Buddhist Funerals – Importance And Customs

A Buddhist funeral contains elaborate last rites performed according to sacred rituals and traditions. The funeral ceremony, according to Buddhism, symbolizes the setting free of the deceased person’s soul, which was trapped in the futility of existence, and its search for a new life thereafter.

In a typical Buddhist funeral, the body of the departed is cremated and monks in the presence of family members carry out the funeral rites. The underlying positive energies are released from the soul by the chanting of the correct sutras by monks who read from the holy scriptures. While the chanting continues, the deceased is prepared for the funeral and for friends and relatives to bid a final adieu, so that there is no decomposition even if the final rites are delayed. Once the body is washed, it is placed along with candles, flowers and incense in a casket along with a photograph of the deceased person.

The Abhidharma, a sacred Buddhist text is read daily by visiting monks during the funeral days even when the cremation is delayed to wait for the visitors from far away places.

On the day of the funeral, Buddhist monks perform the last rites and their chief gives a brief speech in tribute to the deceased person highlighting his contributions in life and comforting the aggrieved family that death is destiny. Other rites like wrapping the casket with a white cloth during the religious incantation and Pansakula, a ritual of passing on blessings and virtues to the departed soul are also performed.

Prior to the cremation, one of the family members or the nearest kin has to speak a word or two about the deceased. Following the cremation, a special meal is organized for the people assembled at the funeral.

Some alterations in the specific rituals may be found in different cultures, but these are the important rituals followed during a Buddhist funeral in many countries like Tibet, Thailand, and China by the followers of the religion.

Find out more about the company that provides best Buddhist funeral and with professionalundertaker.

categories: funeral services,business,undertakers,Catholic funeral,Buddhist funeral,funeral director