Buddhism is one of the most popular religions practised extensively across the world. The main principles of the religion have been derived from the teachings of Lord Buddha. Buddhism entails quest for the Ultimate Truth as well as a spirit of compassion and genuine love for every living being.
These main tenets of Buddhism are reflected in the rituals followed in a Buddhist funeral. When someone dies in a Buddhist family, there are some main rites which are followed with the objective of ensuring that the soul of the departed can ascend to an elevated level. Prayers are offered invoking the goodness of the departed soul and hopes are made for a peaceful life after death for the departed.
The first stage in funeral rites is that of giving the body a traditional wash. Monks are invited to chant different religious scriptures, and these chants are believed to give the deceased the right guidance to achieve spiritual liberation. The teachings of the Buddha, which speak of the value of practising virtue and compassion in life, are recited aloud. Meanwhile, the deceased is made ready for the final journey. Friends and family members usually keep some money in the casket of the deceased 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 put at the altar. The relatives and friends offer condolences to the dead person's family, while the attendees pray for his soul. The monks carrying out the ritual keep reciting the sutras as the proceedings move on. Once the recital is complete, people bow at the altar to pay their last respects. The family members then thank the visitors for shouldering their grief by distributing gifts to them.
The family members can decide upon whether to cremate the body or bury it according to their familial customs, once all these essential rituals are completed. These rites are meant to enable the family to overcome their sorrow by offering prayers that will raise the deceased to a higher stage of enlightenment and knowledge.
These main tenets of Buddhism are reflected in the rituals followed in a Buddhist funeral. When someone dies in a Buddhist family, there are some main rites which are followed with the objective of ensuring that the soul of the departed can ascend to an elevated level. Prayers are offered invoking the goodness of the departed soul and hopes are made for a peaceful life after death for the departed.
The first stage in funeral rites is that of giving the body a traditional wash. Monks are invited to chant different religious scriptures, and these chants are believed to give the deceased the right guidance to achieve spiritual liberation. The teachings of the Buddha, which speak of the value of practising virtue and compassion in life, are recited aloud. Meanwhile, the deceased is made ready for the final journey. Friends and family members usually keep some money in the casket of the deceased 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 put at the altar. The relatives and friends offer condolences to the dead person's family, while the attendees pray for his soul. The monks carrying out the ritual keep reciting the sutras as the proceedings move on. Once the recital is complete, people bow at the altar to pay their last respects. The family members then thank the visitors for shouldering their grief by distributing gifts to them.
The family members can decide upon whether to cremate the body or bury it according to their familial customs, once all these essential rituals are completed. These rites are meant to enable the family to overcome their sorrow by offering prayers that will raise the deceased to a higher stage of enlightenment and knowledge.
About the Author:
Discover more about the best company that provides high quality Buddhist funeral and Christian funeral.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar