The Great Compassion Mantra. Literature & Language Essay

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The Great Compassion Mantra
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Background
Merriam's model focuses on sound, behavior, and concepts are important elements of music and are useful in analyzing and conceptualizing a musical piece. Sound is a key part of ethnomusicology and sound has a structure that is common in Buddhist chants and recitations the sound is produced for other people and the music is closely linked with the culture. Behavior relates to how the audiences/ listeners act during singing and the spiritual nature of the song means that the devotees are calm and even meditate as would be expected to achieve enlightenment and spiritual awakening. Concepts or ideas link the sound and behavior since an individual first conceptualizes the kind of music and the behavior that is associated with the sound. The music “The Great Compassion Mantra” is conceptualized as spiritual song for Buddhists.
Sound
A mantra is a word or group of words without specific semantic content and it is set of syllables in Sanskrit the sacred language of Hinduism and Tantric Buddhism and is recited numerous times. Thus, the mantra music is useful for the liberation of thought and can be combined with meditation. This is spiritual music where the message is compassion is possible when then there is wisdom, since compassion is in human nature, but egocentrism prevents people from being compassionate. Buddhist music and mantras are pieces of devotion where compassion represents enlightened love since there is awakening where people are compassionate (Vichara, n.d.). Music is used in the Buddhist tradition mostly when there are chants in reciting the sutras, but there are differences such as in Tibetan Buddhism rites where interludes and meditation are common.
The mantra has rhythm and rhyme like poems and the slow rhythm makes the music piece appropriate for chants, singing or recitations. Buddhist chants are an important part of spiritual awakening and devotees are expected to develop compassionate qualities, where the chants can be made by an individual or group. The repetition of the chants during meditation reflects spiritual light and power and helps the body and soul to achieve harmony. The meaning of the mantra is complex and relates to compassion and the desire to reach nirvana.
The Mantra must be pronounced clearly and the repetition is not too slow, and it care is exercised to capture the words even when there is no understanding of the meaning. The slow pace of singing during the practice may result in getting distracted and losing concentration. There is little variation in the texture and different meters and various voic...