Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Buddhist Funeral Rites And Their Importance

By June Parks

Buddhism is practiced the world over, the essense of which is derived from the primary teachings of Lord Buddha. This religion demands love and mercy for man and fruition of the Ultimate Truth.

Buddhist funerals show these essentals of Buddhism. Certain mandatory rites should be followed once a person in a Buddhist family dies, to ensure that the dead's soul gets elevated to a higher level in their next lifetime. 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.

A traditional ablution of the deceased marks the beginning of the Buddhist funeral rites. Then comes the stage of chanting of religious texts by the priests, thereby directing the soul towards the path of spiritual freedom. Then Buddha's teachings that highlight the significance of kindness and compassion are read out loud by the monks. In the meantime, the body is made ready for the final journey. The deceased is generally provided with some money put in his casket by the family. This is to pay for the dead person's journey across the River of Three Hells.

The casket is then put before the altar in the house for friends and relatives to pay their respects. Attendees are expected to pray for the dead person and the family and friends give their condolences. Monks who perform the rituals continue to recite the appropriate sutras. Once the recital is complete, people bow at the altar to pay their final regards. The family members then thank the attendees for shouldering their grief by distributing gifts to them.

Once these rituals are over, the family can decide to either cremate or burry the deceased based on their family beliefs. In all, the rituals aim to bring a sense of acceptance and peace to the people left behind while praying to promote the departed to a higher state of knowledge and realization.

About the Author:

0 comments: