Sacred Buddhist Funeral Rites And Their Importance
The Buddhist religion is practiced all over the globe, the core of which is taken from the fundamental teachings of the Buddha. Mercy and love for humanity and realization of the Ultimate truth are required in Buddhism.
These teachings of Buddhism can be seen in the rites practiced in a Buddhist funeral. When Buddhist person passes away, there are certain mandatory rites to be followed, in order to guarantee that the his or her soul gets elevated in the next life. Prayers are used to invoke the positive energies of the deceased, ensuring his or her deliverance from this life and wishing them the best for their next life.
The first task in funeral rites is that of giving the body a traditional wash. Then comes the stage of reading out from religious scriptures by the priests, thereby guiding the soul towards the path of spiritual liberation. The teachings of Lord Buddha, which talk about the value of practising virtue and compassion in life, are read aloud. The body is meanwhile prepared for the final rites. Friends and family usually place some money in the casket of the dead person. This is supposed to help the dead person cross the River of Three Hells to reach his destination.
Then the friends and family pay their last respects to the dead person as the casket is placed at the altar. While friends and relatives offer condolences, visitors are expected to offer prayers for the deceased. The ceremony is accompanied with chanting of relevant sutras by the priests. Everyone present have to bow at the altar when this recital is completed. The family members then thank the attendees for sharing their grief by distributing gifts to them.
Once these rituals are over, the family can decide to either cremate or burry the body according to their family customs. In all, the rituals aim to bring a sense of peace and acceptance to the grieving family while praying to promote the departed to a higher state of knowledge and realization.
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