The Significance Of Rituals In A Buddhists Funeral

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Posted by Danny Wong | Posted in Business | Posted on 08-01-2010

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One of the most widely practised religions in the world, Buddhism derives its main principles from the teachings of Lord Buddha. Buddhism teaches compassion and universal love for mankind and realization of the Ultimate Truth.

These main tenets of Buddhism can be seen in the rites practised in a Buddhist Funeral. There are certain compulsory rituals that have to be adhered to during the funeral of a dead person. These rites are aimed at ensuring that the deceased is elevated to a higher stage. Prayers are done invoking the goodness of the departed soul and wishes are made for a peaceful life after death for the deceased.

A traditional bath to the deceased marks the beginning of the Buddhist funeral rites. Monks are invited to chant different religious scriptures, and these chants are believed to give the soul the correct guidance to achieve spiritual freedom. The teachings of the Buddha, which speak of the value of practising virtue and compassion in daily life, are read aloud. The body is meanwhile made ready for the final rites. The relatives generally keep some money in the casket along with the deceased. This is for helping the deceased to pay and go across the River of Three Hells.

Then the casket is displayed to the near and dear ones to enable them to pay their respects by putting it at the altar. The relatives and friends give condolences to the dead person\’s family, while the visitors pray for his soul. The priests carrying out the rites keep chanting the sutras as the proceedings move on. The attendees present have to bow before the altar when this chanting is over. After the ceremony, the family members of the deceased give out gifts to the attendees for sharing their grief.

Once these rituals are over, the family members can decide to bury or cremate the deceased according to their family beliefs. In all, the rituals try to bring a sense of acceptance and peace to the grieving family while praying to promote the departed to a higher stage of knowledge and realization.

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