The Buddhist religion is practiced the world over, the core of which is derived from the fundamental teachings of Lord Buddha. Love & mercy for mankind and acknowledgment of the Ultimate truth are necessary in Buddhism.
These essentials of Buddhism can be seen in the rites practiced in a Buddhist funeral. Certain mandatory rituals should be followed when a person from a Buddhist family dies, to ensure that his soul gets elevated to a higher level in the next lifetime. Prayers are used to invoke the good energies of the deceased, ensuring his deliverance from this life and wishing him the best for his next.
A traditional bath to the body marks the start of the Buddhist funeral rituals. Buddhist monks chant different religious scriptures, and these chants are believed to give the deceased the correct guidance to achieve spiritual freedom. Then the Lord Buddha's teachings that emphasize on the significance of kindness and compassion are read out loud by the monks. The body is meanwhile made ready for the final rites. Relatives normally place some money in the casket of the deceased. This is done to pay for the dead person's journey across the mythical River of Three Hells.
The casket is then put before the altar in the house for the loved ones to pay their respects. The relatives and friends offer condolences to the dead person's family, while the visitors pray for his soul. The proceeding is accompanied with recitation of relevant sutras by the monks. After the chanting is over, people present at the ceremony bow at the altar. After the proceedings, the family members of the deceased give out gifts to the attendees for sharing their sorrow.
The family can decide whether to bury the body or cremate it according to their familial customs, once all these important rituals are completed. These rites are meant to enable the family to alleviate their sorrow by saying prayers that will elevate the deceased to a higher state of enlightenment and knowledge.
These essentials of Buddhism can be seen in the rites practiced in a Buddhist funeral. Certain mandatory rituals should be followed when a person from a Buddhist family dies, to ensure that his soul gets elevated to a higher level in the next lifetime. Prayers are used to invoke the good energies of the deceased, ensuring his deliverance from this life and wishing him the best for his next.
A traditional bath to the body marks the start of the Buddhist funeral rituals. Buddhist monks chant different religious scriptures, and these chants are believed to give the deceased the correct guidance to achieve spiritual freedom. Then the Lord Buddha's teachings that emphasize on the significance of kindness and compassion are read out loud by the monks. The body is meanwhile made ready for the final rites. Relatives normally place some money in the casket of the deceased. This is done to pay for the dead person's journey across the mythical River of Three Hells.
The casket is then put before the altar in the house for the loved ones to pay their respects. The relatives and friends offer condolences to the dead person's family, while the visitors pray for his soul. The proceeding is accompanied with recitation of relevant sutras by the monks. After the chanting is over, people present at the ceremony bow at the altar. After the proceedings, the family members of the deceased give out gifts to the attendees for sharing their sorrow.
The family can decide whether to bury the body or cremate it according to their familial customs, once all these important rituals are completed. These rites are meant to enable the family to alleviate their sorrow by saying prayers that will elevate the deceased to a higher state of enlightenment and knowledge.
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