Saturday, January 30, 2010

Sacred Buddhist Funeral Rites And Their Importance

By June Parks

The Buddhist religion is practiced the world over, the core of which is taken from the fundamental teachings of the Buddha. This religion involves mercy & love for man, as well as recognition of the Ultimate Truth.

These Buddhist traditions are apparent in the rites seen in a Buddhist funeral. When a Buddhist person passes, 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 good energies of the deceased, ensuring his or her deliverance from this life and wishing them the best for the next life.

The first task in funeral rituals is that of giving a traditional wash to the body. Buddhist monks chant different religious scriptures, and these chants are believed to give the deceased the correct guidance to achieve spiritual freedom. The teachings of the Buddha, which talk of the value of goodness and compassion in life, are read aloud. Meanwhile, the deceased is prepared for the final rites. The deceased is usually provided with some money put in his casket by the family members. This is done to pay for the deceased's journey across the River of Three Hells.

The casket is then put before the altar in the house for the loved ones to pay their respects. Attendees are expected to pray for the dead person and the family and friends give their condolences. The ceremony is accompanied with recitation of relevant sutras by the priests. Once the recital is complete, people bow before the altar to pay their final regards. As the visitors start leaving, the family members give a gift to each other to display gratitude for partaking in their sorrow.

The family can decide upon whether to bury the body or cremate it as per their family beliefs, once all these important rituals are over. These rituals are meant to enable the family to overcome their grief by saying prayers that will raise the deceased to a higher stage of enlightenment and knowledge.

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