The Significance Of Rituals In A Buddhists Funeral
Buddhism is one of the most widespread religions practised across the globe. The main tenets of the religion have been derived from the teachings of Buddha. Buddhism calls for mercy and love for all creatures and awareness of the Ultimate Truth.
Buddhist funeral rites also rely on these basic principles of the religion. After the death of a person in a Buddhist family, some rituals have to be followed in order to make sure that the departed soul rises to a higher stage in afterlife. The positive energies of the dead are invoked to pray and wish the best for the dead person’s life cycle beyond this birth.
The funeral rituals begin with giving the dead person a traditional wash. Monks are invited to chant different religious scriptures, and these chants are believed to give the soul the correct guidance to achieve spiritual liberation. Then Buddha’s teachings that highlight the significance of kindness and compassion are read out loud by the monks. Meanwhile, the body is prepared for the final rites. Friends and family members often keep some money in the casket of the deceased person. This is for enabling the deceased to pay and go across the River of Three Hells.
Then the casket is exhibited to the family and friends to enable them to pay their respects by placing it at the altar. Attendees are required to pray for the deceased and the family and friends give their condolences. Priests who perform the rites continue to chant the appropriate sutras. The attendees present have to bow before the altar when this chanting is over. As the visitors begin leaving, the family members present a gift to each other to show gratitude for partaking in their sorrow.
Once these rituals are done, the body may then be either buried or cremated in accordance with the beliefs of the family. These rites are meant to allow the family to alleviate their sorrow by offering prayers that will elevate the deceased to a higher stage of enlightenment and knowledge.
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