A Practical Way to Raise Your Frequency

Discover Why and How Chanting Works

I practice Nichiren Buddhism, which involves reciting a portion of Shakyamuni Buddha’s Lotus Sutra and chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo for any length of time. Chanting is a powerful practice for raising your vibration, focusing your intentions, and directing energy. To me, it embodies a yang, or masculine, approach—a dynamic and active way to connect with your desires—contrasting with meditation, which feels more yin, or feminine, with its quiet and receptive energy. One is not better than the other. It just depends on what you’re trying to achieve. For more information my interpretation on the benefits of chanting and meditation, please read my blog, Meditation and Chanting: Choosing the Right Practice for Your Energy.

Technically Speaking…

Chanting is the practice of orally reciting a sound, mantra, or phrase repeatedly, commonly associated with rituals, worship, and religious beliefs. This ancient practice is known for inducing altered states of consciousness, promoting well-being, and enhancing mindfulness.

Research by Perry et al. (2021) suggests that different aspects of chanting can each influence the mind in distinct ways. These aspects activate or suppress different brain regions, leading to various altered states of consciousness, such as the ‘flow state’ and mystical experiences. The following research on Sound and Intention has been derived from the study by Perry et al. (2021).

Chanting has been found to decrease stress and depressive symptoms, increase focused attention , increase social cohesion, and induce mystical experiences.

Perry, G., Polito, V., & Thompson, W. F. (2021). Rhythmic Chanting and Mystical States across Traditions. Brain sciences, 11(1), 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11010101

Sound

The speech production and attention regulation associated with chanting activate clusters in brain regions such as the motor control network, which is responsible for regulating attention and speech production. Simultaneously, significant deactivations can be observed in the anterior insula, an area associated with awareness of bodily sensations.

Vocalization naturally slows and restricts breathing, activating the parasympathetic nervous system. This process induces beneficial respiratory and hormonal changes, promoting feelings of relaxation and positivity. In this sense, vocalization shares similarities with pranayama, a Vedic breathing tradition, as both practices encourage controlled breathing to harmonize the mind and body. Additionally, the relaxation experienced during chanting may also stem from the focus on sound and vibration, which amplify the calming effects.

Intention

The intentionality inherent in prayer is often associated with higher self-reported experiences of altered states and cognitive benefits. Similarly, the focused attention cultivated during mindfulness practices enhances concentration while reducing mind-wandering and self-related thoughts. Chanting practices that incorporate mindfulness function as a form of mindfulness training. Research consistently links mindfulness to improved quality of life, reduced anxiety, and alleviation of depressive symptoms, underscoring its transformative potential.

Devotion

Different traditions use different mantras, words or sounds repeated to aid concentration in meditation. The repetition of these sounds is said to call forth deities and the virtues associated with them. For instance, when someone chants the mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya,’ they not only honor Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction and knowledge, but also invoke the many qualities associated with Shiva. Chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is akin to Devoting oneself to the The Mystic Law of Cause and Effect through Sound and Vibration. For a more in depth explanation of its meaning, click here.

Polishing Your Mirror

In Nichiren Buddhism, chanting is practiced in front of a scroll called the Gohonzon, which contains Chinese and Sanskrit characters from the Lotus Sutra. The essence of the Lotus Sutra, expounded by Shakyamuni Buddha, is that all beings have the potential to realize Buddhahood within their own lives. The Gohonzon functions like a mirror, reflecting our Buddha nature back to us while also revealing the limiting beliefs that hinder us.

Chanting the words Nam Myoho Renge Kyo to the Gohonzon is often likened to polishing this mirror. Through this practice, we observe and transform our karma simultaneously, embracing our highest potential and clearing away the obstacles that obscure it.

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Frequency Matters

What you do frequently is your frequency. In other words, the level of consciousness that you vibrate at most frequently, is your dominant frequency. Chanting raises your vibration. Regular chanting is necessary for maintaining that high vibe. That’s why we consider ourselves Buddhist practitioners or practitioners of the Lotus Sutra.

Science vs. Experience

While science highlights the positive effects of chanting, its true power lies in practice. Chanting has been transformative long before science could measure its benefits, and the only way to truly understand its impact is to experience it yourself.

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Either way, I’m proud of you.

Best,

Devon