---
title: 課誦的深義 The Deeper Meaning of a Chant
description: "The \"Deeper Meaning\" of a Chant"
---

The "Deeper Meaning" of a Chant

　　課誦的深義

Each morning, the monks enter the eating hall after their alms round. Seated in two long rows with the last food distributed, they raise their hands in a palms-together gesture of respect while reciting the meal-time chants, ancient Pali blessings that date back to the time of the Buddha. Lay devotees who have come to offer food and participate in the meal sit by silently as the monks chant. Following this, in mindful stillness the monks begin their meal.

　　每一天早上，僧侶們在他們托缽完之後進入齋堂，坐成兩排，等到都分給之後，他們恭敬地合掌唱誦佛陀時代古巴利祝福文的午供。前來供養食物和參與午齋的在家居士們，在僧侶們唱誦時，靜靜地在一旁坐著。接下來，僧侶們在正念的寧靜之中，開始用齋。

A Western visitor, new to the monastery and its traditions, asked Achaan Chah at the close of the recitation why the monks were chanting: "Is there some deep meaning to this ritual?" Achaan Chah smiled, "Yes, of course. It is important indeed for hungry monks to chant like 「this before the only meal of the day. The Pali recitation means thank you," he said, "thank you very much."

　　一位西方的訪客，對于寺院及其傳統很生疏，所以便在唱誦結束後問阿姜查，僧人為何要課誦：「這種儀式是否有它深層的涵義?」阿姜 查笑著說：「是的，當然有。說真的，對于飢渴的僧侶而言，在每日唯一的一餐前這樣地唱誦是非常重要的。在巴利文的唱誦里的意思是謝謝。」他于是說：「十分感謝你們。」