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samedi 30 janvier 2010

Sacred Buddhist Funeral Rituals And Their Significances

By Vanessa Parks

The Buddhist religion is practiced all over the globe, the essense of which is taken from the primary teachings of the Buddha. Mercy and love for mankind and realization of the Ultimate truth are required in Buddhism.

These basics of Buddhism can be seen in the rites practiced in a Buddhist funeral. When a person in a Buddhist family passes, there are certain mandatory rites to be followed, in order to make sure that the dead's soul gets promoted to a higher level. To make sure the deceased's deliverance from this birth and bidding them the best for their next life, prayers are offered to invoke the good energies of the dead.

The funeral rites begin with giving the deceased a traditional wash. Monks are invited to read out from religious text, which are thought to give the soul the right guidance to achieve spiritual freedom. The teachings of Lord Buddha, which talk about the value of practising virtue and compassion in daily life, are read aloud. Meanwhile, the body is prepared for the final journey. Friends and family usually keep some money in the casket of the dead person. This is to pay for the deceased's journey across the mythical River of Three Hells.

Then the friends and family come and pay their last respects to the dead person as the casket is put at the altar. While friends and relatives give condolences, visitors are expected to offer prayers for the deceased. The ceremony is accompanied with chanting of relevant sutras by the monks. The attendees present have to bow before the altar when this chanting is completed. As the visitors start leaving, the family members give a gift to each other to show gratitude for partaking in their sorrow.

Once these rituals are over, the family members can decide to bury or cremate the deceased based on their family customs. In all, the rites 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 enlightenment.

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