buddhist chant boxes

Buddhist chant boxes are small sound loop players sold in Buddhist temples, monateries, and markets throughout Asia. The idea is that without enough monks and nuns chanting mantras, playing recorded mantras is the next best thing. Dharma gadgets.

Most Buddhist chant boxes contain two chants or more chants. They come with a headphone jack and/or a speaker, and they run on batteries or external power. Definitely low-fi and low tech but that’s part of their charm.

I learned about temple chant boxes through the Buddha Machine. I began to collect them. Pure Land Buddhism isn’t my path but I respect the tradition. As a Buddhist geek I can’t resist.

My favorite is the first one I got, a blue one. The third eye lights up red when it’s plays and it has good sound quality too. Listen to the first chant and the second chant. The name on the side is Amituofo.

I’ve never been to Asia but I’d love to see these for sale inside or outside of a temple. Oddly I’ve never encountered one in either an Asian store or temple here in the States. I find them online and have them sent to me.

I’m no wires'n'pliers kinda guy but I harbor a secret desire to build my own loop player(s). In an Altoids tin (of course). One of these days...