Question: Is chanting to express respect to Buddha? How does it help us and others?
Answer: Chanting should always be practised respectfully, so as to be attentive, to receive the teachings chanted well. But chanting is not done just to express respect to anyone.
It is to remind ourselves, the chanters, and listeners, on aspects of the Buddha’s teachings chanted, to remind all to practise accordingly, to purify our thoughts, words and deeds. Doing this helps those involved, to create meritorious virtues (merits) or positive (good) karma, to be better persons, relieve suffering, and to advance towards the True Happiness of Buddhahood.
