Traditions And Customs Followed In A Buddhist Funeral

A Buddhist funeral consists of elaborate last rites carried out according to sacred rituals and traditions. Buddhists believe that the soul is given freedom from the cycle of life and death from the deceased person’s body during the funeral services and is able to find a new level and move to a greater existence.

Monks are invited to perform the ceremonies and rituals during a Buddhist funeral, which typically ends with cremation. The dormant positive energies are released from the soul by the chanting of the correct sutras by monks who read from the holy scriptures. To prevent any decay in case of a late cremation, the deceased’s body is prepared cautiously while the religious chanting is being performed. The body is washed and put to rest in a coffin along with incense sticks, candles, flowers and a photograph of the departed person.

The Abhidharma, a sacred Buddhist text is read daily by visiting Buddhist monks during the funeral days even when the cremation is deferred to accommodate the visitors from far away places.

On the day of the funeral, Buddhist monks perform the last rites and their chief gives a brief speech in tribute to the deceased person focusing on his contributions in life and consoling the aggrieved family that death is destiny. The Pansakula, an important ritual that is believed to carry blessings and positive energies to the departed’s soul is carried out during the final chanting while a white cloth is being wrapped around the coffin.

Before the cremation takes place, a close family member is asked to say a few words about the departed individual. The Buddhist funeral ceremonies conclude with a special meal for the visitors immediately after the funeral.

Some differences in the specific rituals may be found in various cultures, but these are the important ceremonies followed during a Buddhist funeral in many countries like China, Thailand, and Tibet by the followers of the religion.

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