Eastern Tales episode 6

Eiheiji chanting: the simplest possible form of musical expression.

A monotone chanting, like the sound of the wind or the ocean, that is not really heard unless seen with the ears and heard with the whole body.

“It is said that monks who wished to learn to chant properly used to stand in front of a waterfall and try to make their voices heard above the sound of the water. If the voice came from the throat or chest, exhaustion was the almost immediate result. However, if mind and body were composed, the sound could flow forth freely and even after long periods of vocal exercise no fatigue would he felt.”

Eihei-ji Temple, Yoshida district, Fukui