Buddhism is certainly one of the oldest religions in the world with experts tracing its roots or initial stages some 2500 years ago. Currently, Buddhism ranks as the fourth largest religion in the world with the number of devotees totalling 350 million. Unlike numerous religions, Buddhism is not focused on man's relationship with a god but rather man's pursuit for spiritual enlightenment or a deeper understanding of life.
This religion, however, is no different from others in that it has its own sets of beliefs and practices with regards to matters like deaths. Listed below are some of the interesting facts about funeral rites observed by the different schools of Buddhism.
In a lot of Buddhist schools, it is believed that the proper way to dispose of a body via cremation. This practice signifies the release of the soul of the departed individual from bondage. Furthermore, it is believed to prevent being attached to the dead, an act that can prevent the soul of the deceased from seeking new life.
Meanwhile, when it comes to the cleaning and dressing of the body, Buddhist tradition dictates that these tasks should be delegated to the deceased's family members. This is to ensure that the body is handled with respect and with the greatest care.
[[These days, however, with the presence of funeral companies well-aware of Buddhist funeral customs and practices, some families, especially those in Singapore, entrust these tasks to their chosen Funeral services Singapore provider. Basically, what the deceased individual's family does is sit down with the funeral director Singapore memorial company has and discuss what they like to happen. From there, the funeral director takes the lead role in organising the funeral.]]
In the Theravada tradition, on funeral day, a white cloth, also known as a Mataka Vastra, is draped on the casket by monks. To transfer merit to the departed, relatives, meanwhile, pour water from a tiny jug into a dish. This practice is known as Pansakula or the blessing of the departed's body. Following the cremation, alms-giving happens. Here, pumpkin and salted fish are served. Pumpkin is believed to be excellent for the grieving heart while salted fish is said to replenish lost salts in the body due to crying.
The different schools of Buddhism may have differences in conducting funeral rites. What's clear, however, is that these various schools remain true to Buddhism's teaching of simplicity. Leaders of these educational institutions remind their followers to value solemnity instead of extravagance when organising funerals.
This religion, however, is no different from others in that it has its own sets of beliefs and practices with regards to matters like deaths. Listed below are some of the interesting facts about funeral rites observed by the different schools of Buddhism.
In a lot of Buddhist schools, it is believed that the proper way to dispose of a body via cremation. This practice signifies the release of the soul of the departed individual from bondage. Furthermore, it is believed to prevent being attached to the dead, an act that can prevent the soul of the deceased from seeking new life.
Meanwhile, when it comes to the cleaning and dressing of the body, Buddhist tradition dictates that these tasks should be delegated to the deceased's family members. This is to ensure that the body is handled with respect and with the greatest care.
[[These days, however, with the presence of funeral companies well-aware of Buddhist funeral customs and practices, some families, especially those in Singapore, entrust these tasks to their chosen Funeral services Singapore provider. Basically, what the deceased individual's family does is sit down with the funeral director Singapore memorial company has and discuss what they like to happen. From there, the funeral director takes the lead role in organising the funeral.]]
In the Theravada tradition, on funeral day, a white cloth, also known as a Mataka Vastra, is draped on the casket by monks. To transfer merit to the departed, relatives, meanwhile, pour water from a tiny jug into a dish. This practice is known as Pansakula or the blessing of the departed's body. Following the cremation, alms-giving happens. Here, pumpkin and salted fish are served. Pumpkin is believed to be excellent for the grieving heart while salted fish is said to replenish lost salts in the body due to crying.
The different schools of Buddhism may have differences in conducting funeral rites. What's clear, however, is that these various schools remain true to Buddhism's teaching of simplicity. Leaders of these educational institutions remind their followers to value solemnity instead of extravagance when organising funerals.
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