为何在丧礼助念时也大声播放念佛机？
Why Also Play The Buddha Recitation Device Aloud For Wake Support-Chanting?
Question: Why should the Buddha recitation device (念佛机) or speaker be played loudly during support-chanting at wakes too?
Answer: There are several reasons, as below.
[1] Reference: The volume has to lead all support-chanters in the usually open space clearly, where sound dissipates easily. Unless there is a leading chanter who can lead well consistently and be heard clearly, with all other support-chanters able to chant well in unison, personal chanting usually will not sound better than a good recording used for reference.
[2] Distractions: The volume has to drown out all other sounds, including potential chatter and laughter of visitors not participating in the chanting, who will tend to talk louder to be heard. If it is not loud enough, these distracting sounds will be louder than the chanting, thus shifting the attention of the possibly present deceased’s consciousness away from the chanting.
[3] Affinity: It is challenging to explain to all visitors who come and go, on why they should not talk louder than the support-chanting. (Repeated reminders do not always work too.) Asking them to speak softer, be quiet or sit farther away might offend them, thus creating ill affinity with them, while they might create ill affinity with Āmítuófó’s (阿弥陀佛) name too.
[4] Audience: The higher volume will reach out to more present and farther in the environment, including the deceased, visitors and other unseen beings, who will thus have Āmítuófó’s name firmly implanted in their minds forever. In time to come, with the the Three Provisions (三资粮) arising, this can lead to reaching of his Pure Land (净土).
Question: As we should personally chant and personally hear that chanted, what if the volume is too loud to hear my chanting?
Answer: Support-chanters can always still hear their own chanting, as their chanting first arises in their own minds. That is the chanting to hear, not the external chanting, which is just used for pacing. If the volume is too loud for comfort, one can sit slightly farther away from the speaker too.
相关教理
Related Teachings:
死亡前后与丧礼中后的诵念
Chanting When Dying, After Death, During And After Wakes
https://purelanders.com/wake
十大善巧运用念佛机的指示
[22] Top Ten Pointers On Skilful Use Of Buddha Recitation Devices
https://purelanders.com/2023/06/16/22-top-ten-pointers-on-skilful-use-of-buddha-recitation-devices
