Chanting and Intentions

[a_shikhs]

Last night my mum and I were talking about Buddhist chanting and how famous it has become in India. It's like this 'new spiritual thing' that seems to be the 'in thing'.

A little background:
Anyway, an aunt started chanting a year back and she's been doing it very seriously. She's been chanting because she is having some family issues with her sis-in-law who is currently staying with them with her two kids. And she was told by someone that if she gets into chanting, all her problems will be solved as chanting is like asking the universe again and again for something you really want and it is given to you.

She would always tell us that while chanting, she would always imagine her sis-in-law leaving the house with her kids and going somewhere else. With this intention, she started chanting very seriously and now all of a sudden, the sis-in-law has left the house with the kids and my aunt is alone with her little family (husband and kids). And guess what? My aunt is totally miserable right now as my aunt being a spoiled brat, never looked after her house and always left it to her sis-in-law to 'run her house'. Now that the sis-in-law has actually left (which is very suddenly), she is unable to cope up with the housework and is regretting her decision. lol.

So the conversation between my mum and me was that it is very easy to ask the Universe again and again about something you really want. But you also have to be ready to face the consequences, whether good or bad.

While talking about the universe, we realised that instead of asking the universe for something, isn't it better to ask God straightaway and leave it up to him to decide whether to give you that thing or not? As the Universe is just an empty space and when you keep hitting those thoughts for a year, the universe will definitely hit it back at you. But instead, if you ask God, it is better as you do not know the thing you are asking for is right or wrong for you.

A good example would be my aunt here. She kept chanting for her sis-in-law to leave and now that she's finally gone, she's regretting it big time and even going through serious depression.

Just a thought: One should not chant in order to get something when they don't really know whether it is good or not for them. Instead ask the Higher Being and leave it up to him to give it to you. Does this make sense? lol.. I'm not saying that chanting is bad, just you should be aware of what you are asking for. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

 

[NikkiB]

I don't know about chanting but it sounds very much along the principles of the law of attraction, imaging what you want to create it and I think from my own experience there is a great deal to be said - be careful what you wish for!

I think the key is to be really specific, I got something I really wanted, that was so incredably unlikely I can only believe it was the law of attraction, but in gaining this I lost something very important and if there was any way I could go back to my previous life I would - quickly.

For example I suppose (not my situation) wishing you were rich but then someone you love dies and leaves you a big inheritance.... I think it is really important to be clear about what you want with details!

 

[a_shikhs]

yes you are absolutely right. That's exactly what I told my mum. Imagine, my aunt spent one entire year just wishing for her sis-in-law to leave the house. Instead if she had wished for some peace and love in her household would have been more beneficial.

You really have to be very careful for what you wish. When I find myself in a tough situation, I ask for help and for what is right and don't demand for 'what I think is right'.

Leave it to Him alone and everything will be fine- is my mantra.

 

[DownwardSpiral]

Just a couple of thoughts......

Like Nikki I don't know alot about chanting.

I agree this sounds like the law of attraction. I haven't read every book on the subject......but some say to ask that only if it is for your highest good and bring no harm to none.

As far as asking God......I'm under the impression we have free will so he's not going to make the choice for us.

I can't help but wonder.....to put so much focus and attention to this for a whole year....that maybe your aunts attitude toward her SIL changed considerably to the point she was making the SIL miserable?

I believe very much in the law of attraction and also to be careful what you wish for. It's important to know what you really want and as your aunt found out sometimes there's consequences.

 

[Milfoil]

Just a thought: One should not chant in order to get something when they don't really know whether it is good or not for them. Instead ask the Higher Being and leave it up to him to give it to you. Does this make sense? lol.. I'm not saying that chanting is bad, just you should be aware of what you are asking for. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

How can any of us know what is best for us? It sounds like your relative got exactly what she needed, a lesson in focus, patience and responsibility.

Many people seem to be under the impression that the law of attraction works by just wishing for what you want and hey presto . . . If that were the case, why are not all those people who purchased these millions of books on the subject (The secret has sold over 5 million copies in the US alone) now rich or famous etc?

Buddhist chanting (or any other repetitive spiritual chanting) is not about changing others but about discovering oneself. You don't mention exactly what your aunt was chanting but the mantras are usually about compassion, eliciting this for the world etc. (Om Mani Padme hum)

Aligning oneself with the flow of the Universe and feeling that bliss when one's life is in synch with everything else is very different from wishing for something specific like your sister in law moving out or winning the lottery. The Om Mani Padme Hum mantra has no direct translation but I think it would be a fallacy to believe that it was a magic phrase which will bring you anything you wish for.

Did the Buddhist chanting bring your Aunt what she wanted or what she needed? Will she keep up with the chanting and learn from this? These are the foundational questions that jump out at me because I don't believe that the Universe works in the simple way of chanting to get something. Given that Buddhism is about giving up material concerns, transcending the human experience and achieving enlightenment, what your Aunt did sounds as though she doesn't quite understand the objective of the chanting in the first place. Either that or what is called Buddhist chanting in India is just another New Age offering very far removed from its true roots.

 

[NorthernTigress]

Okay, it has always been my impression that chanting is not used to "get what you want". It is not "non Christian prayer".

Chanting of a phrase, word or sound is used to focus (or de-focus) your mind to be able to attain a different state of consciousness.

You don't chant to do something. You chant to be something. Or, if you're into Zen, you chant to be Nothing.

 

[Milfoil]

Okay, it has always been my impression that chanting is not used to "get what you want". It is not "non Christian prayer".

Chanting of a phrase, word or sound is used to focus (or de-focus) your mind to be able to attain a different state of consciousness.

You don't chant to do something. You chant to be something. Or, if you're into Zen, you chant to be Nothing.

Precisely - so much better put than I did (mind you it was early in the morning!).

 

[celticnoodle]

I was always raised with the "Be careful what you ask for" which includes being careful with what you pray for or hope for also. Interesting what happened to your aunt, and perhaps she should chant for the ability to run her own household happily, (which would include cleaning it alone!).

Lately, I heard a story that wrapped around a Priest I know, whose homily was about how prayer can answer our prayers & he gave first hand accounts on how prayer was answered for people belonging to his congregation. One man in the congregation, who tends to be confrontational, approached the Priest after Mass and was highly upset and demanded an apology from the Priest because 'HIS' prayers were never answered! What makes others so much better then he? he kept asking Father. Father reminded him that sometimes our prayers ARE answered in the way they are meant to be--and not exactly the way we had hoped for.

This is so true. All I can think of is that perhaps your aunts "chanting" prayers were answered to help her learn a lesson about really thinking over what she truly wants and needs in her life. There is a lesson here for her, I think.

btw, I love to listen to chanting. I don't chant myself, but I have man chanting cds that I love to listen to.

 

[PAMUYA]

Chanting is a form of meditation (at least in Buddhism). It is normally a pharse promoting peace, loving kindness, compassion, healing. It is to bring you into the moment. I don't chant often, mainly when in temple when we wish to bless someone or something. When by myself I meditate quietly to deal with my personal issues. I cannot chant and deal with personal issues at the same time. For me chanting is a group activity I don't do it by myself. As I tell my friends beware of those who call themselves Buddhist who ask for money, their motives may not be pure.

 

[tarotbear]

I am always reminded that everyone wants the fastest, 'cookie-cutter' solution to everything, and also expects that whatever they want is always the 'bestest thing', regardless of it's effect on others or themselves.

To me chanting, praying, spellworking - are all pretty much the same thing - asking something to help us. However, in spellwork you ask for help in a particular way. Your aunt would have to have asked 'for help to make life better between herself and sister-in-law.' In that way, if the Universe figured SIL should leave, she would leave, or whatever the Universe worked out. In contrast, your aunt said 'Get Rid of this Bitch!' and that is what the Universe did- it didn't make a decision- it only followed your aunt's demands.

There is an theory that 'All gods are One God; all goddesses are One Goddess.' Yeah. Right. Next time you do a love spell to Venus, try praying to Kali instead and see how your spell comes out! BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR; YOU MIGHT GET IT!