What is the chant?

[Thao]

What is the chant that purelanders use, and how can I hear it?

Do Purelanders ever meditate in silence? I have a feeling they don't, and if not, could I have a reason?

Thanks, Jessaka

[incognito]

What is the chant that purelanders use, and how can I hear it?

Do Purelanders ever meditate in silence? I have a feeling they don't, and if not, could I have a reason?

Thanks, Jessaka

Yes, they meditate in silence, at least the ones I know, though some Buddhist sects spend more time at it than others. And as for chanting, you can find a collection of Pureland chants here:

www.amitabha-gallery.org/chants.htm

[Thao]

Thank you so much. This is what I have been looking for. I am listening to one now.

[Jikan]

I wrote up some instructions on how to practice nembutsu with some explanation of how the practice works.  It's a bit too long to copy and paste; here's the link for those interested.

http://dctendai.blogspot.com/2010/08/nembutsu-beneficial-practice-anyone-can.html

[lienkuang]

By chant do you mean mantra or dharani? The mantra described in the sutras is "Namo Amitabhaya Buddhaya" which in Chinese is "Namo Amito Fo". You can recite this mantra in many ways both aloud and silently.

The rebirth dharani is longer and starts as "Namo Amitabhaya Tathagataya Tadhyata..." which is typically used in ritual after the chanting of the smaller sukhavati sutra.

I use both. Although the dharani is usually not receited silently.

Namo Amito Fo 

[Shi Hong Yang]

Amituofo,

Dear Thao

Regarding the meditaiton in Pure Land practice, there is significant meditation practice. However, it varies according to temple and home practice.  Meditation is the same as all the traditions, sitting style and then walking and then sitting again.  During the services there is a morning kneeling meditation before service begins in some temples like my tonsure temple. And then during the services there are meditations in parts of the service.  Pure land meditaiton is reciting the Buddha Amitabha's name or Sakyamuni Buddha's name; bowing meditation, recitation with bowning meditation; caligraphy or other arts meditation to name a few.