Buddhist Etiquette You Must Follow At The Funeral

Buddhists firmly believe in reincarnation that when a person passes away the soul seeks a new life form which eventually leads to rebirth. 

Nonetheless, the general procedure for Buddhist funerals is a simple ritual conducted at the family residence, a funeral house, or a Buddhist temple. During the funeral, a monk will be present to do the procession of the deceased although there are no formal protocols, you can expect chanting as a form of praying, meditation and perhaps sermons and a tribute to the loved one.

After the funeral service, there will be a wake/funeral, or memorial service. 

Here are some of the common Buddhist etiquette to follow at a funeral:

1. Dress Code

Traditionally, Buddhists wear white or cover themselves completely using only white material. Whereas, grievers should wear dark colours like black. One must not display their wealth by wearing valuables such as high-end clothing, flashy accessories. This is by no means following Buddhist funeral etiquette.

2. Maintain Good Behaviour

Right after the arrival, the bereaved person should gently move towards the altar where they can slightly bow and fold their hands in prayer as a sign of respect and honouring the deceased. Most Buddhist funerals have a lot of chanting. Visitors are welcome to join the chanting but one must be absolutely quiet throughout the whole ceremony. If monks are present, it is common etiquette for grievers to know when to sit and when to stand. 

3. Buddhists and burial/cremation

Buddhist do not follow any formal guidelines. Due to their strong belief in life after death known as reincarnation, cremation of the deceased is the most preferred choice. The body holds little value as seen in the Buddhist faith, it’s simply just a vessel to hold the soul. Whereas, in some cases, few prefer the deceased to be buried.

4. Flowers at Buddhist Funeral

Bringing flowers or sending flowers is considered appropriate as these flowers are displayed on the altar at the wake or funeral service. But you must not bring red flowers.

5. Mourning Period for Buddhists

The grieving family may decide to host a reception after the funeral, where family members or close relatives or friends continue to pay their homage to the departed. It’s well known for Buddhists to conduct several services during the entire mourning period which is held on the third, seventh, forty-ninth and hundredth day after the passing of a dear one.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, It’s no lie that planning for funerals consumes a lot of time and preparation regardless of religion. If you’re looking for a Buddhist funeral service, look up to X Funerals, their services include catering to your every individual need, specific rites and traditional procession. For more than 10 years, they have built the trust of many clients. 

X Funerals will provide you with the best custom Buddhist funeral package. Take note that the company offers 3-day and 5-day Buddhist funeral packages. The 3-days are simple and inexpensive while the 5-day package can cost a few bucks.

For more queries and professional assistance, reach out to them.