One of the most widely practised religions on earth, Buddhism derives its main principles from the teachings of the Buddha. Buddhism calls for compassion and universal love for mankind and awareness of the Ultimate Truth.
Buddhist funeral rites are also based upon these fundamental principles of the religion. When death occurs in a Buddhist family, there are some main rites which are followed with the aim of ensuring that the soul of the departed can ascend to an elevated level. The positive energies of the deceased are evoked to pray and wish the best for the dead person’s life cycle beyond this birth.
A traditional bath to the body marks the start of the Buddhist funeral rituals. After that comes the stage of chanting of religious texts by the monks, thereby guiding the soul towards the path of spiritual freedom. The monks recite those teachings of the Buddha that talk about the significance of practising compassion and kindness. Meanwhile, the body is made ready for the final rituals. The deceased is normally provided with some coins placed in his casket by the family members. This is to pay for the dead person’s journey across the River of Three Hells.
Then the casket is exhibited to the near and dear ones to allow them to pay their respects by putting it at the altar. While friends and relatives give condolences, attendees are expected to pray for the dead person. The monks carrying out the rites keep chanting the sutras along with the proceedings. After the completion of recitals, people present at the ceremony bow at the altar. After the ceremony, the family members of the deceased distribute gifts to the attendees for sharing their grief.
Once these rituals are over, the family members can decide to bury or cremate the deceased according to their family beliefs. The different ceremonies are a means of bringing peace and acceptance to the family of the departed as they know their prayers are directed towards elevating the status of the departed in his after life.
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