What to Expect at a Buddhist Funeral and Cremation?

Death is a fact of life which one has to accept. Though it is a painful time for the family, they still gather courage and perform the rituals which are necessary for the peace of the deceased’s soul and pray for a comfortable after life. Every community has different traditions when it comes to funerals. In Singapore, the Buddhist funeral is one common type of funeral as there is a significant population in Singapore that believes in Buddhism.

If you are going to attend a Buddhist funeral in Singapore, here’s a look at the rituals and customs you can expect at the funeral:

Beliefs about death

Buddhists accept death as a part of the reincarnation cycle known as samsara. In samsara, the Buddhist’s actions in life affect their future incarnations. Though widely accepted among Buddhists, the belief may differ slightly according to the type of Buddhism. Buddhists aspire to leave the cycle of samsara freeing themselves from all desires and notions of self to attain the state of nirvana.

Buddhist cremation

Many Buddhists prefer cremation and not burial. The cremation may take place on an open pyre or at the local crematorium. The cremated ashes may be kept at home in an urn, scattered, or buried. Some Buddhists many also go for a woodland burial as an environment friendly way of returning to the Earth.

Funeral traditions

In Buddhism, organ and body donation for transplant and research is acceptable. Embalming is not encouraged unless it is required or the deceased expressed their wish to be embalmed.

Buddhist funeral services

A Buddhist funeral is usually simple with nothing over the top. The funeral takes places in the monastery or a family home. The number of mourners can vary depending on the venue. There is no specific procedure that Buddhists follow and the funeral may take place before cremation, after cremation or before burial. There may be an open coffin surrounded by the image of the person, candles, incense stick, flowers, an image of Buddha, and fruits. Once the mourners pay their respects, monks read sermons and deliver eulogies.

After a Buddhist funeral

There may or may not be a reception held after the funeral. If a reception is held after Buddhist funeral, mourners will be invited to pay respect. The memorial service is held on the third, seventh, 49th, or 100th day after the death.

What to wear at a Buddhist funeral?

When attending a Buddhist funeral, dress in simple clothing such as black or white outfits. Wearing flashy and bright coloured clothes is considered inappropriate, especially red coloured clothes.

Explore the web for more information about the rituals and customs of a Buddhist funeral in Singapore.

Edwin Yap is an owner of a private firm and is engaged in offering a wide range of pre-planning services related to Buddhist funeral in Singapore. His company specialises in planning funeral ceremonies and can deliver optimal Buddhist funeral services, if booked in advance. You can read their blog to know more about their funeral packages, support for family schemes, and funeral planning tips.

Edwin Yap is the owner of a private firm and is engaged in offering a wide range of funeral pre- planning services. His company specializes in planning Buddhist funeral in Singapore and can deliver optimal services, if booked in advance.