What is the verdict on religion and chanting?
If you are concerned about chanting interfering with your religious practices, there is good news. Anyone can chant regardless of religion or lack thereof.
To revisit an old expression, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in the garage makes you a car.” Likewise, singing a Sanskrit song or chant does not automatically convert you to Hinduism. Within Hinduism there is much room for various interpretations, including those that promote the philosophy without practicing the religious aspects.
When chanting, one may come from a religious perspective with a belief that each name of the divine (Shiva, Krishna, Brahma, etc) is a deity worthy of worship. From a non-religious perspective, these names may represent specific aspects of philosophy or even metaphoric lessons provided for our enrichment, without the need to be deified. There is no mandate to adhere to either of these positions.
An example of these different positions can be seen in the interpretations of “Om Namah Shivaya”. From a philosophical perspective, Shiva represents the teacher within, or our inner knowing and our connection to higher truth. From a religious perspective, Shiva is a principal deity of Hinduism, and represents the Divine Destroyer of Evil. “Om Nama Shivaya” can be a prayer of a religious nature, or a call for our greater enlightenment and higher wisdom.
A prevalent idea in Hinduism is that each deity is not independent, but a facet of the ‘One True God of All Religions’. Thus Hinduism does not demand that its highest idea of the Divine be limited and accessible only to those who practice Hinduism, and acknowledges the potential for divine interaction with all societies and peoples.
So what’s the verdict? It’s up to you. Are you open to expressions of hope and goodness for all humankind, regardless of language or religion? Do you want to reflect on philosophical ideas that bring benefit to our personal lives and to our society? Would you like to celebrate our connection to each other and our shared source?
I encourage you to Chant On.
-Bryan
