The Yin and Yang of Spiritual Practice: Meditation vs. Chanting

Two Paths to Mastery Over the Mind

Meditation and chanting both aid in gaining mastery over the mind. They create a sense of peace or “space” within the practitioner, linked to states of relaxation. This space enhances our capacity to be in the present moment while shedding mental attachments. Although these practices share many similarities, in my experience, they each require different energies—what I call the yin and yang of spiritual practice.

Originating from ancient Chinese philosophy, Yin and Yang describe opposite yet complementary forces. Yin is associated with feminine qualities, while Yang is linked to masculine traits. Choosing the right mindfulness practice depends on the energy you bring to it and the outcomes you’re seeking. Meditation relies more heavily on yin energy, which is passive and receptive, while chanting is more yang, characterized by assertiveness and activity.

The Yin and Yang of Spiritual Practice

In my experience, meditation has had a strong impact on my ability to recognize habitual thinking patterns and self-limiting beliefs. As a passive practice, the work lies in simply observing. Once you master this skill, it becomes easier to access outside of the meditation space.

In addition, my regular meditation practice has greatly heightened my intuition. One significant experience occurred after several hours of meditation when I was psychically alerted in a dream that a small book I had been looking for would be at an independent used bookstore just down the street from my house. The next morning, I walked to the bookstore with the intention of finding the book. Initially, I couldn’t locate it, but I continued searching with confidence because the guidance had been so clear. Eventually, I found the book, and I still have it to this day.

As a predominantly yin practice, meditation illuminates feminine qualities such as fecundity, receptivity, nurturing, and openness. When the mind is calm and receptive, wisdom naturally wells forth. From this state, we may experience profound revelations about the Universe or gain insight into our personal challenges. While many meditation practices incorporate movement, mantras, or breathwork, simply observing one’s thoughts and sensations remains fundamental. In this way, meditation serves as a form of presence training, leading to deeper states of awareness. Once the mind embraces this state of “non-action,” qualities like allowance, trust, surrender, and peace inevitably follow. Additional benefits of this practice include stress relief, improved focus, and enhanced mental clarity.

Meditation also enhances your connection to the Third Eye, which, when awakened, allows you to perceive metaphysical or transcendent aspects of reality. From this elevated state of awareness, problems and situations that once felt overwhelming may now seem completely within your control.

Chanting and Its Power

Chanting, on the other hand, is associated with yang energy. This practice embodies qualities such as activity, ambition, and determination. Chanting is more vigorous, involving the production of sound through the repetition of a mantra, which creates resonant vibrations. It often includes a specific intention set by the practitioner. The eyes may be closed or open and focused on a mandala. This type of practice requires greater physical effort.

Ironically, our initial resistance to chanting becomes the fuel for a spiritual fire. When we push through this resistance, the fire revitalizes our personal will, strengthening and transforming us. Qualities such as focus, purpose, grounding, and courage are enhanced. While meditation is an exercise in simply being, chanting activates the energy of willpower.

Choosing the Right Practice for Different Occasions

There are times in life when change is thrust upon us. During these moments, letting go—or surrendering—is the appropriate response. Meditation helps release attachment to specific outcomes and fosters a deeper sense of trust in the process.

Meditation is also invaluable for those seeking to release attachment to the Ego. Identifying too strongly with external labels and roles can be detrimental when life circumstances change. A loss of financial or social status, a change in appearance or physical ability, or any other major life transition can feel overwhelming. Meditation helps us navigate these crises with grace and acceptance.

For those dealing with daily anxiety, chanting can be an easier practice to adopt than meditation. With the overactive minds many people experience—constantly racing with anxiety, panic, caffeine, and never-ending to-do lists—relaxation can seem elusive. Chanting helps release excess mental energy and quickly activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the body’s “rest and digest” mode), allowing for quicker relief.

A chanting practice is also beneficial for those who desire change or are highly motivated to accomplish a goal. It cultivates focus and determination while harnessing the power of intention. Similar to prayer, chanting offers a way to take purposeful action when the next steps in the physical world are unclear or uncertain. The vibration of chanting permeates the Universe, having the power to attract outcomes and circumstances.

Personal Experience with Chanting

I’ve had many experiences with chanting, but the most beneficial aspect of the practice for me, in addition to mindfulness, is the ability it gives you to align with long-term goals. For instance, I decided to go back to school at the age of 40. This was a big deal for me because I had tried to go to school several times before but just couldn’t get into it. However, this was something I always wanted for myself. I wanted to prove to myself that I could get through it, but I also sought the intrinsic and secondary rewards that come from a higher education. I chanted that I would keep my vow to myself. While I knew that years three and four would be especially challenging, I was determined to finish school. And I was right—year three came, and I was mentally done, wanting to move on to other things. But my vow kept me going, and I accomplished my goal.

You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes every day—unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour.

Zen Proverb

Meditation and Chanting at Different Durations

In my experience, fifteen minutes of either practice is just barely enough to quiet the mind, especially when first implementing this practice. After several sessions, the mind will quiet down more quickly. In my opinion, a fifteen-minute practice should only be done when you absolutely don’t have the time—because that happens. Otherwise, mindfulness should be practiced for at least twenty minutes or more.

With twenty minutes, you’ll not only quiet the mind but also skirt the edges of serenity. As you practice more regularly, this duration is sufficient to calm the mind. You may even move into other levels of consciousness. There is a certain “yumminess” that comes with this duration—when practiced regularly. It’s hard to describe, but it’s an energetic or dimensional shift of sorts.

Thirty minutes of practice will rejuvenate the practitioner and often bring new insights into old problems. It takes you deeper into yourself, offering a more penetrating experience. At this duration, you can begin to shift things in your consciousness, which will then shift your reality.

A forty-five-minute meditation session is particularly re-energizing, leaving you feeling clear-headed, optimistic, and peaceful. Chanting at this duration, on the other hand, will have you buzzing with energy.

At the one-hour mark, you should feel aligned with yourself and your environment, with enhanced psychic abilities and synchronicities appearing seemingly out of nowhere. Keep in mind, the benefits of each practice depend on the practitioner and what they aim to achieve; results will vary.

Good luck!

I’m proud of you~

Devon