The basic teachings of Lord Buddha form the crux of the Buddhist religion which is the main religion in several parts of the world today. Buddhism teaches mercy and love for mankind and realization of the Ultimate Truth.
These main tenets of Buddhism are reflected in the rites practised during a Buddhist funeral. When someone dies in a Buddhist family, there are some main rites which are followed with the objective of ensuring that the soul of the departed can soar to an elevated level. Prayers are chanted invoking the good energies of the dead person for his or her ultimate deliverance from this cycle of life.
A traditional ablution of the deceased marks the beginning of the Buddhist funeral rituals. The next stage involves invitation of monks, who chant from religious texts and thereby help the soul in finding eternity. Then Buddha’s teachings that highlight the importance of kindness and concern are read out loud by the monks. The body is meanwhile made ready for the final rites. Friends and family usually place some money in the casket of the deceased person. This is to pay for the dead person’s journey across the River of Three Hells.
The casket is then put before the altar at home for friends and relatives to pay their final respects. Visitors are expected to pray for the dead person and the family and relatives offer their condolences. The ceremony is accompanied with recitation of relevant sutras by the monks. Once the recital is over, people bow at the altar to pay their final regards. As the visitors begin leaving, the family members give a gift to each other to display gratitude for partaking in their sorrow.
Once these rituals are completed, the family can decide to cremate or bury the body according to their family beliefs. These rituals are meant to allow the family to overcome their grief by offering prayers that will raise the deceased to a higher stage of enlightenment and knowledge.
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