03/11, 2010
What Is The Relevance Of The Rituals In A Buddhist Funeral
Buddhism is one of the most popular religions practised across the globe. The main principles of the religion have been derived from the teachings of Lord Buddha. Buddhism involves search for the Ultimate Truth as well as a spirit of compassion and true love for every creature.
These main tenets of Buddhism are evident in the rituals practised in a Buddhist funeral. When death occurs in a Buddhist family, there [...]
Buddhism is one of the most popular religions practised across the globe. The main principles of the religion have been derived from the teachings of Lord Buddha. Buddhism involves search for the Ultimate Truth as well as a spirit of compassion and true love for every creature.
These main tenets of Buddhism are evident in the rituals practised in a Buddhist funeral. When death occurs in a Buddhist family, there are some basic rituals which are followed with the objective of ensuring that the deceased's soul can soar to an elevated level. Prayers are chanted invoking the positive energies associated with the deceased for his or her deliverance from this life cycle.
The funeral rites begin with giving the dead person a traditional wash. The next stage involves invitation of monks, who read out religious scriptures and thereby aid the deceased in finding liberation. The monks read out those teachings of the Buddha that talk about the importance of practising compassion and kindness. Meanwhile, the body is made ready for the final journey. The deceased is usually provided with some coins put in his casket by the family members. This is believed to help the deceased cross the River of Three Hells to reach his ultimate destination.
The casket is then put before the altar at home for friends and relatives to pay their final respects. While friends and relatives give condolences, attendees are expected to pray for the deceased. The ceremony is accompanied with recitation of relevant sutras by the priests. Once the recital is over, people bow at the altar to pay their last respects. After the ceremony, the family members of the deceased distribute gifts to the visitors for sharing their sorrow.
The family members can decide upon whether to cremate the body or bury it according to their familial customs, once all these essential rituals are completed. The different ceremonies are a means of bringing peace to the family members of the deceased as they know their prayers are directed towards elevating the status of the deceased in his life after death.
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