One of the most widely practised religions on earth, Buddhism derives its fundamental principles from the teachings of the Buddha. Buddhism involves quest for the Ultimate Truth as well as a sense of compassion and true love for every creature.
These basic tenets of Buddhism can be seen in the rituals practised in a Buddhist Funeral. There are certain compulsory rituals that have to be followed during the funeral of a dead person. These rites are meant to ensure that the deceased is elevated to a higher stage. Prayers are made calling upon the positive energies of the deceased for his or her ultimate deliverance from this life cycle.
A traditional ablution of the deceased marks the start of the Buddhist funeral rituals. Buddhist monks read out from religious scriptures, which are believed to give the soul the correct guidance to attain spiritual liberation. Then the Lord Buddha's teachings that highlight the significance of kindness and concern are recited aloud by the monks. Meanwhile, the body is made ready for the final rites. Friends and family often keep some money in the casket of the dead person. This is supposed to help the dead person cross the River of Three Hells to reach his destination.
Then the casket is exhibited to the family and friends to enable them to pay their respects by placing it at the altar. While friends and relatives give condolences, attendees are expected to offer prayers for the dead person. The proceeding is accompanied with recitation of relevant sutras by the priests. After the completion of recitals, people attending the ceremony bow at the altar. As the visitors start leaving, the family members give a gift to each other to display gratitude 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. In all, the rites try to bring a sense of acceptance and peace to the bereaved family while praying to promote the departed to a higher state of knowledge and enlightenment. - 20763
These basic tenets of Buddhism can be seen in the rituals practised in a Buddhist Funeral. There are certain compulsory rituals that have to be followed during the funeral of a dead person. These rites are meant to ensure that the deceased is elevated to a higher stage. Prayers are made calling upon the positive energies of the deceased for his or her ultimate deliverance from this life cycle.
A traditional ablution of the deceased marks the start of the Buddhist funeral rituals. Buddhist monks read out from religious scriptures, which are believed to give the soul the correct guidance to attain spiritual liberation. Then the Lord Buddha's teachings that highlight the significance of kindness and concern are recited aloud by the monks. Meanwhile, the body is made ready for the final rites. Friends and family often keep some money in the casket of the dead person. This is supposed to help the dead person cross the River of Three Hells to reach his destination.
Then the casket is exhibited to the family and friends to enable them to pay their respects by placing it at the altar. While friends and relatives give condolences, attendees are expected to offer prayers for the dead person. The proceeding is accompanied with recitation of relevant sutras by the priests. After the completion of recitals, people attending the ceremony bow at the altar. As the visitors start leaving, the family members give a gift to each other to display gratitude 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. In all, the rites try to bring a sense of acceptance and peace to the bereaved family while praying to promote the departed to a higher state of knowledge and enlightenment. - 20763
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