Hello Everybody,
In this post, I will try to describe my experience with increased intensity of chanting mettā mantra, sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā. Every day I go on two hikes, accompanied by chanting the mantra. The first one is just a warm-up. I slowly begin my chanting and make impressions of loving kindness in my mind. After that, I felt energized and happy (a warm feeling inside my body). After a break (a couple of hours) I go for a second hike. This one gets more intense as I'm already energized by chanting a mantra in the morning. Chanting becomes intense and it's time to chant with more energy. Wonderful cleansing of the mind begins to happen. A certain spiritual energetic heat starts to generate in the mind which cleanses it. This is real chanting. This is real mettā. This is when I feel I'm building my spiritual strength.
This experience gave me an understanding of what real monks do. They are building their spiritual strength in terms of energy (chi; prana). Real monks are very energized and happy. Pure in their thoughts, they feel bliss. I have decided that I will not be lazy but ride that chi that comes from chanting, and chant more energetically. In meditation, the more you invest in the practice the more you get out of it. This is true for chanting too.
I wish you the best of luck on the path!
Love,
Marino
