One of the most widely practised religions on earth, Buddhism derives its fundamental principles from the teachings of Lord Buddha. Buddhism entails quest for the Ultimate Truth as well as a sense of compassion and genuine love for every living being.

These fundamentals of Buddhism are reflected in the rites followed in a Buddhist funeral. When death occurs in a Buddhist family, there are some main rites which are practised with the objective of ensuring that the deceased’s soul can soar to an elevated level. Prayers are chanted calling upon the positive energies of the dead person for his or her ultimate deliverance from this life cycle.

A traditional ablution of the body marks the beginning of the Buddhist funeral rites. Buddhist monks read out from religious scriptures, and these chants are believed to give the soul the correct guidance to achieve spiritual liberation. Then Buddha’s teachings that emphasize on the significance of kindness and compassion are read out loud by the monks. The body is meanwhile made ready for the final rituals. The deceased is normally provided with some money placed in his casket by the family members. This is done to pay for the dead person’s journey across the River of Three Hells.

Then the casket is displayed to the family and friends to enable them to pay their respects by placing it at the altar. While friends and relatives offer condolences, attendees are expected to offer prayers for the dead person. The monks carrying out the ritual keep reciting the sutras along with the proceedings. After the chanting is over, people attending the ceremony bow at the altar. After the ceremony, the family members of the deceased distribute gifts to the visitors for sharing their sorrow.

Once these rituals are done, the deceased may then be either buried or cremated in accordance with the beliefs of the family. In all, the rituals aim to bring a sense of acceptance and peace to the grieving family while praying in order to elevate the dead to a higher state of knowledge and realization.

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