In a Buddhist funeral, the followers of the faith are particular about performing detailed rites and rituals during the funeral proceedings. 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 higher plane of existence.
The Buddhist funeral ceremonies which conclude with cremation in most cases, are done by monks with the aid of the family. When a person has passed away, Buddhist monks recite sutras from scriptures to liberate the good energies from the soul. Meanwhile, the body is prepared and preserved so that even if the cremation happens after few days of the death, the body doesn’t decompose. Once the body is washed, it is placed along with candlesticks, bouquets and incense in a coffin along with a picture of the deceased person.
When the last rites are delayed to allow far away relatives to arrive for the last glimpse of the deceased, monks visit the home daily to read and recite from the Buddhist religious scripture Abhidharma.
The Buddhist monks finish the last rites on the day of the funeral and the head monk gives a speech mentioning the good deeds and actions carried out by the deceased and consoling the bereaved family members and relatives. Other rites like wrapping a white cloth around the coffin during the religious incantation and Pansakula, a ritual of passing on blessings and virtues to the departed soul are also performed.
Prior to cremation, a family member or the nearest kin is requested to make a brief speech about the deceased person. Following the cremation, a light feast is arranged for the people assembled at the funeral.
A great number of people in China, Tibet, Thailand and a few other Asian nations with a large Buddhist population follow the Buddhist funeral system with some variations according to the local customs.
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