The fundamental teachings of Lord Buddha form the crux of the Buddhist religion which is the main religion in many nations of the world today. Buddhism entails search for the Ultimate Truth as well as a sense of compassion and genuine love for every creature.

These main principles of Buddhism are evident in the rites followed in a Buddhist Funeral. After the death of a person in a Buddhist family, certain rites have to be practised in order to make sure that the departed soul is elevated to a higher stage in afterlife. Prayers are made invoking the good energies of the dead person for his or her ultimate deliverance from this cycle of life.

The first task in funeral rites is that of giving the body a traditional wash. Buddhist monks chant different religious scriptures, which are believed to give the soul the correct guidance to attain spiritual freedom. The monks read out those sermons of Lord Buddha that talk about the significance of practising mercy and kindness. The body is meanwhile made ready for the final rites. Friends and family usually place some coins in the casket of the dead person. This is believed to help the deceased cross the River of Three Hells to reach his ultimate destination.

Then the friends and family come and pay their last respects to the deceased as the casket is put at the altar. Attendees are expected to pray for the dead person and the family and relatives give their condolences. The proceeding is accompanied with chanting of relevant sutras by the monks. After the completion of recitals, people attending the ceremony bow at the altar. The family members then thank the attendees for shouldering their grief by distributing gifts to them.

Once these rituals are completed, the family members can decide to bury or cremate the body according to their family customs. The different ceremonies are a means of bringing peace to the family of the departed as they know their prayers are directed towards elevating the status of the departed in his after life.

Entrust the delicate matter of funeral needs in the hands of considerate professional undertakers.

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