Buddhist Funeral Traditions

According to Buddhism, everything that happens is the result of Karma – the law of cause and effect. Every action throughout a person's lifetime, both good and bad, has an effect on their future. The way a person lives his or her life also affects the way they die. So it is very important for a Buddhist to prepare for death by living in a good and kind manner. They are encouraged to be true to themselves and to care for and about those around them. This is how they can achieve calmness and control at their time of death.

Within the Buddhist community, death has important religious meaning. It marks the moment when new life begins through rebirth. For those left behind, it is a powerful reminder of Buddha's teachings. Every Buddhist must be prepared for death, because it can happen at any time. Because of this, it is important to make every moment count. Human birth is precious, and life has great value.

When death is near, Buddhists are taught to think about their holy writings. Giving one's final thoughts to Buddha and his teachings brings good luck to a new existence.

After death, relatives and friends pour water over one hand of the deceased in a bathing ceremony. They then place the body in a casket and surround it with wreaths, candles and sticks of incense. If possible, a photograph of the deceased is placed alongside and colored lights are hung around the casket.

Since Buddha's death, many Buddhists have chosen cremation to free the soul from the body. Because they believe that several stages of life called bardos continue for hours or days after the body dies, cremation does not take place right away. Sometimes, it is delayed to wait for distant relatives to arrive or to show special honor to the dead. In these cases, monks come to the house one or more times each day to chant (sing). Food is offered to the monks to increase the importance of the dead person.

Frequently the body of a famous or rich person is kept for a year or more in a special building at a temple. Waiting this long before cremation shows respect and allows time for religious ceremonies that will benefit them in the afterlife. When this happens, memorial services are held on the seventh, fiftieth and hundredth days after death. As long as the body is present, the spirit can benefit from gifts presented, talks given and chants sung for it. After cremation, the spirit is cut off from our world.

On the day of cremation, a man carrying a white banner on a long pole leads the procession to the place where cremation is to take place. He is followed by elderly men carrying flowers in silver bowls. Next, a group of eight to ten holy men (monks) hold a broad ribbon that extends to the casket behind them. The casket may be carried by people or pulled in a funeral car by a large number of friends and relatives who feel that they are doing their last good deed for the dead person. During the ceremony at the cemetery, monks sit facing the casket and lead the mourners in song-like prayers. The casket is then placed on a brick structure and friends and family throw lit candles, incense and wood beneath the casket to start it burning. Later the ashes are collected and kept in a container called an urn.

A Buddhist funeral is a serious and dignified ceremony. Those left behind share their grief and learn to live a new life without a loved one.