Join Jamie Roberts for “Chanting from the Heart”, an afternoon of chanting and practice, hosted by Delaware Valley Insight. This will be a hybrid event, i.e. you can elect to attend either in-person, at the Summit Presbyterian Church, 6757 Greene St, Philadelphia, PA 19119, or online via Zoom. Jamie will be in person at the Summit Presbyterian Church.
While Early Buddhism as practiced by the Delaware Valley Insight community is centered around meditation, chanting has been a core practice since the time of the Buddha. Originally a method of recitation designed to help practitioners memorize the teachings, chanting has also served as an expression of commitment to the path and a way of preparing the mind for meditation.
Buddhist practitioners around the world still chant in Pali, the language of the historical Buddha, as well as in their native languages. Many sanghas (Buddhist communities) begin the day or individual practice sessions with chanting, or conclude a day of meditation with one or more chants, as well as a dedication of merit.
Because the teachings were passed on through chants for centuries before they were put into writing, chanting connects us with the Buddha’s earliest disciples, who carried his teachings to us through this oral tradition.
As we chant, we can let go of the idea of having a “good voice” or a “bad voice,” and just touch in to the words, noticing how they connect us to our own hearts and minds and also to each other.
During this community sit, we will explore three chants: The Karaniya Metta Sutta (in English), the Metta chant (in Pali) and Resting, a compassion chant centered around the bodhisattva Guan Yin (in English). (Click this link for the text of the three chants.) There will also be periods of silent meditation.
This program is appropriate for both new and experienced meditators — all are welcome.
Please add delawarevalleyinsight@gmail.com to your address book to ensure you receive any communications for the event. If you have any difficulties joining the zoom or registering for a DVI class, please reach out to the email above or call Steve Ellis @ (215) 626-2929.
Facilitator Bio
Jamie Roberts, M.Ed., teaches mindfulness to adults, teens and children. She is an MBSR instructor at the Myrna Brind Center for Mindfulness and a teacher with the School District of Philadelphia. Jamie has completed comprehensive MBSR teacher training at Jefferson's Myrna Brind Center for Mindfulness and is a Mindful Schools Certified Instructor. Her work includes teaching mindfulness to teachers, teens and children living in high stress environments. Jamie is honored to serve on Delaware Valley Insight’s board of directors.