Chanting in Zen

[tarasattva]

Does anyone have any good audio or even just text resources for Zen chanting? I was participating in a meditation class and tried to follow the chanting but wasn't really comprehending anything (most likely due to it being in Korean and being chanting in a rhythm I am not familiar with). Actually, I'm not quite sure why we chant. I assume it's like how prayer and singing in the choir would be for Christians during church?

[Leum]

In Mahayana (and probably Therevada too) chanting is, in part, to generate merit that can then be dedicated to Shakyamuni Buddha or other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the planet Earth, the health and sustenance of the community, the sick and the dying, etc (all are examples from my local temple). Equally, chanting in your own language helps to remind you of the teachings of the dharma. But I'm fairly new to this, and someone else can probably explain better than I.

[Leum]

Oh! and some Zen chants used by Berkley: http://www.berkeleyzencenter.org/texts.shtml

[plwk]

Why We Chant (http://www.kwanumzen.org/about-zen/zen-practice/why-we-chant/) & Chanting Resources (http://www.kwanumzen.org/teachers-and-teaching/resources/chanting/)