The death of a person, in Buddhist tradition, signifies his or her transition from this life to the next. For those left behind, the death of a person serves a reminder about the impermanence of everything in this world. The funeral rites aim to pass on the message that the departed person, under the influence of karmic forces, is now transitioning to his or her manner of rebirth.
Whatever religious background we all have, grief is still a universal feeling when persons close to us depart this world. The religious affiliation of a person should be able to assist the person in this time of mourning and also in accepting the demise of a person close to them.
One of the most widely practised religions on earth, Buddhism derives its fundamental principles from the teachings of Lord Buddha. People who practise Buddhism are expected to show boundless love for all and try to attain the Ultimate Truth.
These fundamentals of Buddhism are evident in the rituals followed in a Buddhist funeral. After the death of a person in a Buddhist family, some rituals have to be practised in order to make sure that the deceased's soul rises to a higher stage of life after death. Prayers are offered invoking the goodness of the departed soul and wishes are made for a blissful life after death for the deceased.
The funeral rituals begin with giving the dead person a traditional ablution. Monks are invited to chant different religious scriptures, which are believed to give the deceased the right guidance to achieve spiritual liberation. The teachings of the Buddha, which speak of the value of practising virtue and compassion in life, are recited aloud. In the meantime, the body is prepared for the final journey. The relatives normally keep some money in the casket along with the deceased. This is believed to help the deceased cross the River of Three Hells to reach his ultimate destination.
Then the casket is displayed to the family and friends to enable them to pay their respects by placing it at the altar. While friends and relatives give condolences, attendees are expected to pray for the dead person. The proceeding is accompanied with recitation of relevant sutras by the priests. Once the chanting is over, people bow at the altar to pay their final regards. After the ceremony, the family members of the deceased distribute gifts to the attendees for sharing their grief.
The family members can decide upon whether to cremate the body or bury it as per their familial customs, once all these important rituals are completed. These rites are meant to allow the family to alleviate their grief by offering prayers that will elevate the dead to a higher pedestal of enlightenment and knowledge.
Whatever religious background we all have, grief is still a universal feeling when persons close to us depart this world. The religious affiliation of a person should be able to assist the person in this time of mourning and also in accepting the demise of a person close to them.
One of the most widely practised religions on earth, Buddhism derives its fundamental principles from the teachings of Lord Buddha. People who practise Buddhism are expected to show boundless love for all and try to attain the Ultimate Truth.
These fundamentals of Buddhism are evident in the rituals followed in a Buddhist funeral. After the death of a person in a Buddhist family, some rituals have to be practised in order to make sure that the deceased's soul rises to a higher stage of life after death. Prayers are offered invoking the goodness of the departed soul and wishes are made for a blissful life after death for the deceased.
The funeral rituals begin with giving the dead person a traditional ablution. Monks are invited to chant different religious scriptures, which are believed to give the deceased the right guidance to achieve spiritual liberation. The teachings of the Buddha, which speak of the value of practising virtue and compassion in life, are recited aloud. In the meantime, the body is prepared for the final journey. The relatives normally keep some money in the casket along with the deceased. This is believed to help the deceased cross the River of Three Hells to reach his ultimate destination.
Then the casket is displayed to the family and friends to enable them to pay their respects by placing it at the altar. While friends and relatives give condolences, attendees are expected to pray for the dead person. The proceeding is accompanied with recitation of relevant sutras by the priests. Once the chanting is over, people bow at the altar to pay their final regards. After the ceremony, the family members of the deceased distribute gifts to the attendees for sharing their grief.
The family members can decide upon whether to cremate the body or bury it as per their familial customs, once all these important rituals are completed. These rites are meant to allow the family to alleviate their grief by offering prayers that will elevate the dead to a higher pedestal of enlightenment and knowledge.
About the Author:
Our professional funeral directors can arrange Christian funeral or Buddhist funeral, and other religious funerals. We have the experience arranging for rituals that are characteristic of religious funeral services.
