Sacred Buddhist Funeral Traditions And Their Significances

The fundamental teachings of the Buddha form the core of the Buddhist religion which is practiced in many countries in the world today. Buddhism requires love & mercy for man, as well as realization of the Ultimate Truth.

These Buddhist traditions are apparent in the rites seen in a Buddhist funeral. Certain mandatory rites should be followed once a person Buddhist person dies, to make sure that their soul gets elevated to a higher level in their next lifetime. Prayers are used to invoke the good energies of the deceased, ensuring his or her deliverance from this life and wishing them the best for their next life.

A traditional ablution of the deceased marks the beginning of the Buddhist funeral rituals. The second stage entails invitation of monks, who read out religious scriptures and thereby assist the dead in finding liberation. Then Buddha’s teachings that highlight the importance of kindness and concern are recited aloud by the monks. Meanwhile, the body is prepared for the final rituals. The deceased is generally offered with some money put in his casket by the family. This is done to pay for the dead person’s journey across the River of Three Hells.

Then the casket is exhibited to the family and friends to allow them to pay their final respects by placing it at the altar. The relatives and friends give condolences to the deceased’s family, while the attendees pray for his soul. The ceremony is accompanied with recitation of relevant sutras by the priests. Everyone present have to bow before the altar when this chanting is completed. As the visitors begin leaving, the family members give a gift to each other to show gratitude for sharing their sorrow.

The family members can decide upon whether to bury the body or cremate it as per their familial customs, once all these essential rituals are over. The different ceremonies are a way of bringing peace and acceptance to the family members of the departed as they know their prayer offerings are directed towards elevating the status of the departed in his life after death.

Find out more about the best company that provides high quality caskets and with services that offersbuddhist funeral.