The basic teachings of the Lord Buddha form the core of the Buddhist religion which is practiced in many countries all over the globe today. This religion involves love & mercy for man and recognition of the Ultimate Truth.
These Buddhist traditions are apparent in the rites seen in a Buddhist funeral. When a Buddhist person dies, to make sure that his or her soul gets to a higher level in the next life, mandatory rituals should be observed. Prayers are used to invoke the positive energies of the deceased, ensuring his or her deliverance from this life and wishing them the best for the next life.
A traditional ablution of the body marks the start of the Buddhist funeral rites. Monks are asked to chant different religious scriptures, which are believed to give the deceased the right guidance to gain spiritual liberation. The Lord Buddha’s teachings, which talk about the value of goodness and compassion in daily life, are read aloud. Meanwhile, the deceased is prepared for the final journey. The relatives generally keep some coins in the casket of the deceased. This is for helping the dead person to pay and go across the River of Three Hells.
Then the friends and family come and pay their last respects to the dead person as the casket is placed at the altar. While friends and relatives offer condolences, visitors are expected to offer prayers for the deceased. Priests who perform the rituals continue to chant the appropriate sutras. Everyone present have to bow before the altar when this chanting is completed. After the ceremony, the family members of the deceased give out gifts to the attendees for sharing their sorrow.
Once these rites are over, the family members can decide to cremate or bury the body based on their family customs. These rituals are meant to allow the family to overcome their sorrow by saying prayers that will raise the deceased to a higher pedestal of religious being.
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