Expert: Justin Choo - 6/12/2011

Question
Hi, I have a few questions about the death and funeral rituals in Theravada Buddhism. These are:
1. What exactly is the ritual for a death? (e.g. is there chants, fasting etc)
2. What are the steps involved in a Buddhist funeral & what is it's purpose?
3. Who is invlolved in the death and/or funeral (e.g. monks, nuns, mother, father etc)
4. Is anyone allowed to participate? Both men and women?
5. What does the death and funeral do and mean for the community, and how can/does the community participate?
6. What symbols and/or objects are used in the death and/or funeral, and what do they mean?

Your help is much appreciated, thank you.

Answer
Hi Caitlin,

This subject is always a problem even with so-called Buddhists who are not familiar with Buddhism.  First we need to understand that even during the Buddha's time, Indian culture and tradition were already firmly established.  They had their rites and rituals for every important event.  The Buddha did not go about changing these rites and rituals with some exceptions which involved killing of lives.  The Buddha's message was about peace, contentment and liberation.

When Buddhism spread to the other parts of the world, his message was accepted, while the "foreign" followers could still maintain and follow their existing cultures and traditions. This is the practice now in different countries.  The Thais, Sri Lankans, Burmese, Tibetans, and others still maintain their traditional rites and rituals.  Perhaps the only similarities will be the chanting of Buddhists suttas.  And that again, the suttas (prayers, chanting, or whatever you wish to call them) would also be different with the different Buddhist schools or traditions.  Of course each Buddhist tradition will recommend its rites and rituals to their followers.   

Having said the above, I shall try to answer your questions in a very general term wherever possible.

1. What exactly is the ritual for a death? (e.g. is there chants, fasting etc)
Chanting of suttas or Buddhist texts.

2. What are the steps involved in a Buddhist funeral & what is it's purpose?
This depends on the nationality of the deceased.  Actually the purpose is to conduct with a sense of dignity and respect for the deceased.

3. Who is invlolved in the death and/or funeral (e.g. monks, nuns, mother, father etc)
Usually, monks will be invited to do some chanting.

4. Is anyone allowed to participate? Both men and women?
This will depend on the tradition of the deceased.  In the Buddhist perspective, there is no reason why any gender is to be excluded.  

5. What does the death and funeral do and mean for the community, and how can/does the community participate?
I would say just like any culture or religion.  Friends and relatives will come to pay respect to deceased.

6. What symbols and/or objects are used in the death and/or funeral, and what do they mean?
In the prestine practice of Buddhism, It should be as simple as possible.  Perhaps just a candle will do.  Some may want to add incense or jossticks. Whatever that is done, is not taught by the Buddha.  Whatever suits the tradition and culture of the diseased, it is all right, so long as it is done with dignity and without harm to any being.


Hope this helps.

Justin Choo