A Buddhist funeral consists of extensive last rites performed according to sacred rituals and traditions. Buddhists believe that the soul is given freedom from the worldly cycle of life and death from the deceased's mortal body during the funeral services and is able to find a new level and move to a greater existence.
The Buddhist funeral ceremonies which conclude with cremation in most cases, are carried out by Buddhist monks with the aid of the bereaved family. After a person has breathed his last, Buddhist monks chant from the holy scriptures which are expected to free the soul's positive energies. In the meantime, the body is prepared and embalmed so that even if the cremation takes place after some days of the death, the body doesn't decompose. Once the body is bathed, it is put along with candlesticks, flowers and incense in a coffin along with a photograph of the dead person.
If the funeral is delayed by some days for distant relatives to bid their final goodbyes, the monks visit the deceased person's house daily and chant verses from the Abhidharma, an important Buddhist holy scripture.
On the day of the funeral, monks perform the last rites and their chief delivers a short speech in honour of the dead person highlighting his achievements in life and consoling the bereaved family that death is inevitable. Other rituals like wrapping the casket with a white cloth during the religious incantation and Pansakula, a custom of passing on virtues and blessings to the departed soul are also carried out.
Prior to the cremation, one of the family members or closest kin has to say something about the deceased. A light meal for all the attendees is arranged after the Buddhist funeral ceremony and the cremation is done.
Some differences in the specific rituals may be found in various cultures, but these are the important rituals followed during a Buddhist funeral in many countries like China, Thailand, and Tibet by the followers of the religion.
The Buddhist funeral ceremonies which conclude with cremation in most cases, are carried out by Buddhist monks with the aid of the bereaved family. After a person has breathed his last, Buddhist monks chant from the holy scriptures which are expected to free the soul's positive energies. In the meantime, the body is prepared and embalmed so that even if the cremation takes place after some days of the death, the body doesn't decompose. Once the body is bathed, it is put along with candlesticks, flowers and incense in a coffin along with a photograph of the dead person.
If the funeral is delayed by some days for distant relatives to bid their final goodbyes, the monks visit the deceased person's house daily and chant verses from the Abhidharma, an important Buddhist holy scripture.
On the day of the funeral, monks perform the last rites and their chief delivers a short speech in honour of the dead person highlighting his achievements in life and consoling the bereaved family that death is inevitable. Other rituals like wrapping the casket with a white cloth during the religious incantation and Pansakula, a custom of passing on virtues and blessings to the departed soul are also carried out.
Prior to the cremation, one of the family members or closest kin has to say something about the deceased. A light meal for all the attendees is arranged after the Buddhist funeral ceremony and the cremation is done.
Some differences in the specific rituals may be found in various cultures, but these are the important rituals followed during a Buddhist funeral in many countries like China, Thailand, and Tibet by the followers of the religion.
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