Get together for peace


Harmonious band


Monks chanting


Playing guitar, chanting for peace

Resonance in everybody's heart

Zen Community of Oregon

Oregon, USA -- On Friday July 28th, Great Vow Monastery hosted the 4th annual Interfaith Chant for Peace, co-sponsored by the Northwest Dharma Association and Buddhist Peace Fellowship. The event began with an introduction by co-abbot Hogen Bays, who invited people to chant wholeheartedly and experience the depth of chanting as a form of meditation.

For the next twenty four hours leaders of all the major spiritual traditions guided the assembly in one to three chants from their tradition. Each group led for an hour, forty five minutes in the chanting hall and fifteen minutes circumambulating the monastery.

For spiritual leaders this event offered an opportunity to widen their experience of chanting through participating in other tradition's chants as well as presenting leaders of different communities with an opportunity to connect.

For the participants, this event gave the option of experimenting with different styles of chanting, learning about spiritual traditions, and connecting with other spiritual seekers. [Picture titles are added by Wang Xinyu]