No matter what religion a person belongs to, he or she cannot escape the deep sadness when a person close to them dies. The relgious affiliation in which a person belongs to can do a rite of relinquishing in order to help those who are left behind to come to terms with a family member’s demise.

Buddhism is one of the most popular religions practised across the world. The basic tenets of the religion are based on the teachings of Buddha. Buddhism calls for mercy and love for all creatures and realization of the Ultimate Truth.

Buddhist funeral rituals also rely on these basic principles of the religion. There are certain compulsory rituals that need to be followed during the funeral of a deceased person. These rites are aimed at ensuring that the deceased is elevated to a higher stage. Prayers are done invoking the goodness of the departed soul and wishes are made for a blissful life after death for the deceased.

The funeral rites start with giving the deceased a traditional wash. Then comes the stage of chanting of religious texts by the monks, thereby guiding the soul to the path of spiritual freedom. Then the Lord Buddha’s teachings that highlight the significance of kindness and concern are read out loud by the monks. Meanwhile, the body is made ready for the final rituals. The deceased is generally provided with some coins placed in his casket by the family. This is done to pay for the deceased’s journey across the River of Three Hells.

Then the casket is exhibited to the near and dear ones to allow them to pay their respects by placing it at the altar. While friends and relatives give condolences, attendees are expected to offer prayers for the deceased. Monks who carry out the rituals continue to chant the appropriate sutras. After the chanting is over, people present at the ceremony bow at the altar. After the proceedings, the family members of the deceased give out gifts to the attendees for sharing their grief.

The family members can decide upon whether to bury the body or cremate it according to their familial customs, once all these important rituals are completed. In all, the rites aim to bring a sense of peace and acceptance to the bereaved family while praying to promote the departed to a higher state of knowledge and enlightenment.

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