Traditional Laotian Funeral Canopy Set for Temple Offerings

Lao Funeral Canopy 

Customs of Buddhist funerals Many Buddhists believe a person’s body can receive gifts and messages after they pass away, so they gather around them to pray and bestow presents.

Buddhist mourning periods last up to 100 days, with services traditionally held on the third, seventh, 49th, and 100th day.

Cremation is traditional in Buddhism, but only after seven days have passed.

Mourners wear white, and the service and casket are typically straightforward and not showy.

Memorial services are held on the third, seventh, 49th, and 100th day after death.

Whether you or your loved one were a practicing Buddhist or just found beauty in Buddhist beliefs, consider incorporating Buddhist aspects into your memorial planning. Knowing more about the background of the religion may help you get some perspective on how best to honor your loved one and these traditions.

Buddhism originated in India in about the fifth century BCE and has become one of the most popular belief systems in the world. It is considered a religion, a philosophy, and a moral discipline. Unlike Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, it is non-theistic: There is no belief in a creator god. Many people find this unique aspect of Buddhism appealing because it allows practitioners to combine a Buddhist practice with another religion of their choosing.

Beliefs
Although Buddhism has several denominations throughout different cultures, one of Buddhism’s defining features is a belief in samsara, the cycle of life and death. Buddhists believe that every person is caught in a succession of deaths and rebirths until they are able to free themselves from all desires and the idea of an ego or self. Once they can let go of all attachments and realize that individuality is an illusion and that we are all parts of a greater whole, they will reach the ultimate state of enlightenment, known as nirvana.

Given this context, it becomes clear that both birth and death are essential, inevitable parts of life in the Buddhist worldview. Birth and energy are precious, but so is death, because it marks the beginning of the next life through rebirth. Death is not something to be feared because it is natural—and it is not the end.