Are ghosts & demons afraid of chanting?

Some people believe that when you are disturbed by ghosts, spirits & demons, chanting sutras, mantras or names of the Buddhas & Bodhisattvas will protect you. They think that it is the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas or guardian deities who will drive the evil beings away, but that's utter nonsense.

Such beliefs originate from an unenlightened mind. Chanting or recitation does not scare ghosts, spirits or demons! It is the enlightened mind that they truly fear. What are these evil beings? They are merely our own craving, hatred, ignorance, jealousy, pride & doubt. What are kathas, mantras, names of Buddhas & Bodhisattvas? They refer to different aspects of our own Buddha-nature. They are also fingers pointing to the Buddha-nature, directing us to return to the true mind. Where are all those Buddhas, Bodhisattvas & guardian deities? They are all there, right inside our Buddha-nature. When we return to the true mind, those defilements mentioned above are all absorbed back into the absolute & dissappear without a trace. They stand no chance just as snow flakes stand no chance inside a hot stove. This is what really scares the ghosts & demons!

Thus do not seek protection from evil outside yourself, for evil is your own mind, & all protection is also within your own mind.