The fundamental teachings of Lord Buddha form the core of the Buddhist religion which is the main religion in several parts of the world today. Buddhism involves search for the Ultimate Truth as well as a sense of compassion and true love for every creature.
Buddhist funeral rites also rely on these fundamental tenets of the religion. When someone dies in a Buddhist family, there are some main rites which are followed with the objective of ensuring that the soul of the departed can ascend to an elevated level. Prayers are offered invoking the goodness of the deceased person and wishes are made for a peaceful life after death for the departed.
The first stage in funeral rites is that of giving the body a traditional wash. The next stage involves presence of monks, who read out religious scriptures and thereby help the deceased in finding liberation. The teachings of the Buddha, which speak of the value of practising virtue and compassion in life, are recited aloud. The body is meanwhile prepared for the final rites. The relatives normally place some money in the casket of the deceased. This is for enabling the dead person to pay and wade across the River of Three Hells.
Then the friends and relatives come and pay their last respects to the dead person as the casket is put at the altar. While friends and relatives offer condolences, attendees are expected to offer prayers for the deceased. Monks who carry out the rituals continue to recite the appropriate sutras. 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 partaking in their sorrow.
Once these rituals are completed, the family members can decide to cremate or bury the deceased based on their family customs. In all, the rites try to bring a sense of peace and acceptance to the bereaved family while praying to promote the departed to a higher state of knowledge and enlightenment.
Buddhist funeral rites also rely on these fundamental tenets of the religion. When someone dies in a Buddhist family, there are some main rites which are followed with the objective of ensuring that the soul of the departed can ascend to an elevated level. Prayers are offered invoking the goodness of the deceased person and wishes are made for a peaceful life after death for the departed.
The first stage in funeral rites is that of giving the body a traditional wash. The next stage involves presence of monks, who read out religious scriptures and thereby help the deceased in finding liberation. The teachings of the Buddha, which speak of the value of practising virtue and compassion in life, are recited aloud. The body is meanwhile prepared for the final rites. The relatives normally place some money in the casket of the deceased. This is for enabling the dead person to pay and wade across the River of Three Hells.
Then the friends and relatives come and pay their last respects to the dead person as the casket is put at the altar. While friends and relatives offer condolences, attendees are expected to offer prayers for the deceased. Monks who carry out the rituals continue to recite the appropriate sutras. 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 partaking in their sorrow.
Once these rituals are completed, the family members can decide to cremate or bury the deceased based on their family customs. In all, the rites try to bring a sense of peace and acceptance to the bereaved family while praying to promote the departed to a higher state of knowledge and enlightenment.
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