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The Significance Of Rituals In A Buddhists Funeral

Posted by Andrew Wond

Buddhism is one of the most widespread religions practised across the world. The main principles of the religion have been derived from the teachings of Buddha. Buddhism teaches compassion and universal love for mankind and realization of the Ultimate Truth.

Buddhist funeral rituals are also based upon these basic tenets of the religion. After the death of a person in a Buddhist family, some rituals have to be practised in order to make sure that the deceased\’s soul is elevated to a higher stage in afterlife. Prayers are chanted invoking the positive energies associated with the deceased for his or her deliverance from this life cycle.

The first stage in funeral rituals is that of giving the body a traditional wash. The second stage entails presence of monks, who chant from religious scriptures and thereby help the soul in finding eternity. Then Buddha\’s teachings that emphasize on the significance of kindness and compassion are recited aloud by the monks. In the meantime, the body is made ready for the last journey. Friends and family members often place some money in the casket of the dead person. This is for enabling the deceased to pay and wade across the River of Three Hells.

The casket is then put before the altar in the house for the loved ones to pay their respects. The relatives and friends give condolences to the dead person\’s family, while the attendees pray for his soul. The ceremony is accompanied with chanting of relevant sutras by the monks. Once the chanting is over, people bow at the altar to pay their last respects. The family members then thank the visitors for sharing their grief by giving them token gifts.

After these rituals are done, the deceased may then be either cremated or buried in accordance with the beliefs of the family. These rites are meant to enable the family to alleviate their grief by offering prayers that will raise the dead to a higher pedestal of enlightenment and knowledge.

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