Tonight, I had the honor of being invited to strike the mokugyo (temple drum) while we chanted the Heart Sutra after zazen. I was a bit nervous, having never had to keep the beat and chant at the same time, but the mokugyo found its own rhythm. The mokugyo fell into a beat that felt as natural as my breath or my pulse.
This invitation was also a lesson in paying attention. I've heard the drum beat every time I've sat with the Zen group I'm part of, and we've chanted the Heart Sutra, but I never paid close attention. When he arrived at the final line, the mantra Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha, I had to "decide" whether to slow the beat with the chant or drop off drumming completely at some earlier point. I let the drum follow the slowing of the chant and ended with the final syllable. It felt right. If it wasn't no one said anything to me!
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