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When a family member passes away, an individual is not immune to sorrow no matter what her or his religious belief is. The faith system 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 loved one’s demise.

Buddhism is one of the most popular religions practised across the world. The main tenets of the religion are based on the teachings of Lord Buddha. Buddhism involves quest for the Ultimate Truth and also a sense of compassion and true love for every living being.

These fundamentals of Buddhism are evident in the rites followed during a Buddhist funeral. There are certain compulsory rituals that need to be adhered to during the funeral of a dead person. These rites are meant to ensure that the deceased is raised to a higher stage. Prayers are offered invoking the goodness of the deceased person and wishes are made for a peaceful life after death for the departed.

The funeral rites start with giving the deceased a traditional ablution. Monks are invited to read out from religious scriptures, which are believed to give the deceased the correct guidance to attain spiritual freedom. The monks read out those teachings of the Buddha that talk about the significance of practising compassion and kindness. The body is meanwhile prepared for the final rituals. The relatives normally place some coins in the casket of the deceased. This is to pay for the dead person’s journey across the mythical River of Three Hells.

Then the casket is displayed to the near and dear ones to enable them to pay their respects by placing it at the altar. The relatives and friends give condolences to the deceased’s family, while the visitors pray for his soul. The priests performing the ritual keep reciting the sutras as the proceedings move on. Once the chanting is complete, people bow at the altar to pay their last respects. After the proceedings, the family members of the deceased give out gifts to the visitors for sharing their sorrow.

Once these rituals are carried out, the deceased may then be either buried or cremated according to the beliefs of the family. In all, the rituals try to bring a sense of acceptance and peace to the bereaved family while praying in order to elevate the dead to a higher state of knowledge and enlightenment.

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