life, Rationality and Zen. For some time, I’ve had the notion that it’d be nice to have a rationalist dharani, perhaps for chanting during Solstice.
The basic idea of a dharani is that it’s a chant made up of sounds that are supposed to have some effect, like a magic spell. Although originally written in Sanskrit or Pali, they’ve been translated and modified over the centuries such that many of them (or at least the ones I know via Zen) no longer have literal meanings, and are instead just sounds meant to convey a particular mood or desire.
It seems very extremely unlikely to me that dharani’s are actually magic spells, but they do have an effect on the world via the people who chant them. In particular, when chants are done not just by a priest but by everyone in the congregation, they create a shared experience. There’s some opening up of the closed, individual sense of self as we all lift (our voices) together to express a shared intention. That intention is carried on by we who chanted in the background of our minds, slowly working change on us.
This morning inspiration struck, and at last I have penned a rationalist dharani. If I can arrange it, a recording will be forthcoming, though I’ll probably be too busy to get to it for a while.
Notes: (o) small bell (O) big bell (^) stifle (gatz) big bell, (X) mokugyo, (*) last time only To be accompanied by mokugyo on each syllable
(chant leader only) Bayesian Dharani, Great Dharani for Conserving Evidence (X) (O)
(everyone 3 times) (O) pee of ay given bee equal pee of bee given ay time pee of ay over pee of bee (O*) or pee of ay given bee equal pee of bee given ay time pee of ay over pee of bee given ay time pee of ay plus pee of bee given not ay time pee of not ay (O*) or pee of bee equal (o*) sum for jay of pee of bee (o*) given ay sub jay time pee of ay sub jay (^*) (ritard)
Bayesian Dharani, Great Dharani for Conserving Evidence
I like combining the two big forces in my life, Rationality and Zen. For some time, I’ve had the notion that it’d be nice to have a rationalist dharani, perhaps for chanting during Solstice.
The basic idea of a dharani is that it’s a chant made up of sounds that are supposed to have some effect, like a magic spell. Although originally written in Sanskrit or Pali, they’ve been translated and modified over the centuries such that many of them (or at least the ones I know via Zen) no longer have literal meanings, and are instead just sounds meant to convey a particular mood or desire.
It seems very extremely unlikely to me that dharani’s are actually magic spells, but they do have an effect on the world via the people who chant them. In particular, when chants are done not just by a priest but by everyone in the congregation, they create a shared experience. There’s some opening up of the closed, individual sense of self as we all lift (our voices) together to express a shared intention. That intention is carried on by we who chanted in the background of our minds, slowly working change on us.
This morning inspiration struck, and at last I have penned a rationalist dharani. If I can arrange it, a recording will be forthcoming, though I’ll probably be too busy to get to it for a while.
Notes: (o) small bell (O) big bell (^) stifle (gatz) big bell, (X) mokugyo, (*) last time only
To be accompanied by mokugyo on each syllable
(chant leader only) Bayesian Dharani, Great Dharani for Conserving Evidence (X) (O)
(everyone 3 times) (O) pee of ay given bee equal pee of bee given ay time pee of ay over pee of bee (O*) or pee of ay given bee equal pee of bee given ay time pee of ay over pee of bee given ay time pee of ay plus pee of bee given not ay time pee of not ay (O*) or pee of bee equal (o*) sum for jay of pee of bee (o*) given ay sub jay time pee of ay sub jay (^*) (ritard)