Buddhism is one of the most widespread religions practised across the globe. The main tenets of the religion have been derived from the teachings of Buddha. Buddhism teaches mercy and universal love for all creatures and awareness of the Ultimate Truth.
These main tenets of Buddhism are evident in the rituals practised during a Buddhist funeral. After a person dies in a Buddhist family, some rituals have to be followed in order to ensure that the deceased’s soul rises to a higher stage in afterlife. The good energies of the deceased are invoked to pray and wish the best for the dead person’s next life beyond this birth.
The funeral rites start with giving the dead person a traditional wash. The second stage involves presence of monks, who chant from religious texts and thereby aid the deceased in finding eternity. Then Buddha’s teachings that highlight the importance of kindness and compassion are read out loud by the monks. Meanwhile, the body is made ready for the final rituals. The deceased is usually provided with some money put in his casket by the family. This is for helping the deceased to pay and wade across the River of Three Hells.
Then the friends and relatives pay their last respects to the deceased as the casket is placed at the altar. While friends and relatives give condolences, attendees are expected to offer prayers for the dead person. The ceremony is accompanied with chanting of relevant sutras by the priests. Once the recital is over, people bow at the altar to pay their final regards. The family members then thank the attendees for shouldering their grief by distributing gifts to them.
The family members can decide upon whether to cremate the body or bury it according to their familial customs, once all these important rituals are over. In all, the rituals aim to bring a sense of peace and acceptance to the grieving family while praying to promote the departed to a higher stage of knowledge and realization.
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