Buddhist Funeral Rites And Their Significances
The core of Buddhist religion, practiced in many nations the world over, comes from the basic teachings of the Buddha. Mercy and love for mankind and acknowledgement of the Ultimate truth are essential in Buddhism.
These Buddhist traditions are apparent in the rites seen in a Buddhist funeral. When a person in a Buddhist family passes away, there are certain mandatory rites to be followed, in order to guarantee that the his or her soul gets promoted in the next life. Prayers are used to invoke the positive 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 are asked to read out from religious text, which are believed to give the soul the correct guidance to achieve spiritual liberation. Then the Lord Buddha’s teachings that emphasize on the significance of kindness and compassion are recited aloud by the monks. Meanwhile, the deceased is prepared for the final journey. Friends and family often place some coins in the casket of the deceased person. This is done to pay for the deceased’s journey across the mythical River of Three Hells.
The casket is then put before the altar in the house for friends and relatives to pay their final respects. The relatives and friends give condolences to the deceased’s family, while the visitors pray for his soul. The monks carrying out the ritual keep chanting the sutras along with the proceedings. After the chanting is over, people attending the ceremony bow at the altar. The family members then thank the visitors for shouldering their sorrow by giving them token gifts.
The family can decide whether to bury the body or cremate it according to their familial customs, once all these important rituals are over. The different ceremonies are a means of bringing peace and acceptance to the family of the deceased as they know their prayer offerings are directed towards elevating the status of the deceased in his life after death.
Death is a sensitive time. After all, funeral present the family with a need to transition into moving on with life. Get the best casket for your loved one’s burial.