[Health] Voiceless. Literally.

[Onki]

Hey folks,

I have a question for you:

When you are sick (such as losing your voice and/or not having the strength/energy to speak) how do you chant? What methods do you use if you are unable to vocalize?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Gasshō,

On

st/lh

[Junsho]

Hi Onki,

My approach is simple. I respect this transitory body. When I am sick and have no voice, I sing softly and low. When I lack energy, I rest in my bed. When I am tired, I sleep.

Gassho and deep bows,
SatLah

[Taiji]

Hi, Onki,

When I find myself in a state where I can't physically chant for whatever reason, I proceed through the chant mentally, focusing on forming each syllable fully in my mind in the same cadence as though I were physically chanting. I visualize myself chanting, going through whatever physical motions (e.g., bell ringing, lighting incense), but don't actually engage my physical body, which might be flat on its back experiencing a migraine in a dark room, for instance. That might not work for everyone, of course, but it gets me through in a pinch.

Gassho,
Taiji
Sat/LAH Today

[Shonin Risa Bear]

Dogen: "Grasses and trees, fences and walls, tiles and pebbles all expound the dharma." When we chant, we chant with them. When we rest our vocal cords, still we chant with them.

gassho, satlah shonin

[Jundo]

Silence is chanting, chanting is silence.

A few years ago, we had our Zazenkai Heart Sutra ceremony without a single word.

Reminds me of a record album my parents had, "The Best of French Mime, Marcel Marceao." Ya see, it is a sound album of the famous silent French Mime ...

Track listing
A1
Silence 19:00
A2
Applause 1:00
B1
Silence 19:00
B2
Applause 1:00

Gassho, J
stlah