As we travel through life, we inevitably see funerals, go to them, or regretfully take part in them. These situations typically cause a tremendous deal of confusion, suffering, and occasionally even a general sense of loss.
You'll find the solutions you need in this four-part series that examines the burial rites, customs, and etiquette of Singapore's four main religious groups. In this first installment of the series, we'll go over the minutiae of Buddhist funeral ceremonies, customs, and rituals. For more information, keep reading!
BUDDHIST FUNERAL
In a country where people of Chinese ancestry make up the majority, we've all seen our fair share of “Chinese” funerals. There are two main types of Chinese funerals: Taoist funerals and Buddhist funerals.
There are many different Buddhist denominations, and this frequently has an impact on how funerals are conducted. Buddhist funerals frequently have monks present to provide prayers and guide meditations.
BUDDHIST FUNERAL TRADITIONS
So what exactly happens at a Buddhist funeral? So let's look at a couple of the traditions.
As you attend a Buddhist funeral, you will almost always see an altar with fruits, candles, the deceased's picture, and other mementos honoring them on display. A Buddha statue or image will also be present, possibly on the altar or close to the area where the corpse is kept.
Monks may also be observed chanting and reading sutras in addition to these more obviously visible Buddhist rituals. Some families might want monks at different moments throughout the wake, while others might only want them at certain times.
The kin of the deceased march behind the hearse carrying the casket in a procession that follows the wake. They continue doing this for a little distance before going to the cremation or burial site. The final voyage and send-off of the departed are symbolized by this funeral procession.
Whilst funerals are often linked with more gloomy sentiments, Chinese traditions do incorporate a little more joyous tone if the deceased was over 100 years old. The family presents longevity peach buns in this case to honor the deceased's long and fruitful life.
BUDDHIST FUNERAL ETIQUETTE
You could question if we, as mourners present at the wake, must adhere to these traditions. When attending a Buddhist funeral, are there any special things we should keep in mind?
It is always nice and acceptable for us to become familiar with the rituals, even if the bulk of Buddhist traditions are just for those who are directly involved in the wake (i.e., the deceased's family).
At Buddhist funerals, family members frequently use white attire. For guests, darker hues are typically utilized, and red should definitely be avoided (since this color is frequently connected with festive celebrations among the Chinese ethnic group).
For religious or other reasons, it makes sense that some of us might oppose offering joss sticks. When passing by the deceased, a brief moment of silence or a modest bow are also acceptable methods to show respect.
Two other popular methods of expressing sympathy and grief are the provision of sympathy stands and the offering of baijin (condolence money) (whether floral or LED). If you intend to send the bereaved family an LED sympathy stand, be sure to engage with a licensed LED wreath supplier because Singapore's government has recently tightened the rules governing the display of such stands.
A growing number of Direct Funeral Services also include wishing trees and memory books where guests can offer their sincere condolences and share amusing anecdotes about the deceased.
