Due to their belief in reincarnation, cremation is seen as the preferred choice when a loved one dies. The physical body holds little significance to the Buddhist faith, it is merely a vessel for holding the soul. Buddhists also believe in organ donation as it is seen as a good deed.
Buddhists typically favor cremation because they believe it is an important way to release the soul from the physical form. Buddha himself was cremated, so his followers often follow his lead. But burial with embalming is allowed, too. Buddhism also allows the donation of organs and autopsies.
The burial or cremation usually takes place right after the funeral. In some Buddhist traditions, such as Mahayana Buddhism, the funeral takes place a few days after the death to allow the first stage of rebirth to occur.
There were three ways to dispose of the remains: Collect the remains from the woods, bury them or place them in a pagoda. Cremate the remains, then bury the ashes or place them in a pagoda. Cremate the remains, then distribute the ashes in the woods or water.
The patient may want shrines, pictures, prayer beads or other objects of devotion brought to their room. Some Buddhists believe the patient's “life force” remains in and around the corpse for hours after the last breath is taken. After death, the body should be covered with a sheet and moved to the morgue in silence.
According to Buddhist funeral customs, chanting may be led by monks and guests can either join in or sit silently. At this time, mourners and monks may also sing Buddhist funeral prayers which are also known as sutras. These Buddhist funeral prayers are detailed canonical scriptures that often include repetition.
The first 49 days after a loved one's death are the most important in Buddhism because we believe it takes a total of 49 days for one's spirit and energy to be fully released.
Trimming hair and nails
Generally, this emanates from the belief that nails and hair were given to the children by the deceased as a parent and as such they shouldn't be trimmed during the mourning period and after the burial. At least you should wait for 49 days.
According to Buddhist beliefs, death is an escape from one life and the beginning of a new life. Thus, white encompasses this hope for the departed to have been pure in heart, and to move on to their next life in peace.
It's acceptable to show grief at a Buddhist funeral
But it's very rare for guests to read eulogies, even close friends and family. You do not need to prepare anything to say. The focus is on remembering the person and thinking good thoughts about them.
Buddhists don't reject grief as “bad” or “wrong.” You're not a “bad Buddhist” if you grieve when someone dies. Buddhism simply holds that the experience of grief can be one of spiritual awakening if you grieve with intention and knowledge. » MORE: Honor your loved one.
After Death: When a death occurs, Buddhist tradition is to let the body rest for four hours. During this time, no one moves, touches, or disturbs the person. Buddhists believe that it takes time for the soul to leave the body.
Typically, funerals are held within a few days up to a week after the person's death. This gives the family enough time to make arrangements with the funeral home and contact the loved ones of the deceased.
Those who remain present the deceased with food to show them – as they linger on Earth in consciousness – that they are loved in death as they were loved in life. “It's their last meal, so to speak." Food offerings are usually made of grains, fruits and vegetables and must not be meat or fish.
Buddhist funeral rites
Once the person has died, their body should not be touched, moved or disturbed for at least four hours. This is because Buddhists believe the soul doesn't leave the body straight away. The body must be kept cold and should be cleansed and dressed in their everyday clothes.
In the olden days, family members would all gather together in the house of the deceased on the seventh day following the death date. This is when the dearly departed is thought to return back home.
Buddhist Funeral
White flowers are the traditional Buddhist flower of mourning and may be sent to the family. Sending red flowers or gifts of food are considered poor funeral etiquette. A donation to the family or a designated charity in the name of the deceased are appropriate.
If you have an adult with you at the funeral home, it is ok to touch a dead body, and you will not get in trouble. You are naturally curious, and sometimes when you see and touch a dead body it helps you answer your questions. Remember to be gentle and have an adult help you.
Why you shouldn't wear red to a funeral. Wearing red to a funeral can be a sign of disrespect. It will give others a completely wrong impression if you wear a bright and bold colour to a funeral, as this goes against the dark, muted colours associated with sadness and mourning.
Wearing red to a funeral would be considered inappropriate because it would clash with the somber atmosphere and be viewed as disrespectful. In some eastern cultures, red is also seen as a positive color, but it carries different connotations. Red represents luck, good fortune, and happiness.
Typically, a body is in full rigor mortis 15 hours after death.
Muscle cells live on for several hours. Bone and skin cells can stay alive for several days. It takes around 12 hours for a human body to be cool to the touch and 24 hours to cool to the core. Rigor mortis commences after three hours and lasts until 36 hours after death.
Rigor mortis generally disappears 36 hours after death, followed by a phase known as secondary flaccidity. The late post-mortem phase is when the body tissue starts disintegrating and is primarily describable as decomposition or putrefaction, adipocere formation, mummification, or skeletonization.
Leave the bad luck at the funeral, and bring good luck home. In Chinese culture, red is the color of good luck, and the coin represents fortune. Before guests arrive home, they should eat the candy and spend the coin to seal their luck. Families in other regions may present guests with a red thread instead.
Although cremation is the most common choice among Buddhists, burial is also permissible. Individual traditions or sects do have specific funeral practices that practitioners usually follow but unlike Christianity, none of these would have any impact on the soul or eternal destiny of the practitioner.