Swiss Retreat 2019 Group Interviews 16 (58:57-1:01:19)
Yogi: Can I improve my practice by praying or chanting?
Sayadaw: I’m not much into praying or chanting. Mindfulness encompasses all the goodness of the Buddha’s teachings.
Yogi: You don’t pray or chant?
Sayadaw: There are lots of ceremonies and rituals in Burma and the monks have to be present and they chant. Then, I go and chant because that’s my responsibility, but that is not my preference.
Yogi: Why do the monks chant then?
Sayadaw: Things like the monks’ rules are chanted so that they are not forgotten. Some of the chants are actually meaningful and point to practice. Some are about qualities of the mind to have, like the Mangala Sutta which talks about practices that bring blessings to life.