Can you suggest something that I can chant.

The Question:

I am very interested in chanting and the benefits that it can have for someone who is stressed AND ANXIOUS.
I have been meditating for some years now and would be interested to find out what I might chant.
Can it be in English, or could I chant my mantra, Maranatha…Come lord Jesus.

My answer:

Hello and thank you for the question.
Chanting brings benefits in itself. It is a form of meditation but as stated on the page about chanting, the vibration of the sounds will bring your consciousness to a higher level. If the chant is being practiced by many people, the energy created will be available to individual who can “tap” into it. This is similar and related to Jung’s collective consciousness.
By chanting something that is yours only, you create a new energy-entity. It might be smaller than if millions of people chant with you but it is yours and by repetitions, you will be able to attain the desired state of mind by repeating that chant.

Thus, what you sing matters in a way, depending what results you wish to achieve. I would recommend looking for several mantras, their meaning and WHO chants them. you can chose among them the ones that appeals the most to you.

If you have a teacher, or guru, you can ask her (him) for a Mantra.

Christian prayers are also mantras, so if that is what you chose, it is fine.

In Japan and most of the Buddhist world, the Heart Sutra is the most commonly recited chant. You can listen to it on the video on this page: https://www.japanese-buddhism.com/buddhism-chanting.html

Others, especially the followers of Nichiren will chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo (https://www.japanese-buddhism.com/nammyohorengekyo.html)
or the Pure land Buddhist will chant Namu Amida Butsu, the name of Amida Nyorai, the Buddha of the Pure Land.

Good luck in your search and if you find your mantra and want to share it with others, feel free to add it in the comment section below.

In Compassion,

Hugo