Is Chanting Singing?

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When I saw in YouTube, Chyi Yu, a Taiwanese singer performing on the stage the Heart Sutra, I could not help but wonder if Buddhist chanting is indeed singing. There is afterall a Buddhist chanting called The Heart Sutra or Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra or Essence of Wisdom Sutra which is very popular among Mahāyāna Buddhists. So, what do you think? Is chanting singing?

Heart Sutra, Buddhist Chanting in Mandarin...



Heart Sutra in Sanskrit...

For more of Chyi Yu's songs, check out Taiwan Tidbits at Dragon Descendents!

Comments

Liudmila said…
Mmmm... I prefere classic reciting of the monks. It's more inspiring to the meditation state.
August 19, 2009 at 4:38 AM
footiam said…
Chyi's rendition of the Heart Sutra is not really bad. Her rendition of English songs like stories and memories and many more; are really superb too;if you have listened to her songs in 'Some Songbirds' in my dragon descendants at http://dragondescendants.blogspot.com/2009/08/some-songbirds.html . Other artistes like Tracy Huang and Frances are not bad too and if you were to listen to their songs alone you'd think they are Westerners!
August 25, 2009 at 8:37 PM
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