The basic teachings of the Lord Buddha form the core of the Buddhist religion and are practiced in many countries in the world today. Mercy & love for humanity and realization of the Ultimate truth are required in Buddhism.
These essentials of Buddhism can be seen in the rites practiced in a Buddhist funeral. When a Buddhist person dies, in order to guarantee that his soul gets to a higher level in the next life, mandatory rituals should be observed. To make sure the deliverance of the deceased from this life and bidding them the best for his next, prayers are done to invoke the positive energies of the dead.
A traditional bath to the deceased marks the beginning of the Buddhist funeral rites. The next stage involves presence of monks, who read out religious texts and thereby help the deceased in finding liberation. Then Buddha's teachings that highlight the importance of kindness and compassion are read out loud by the monks. Meanwhile, the deceased is made ready for the final journey. Relatives generally keep some coins in the casket of the deceased. This is done to pay for the deceased's journey across the mythical River of Three Hells.
The casket is then placed before the altar at home for friends and relatives to pay their final respects. The relatives and friends offer condolences to the deceased's family, while the visitors pray for his soul. Priests who carry out the rites continue to chant the appropriate sutras. After the completion of recitals, people attending the ceremony bow at the altar. The family members then thank the visitors for shouldering their sorrow by distributing gifts to them.
After these rituals are carried out, the body may then be either cremated or buried in line with the beliefs of the family members. The rites and rituals are a way of bringing peace and acceptance to the family of the departed as they know their prayers are aimed at elevating the status of the departed in his life after death.
These essentials of Buddhism can be seen in the rites practiced in a Buddhist funeral. When a Buddhist person dies, in order to guarantee that his soul gets to a higher level in the next life, mandatory rituals should be observed. To make sure the deliverance of the deceased from this life and bidding them the best for his next, prayers are done to invoke the positive energies of the dead.
A traditional bath to the deceased marks the beginning of the Buddhist funeral rites. The next stage involves presence of monks, who read out religious texts and thereby help the deceased in finding liberation. Then Buddha's teachings that highlight the importance of kindness and compassion are read out loud by the monks. Meanwhile, the deceased is made ready for the final journey. Relatives generally keep some coins in the casket of the deceased. This is done to pay for the deceased's journey across the mythical River of Three Hells.
The casket is then placed before the altar at home for friends and relatives to pay their final respects. The relatives and friends offer condolences to the deceased's family, while the visitors pray for his soul. Priests who carry out the rites continue to chant the appropriate sutras. After the completion of recitals, people attending the ceremony bow at the altar. The family members then thank the visitors for shouldering their sorrow by distributing gifts to them.
After these rituals are carried out, the body may then be either cremated or buried in line with the beliefs of the family members. The rites and rituals are a way of bringing peace and acceptance to the family of the departed as they know their prayers are aimed at elevating the status of the departed in his life after death.
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Death is a sensitive time. After all, funeral present the family with a need to transition into moving on with life. Get the best caskets for your loved one's burial. Also published at Buddhist Funeral Customs And Their Significances.
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