Buddhist Funeral
Buddhist Funeral
In Singapore, majority of the population are Buddhists. Buddhists believe in reincarnation; they believe in being born an infinite number of times until they reach Nirvana, a state of enlightenment which is being able to see the world as it really is. They believe in Samsara which is a cycle of life consisting of life itself, death and rebirth. Buddhists believe that nothing is permanent and that includes our life, as well as the form of life our souls take on.
Singapore Buddhist Funeral Elements
Buddhist funeral services generally have these elements in Singapore:
- Encoffining Ceremony conducted by a Monk (Usually 1,3 or 5 Reverend Monks)
- Final Night prayer service
- Final Day send off
Two altars would be seen at Buddhist Funeral Services in Singapore. The altar closest to the deceased is the deceased altar and the items placed there are for the dearly departed. Vegetarian food and fruits are often placed as offerings for the deceased. A joss stick holder would be placed in the middle of the deceased altar for the placement of joss sticks offered by family, friends and relatives. Candles are also a common sight in Buddhist funeral services. The other altar is meant to be the God’s altar. A Buddha Statue would be placed with fruit offerings, incense and candles.
A lot of emphasis is placed on not allowing the joss-sticks to burn out completely. It is said that there would be positive effects for the future descendants if the joss sticks are continuously burnt throughout the Buddhist funeral.
In the olden days, family members would all gather together in the house of the deceased on the seventh day following the death date. This is when the dearly departed is thought to return back home. In fact, some family members even scatter rice grains or flour on the floor just to see if their beloved has really came back to visit.
Singapore Buddhist Funeral Wake Days
In Singapore, Buddhist Funeral Wakes are held for an odd number of days starting from 1 and ending at 7 days. A 1 day funeral wake is considered rare and often proves to be challenging for families as there might not be sufficient time to process the death. A minimum of 3 days of the funeral wake is encouraged for Singapore Buddhist Funerals. Take note that wake days that stretch beyond 7 days would require approval from the relevant authorities. We will assist in the application process.
Lotus in Singapore Buddhist Funerals
It is not uncommon to see lotus at a Singapore Buddhist Funeral. The flower Lotus is held to a high esteem in Buddhism as it symbolises purity and enlightenment, which is associated with Nirvana. This special flower is so important in Buddhism that you can see them being placed prevalently at a Buddhist Funeral wake in Singapore. We even have coffins with Lotus Flowers engraved on them in different designs and colours just to cater families who want a coffin that carries some significance.
Buddhist Afterlife Beliefs
In Buddhism, death in not the end of life in itself but it is the end of the physical body we are attached to in this life. Our soul will be attached to a new body based on the accumulation of one’s actions in the past life.
This law of cause and effect is termed as karma. Rebirth will be into any of the 6 realms, with 3 being good realms:
- Heavenly
- Demi-god
- Human
And with 3 evil realms:
- Animal
- Ghosts
- Hellish
Upon achieving Nirvana, it is believed that the enlightened individual physically dies without being reborn. The very staunch believers are usually cautious to leave the deceased untouched after death until 8 hours has passed. This is due to the belief that the spirit takes 3 to 8 hours for the spirit to depart from the physical body. Even when 8 hours has passed, the body is handled carefully so as to allow the spirit to leave in peace. In modern day Singapore, such a belief is not followed as closely as in the past due to practical reasons. The climate in Singapore is not the best when allowing for the body to lie untouched for 8 hours. Given Singapore's hot and humid climate, in a matter of a few hours, the body's color will change and there would be an odour coming from the body as well.
Buddhist Funeral Items
It is often common to see a LED headlight being tied to the lamp post that is located nearest to the entrance of the wake venue (for HDB Void Decks, these are usually at the gantries). This is to signify that a wake is being held. The lamp would be taken off at the end of the wake.
Red pieces of papers can also be found at the wake venue especially at lifts or staircases to signify that the deceased has taken this route and ward off any unluckiness if any.
Singapore Buddhist Funeral Attire
The attire for the wake would be provided by us. The attire differs according to your relationship with the deceased as well as the dialect of the deceased. In general, the mourning shirts worn by the bereaved family members are white and the pants are of different colours depending on which generation of the family you are in, relative to the decedent. Traditionally, these mourning clothes are not kept and will be thrown away after the cremation or burial is completed.
Post Buddhist Funeral
On the fourty-ninth day, the tablet (usually one made of yellow paper with the dearly departed's particulars during the wake) would be changed to a wooden one. This is when the soul has been transformed to be the ancestor. This is probably also when reincarnation is believed to take place.
The hundredth day is yet another milestone for family members. Chinese believe that the mourning period lasts for a hundred days. During this period, they would refrain from attending celebratory occasions. This is due to supersitious reasons. In the very ancient and traditional Chinese, the mourning period extends to three years.
The Chinese New Year following the death of your dearly departed should not be celebrated as it clashes with the mourning period.
Do note that it is normal to offer fruit baskets to the deceased on the final day before heading off to the deceased's final resting place. Usually immediate family members would offer one basket and this is white in color while others who offer would come in more flamboyant colors.
Please call us if you want to order fruit baskets. We provide same day delivery service for funeral fruit baskets.
Please click here to find out what to do at home for Buddhist Funerals.
Ash Internment
After cremation, there is a need to know what to do with the ashes. In Singapore, the ashes can either be
1. stored at a government-owned or private niche
2. dispersed into the sea or
3. dispersed into the garden at Choa Chu Kang.
If the ashes is to be transported overseas, we can help with that process as well. We will provide you with a range of beautiful and sturdy urns to store the ashes so that you can bring them abroad with you.
Tablet Placement
Tablet placement is done at home if you have a tradition of praying to the ancestors. However, this is not being practiced as much these days as families in general do not have the time to commit to maintaining the tablet. Many families prefer to have the tablet placed either in temples or funeral parlours at a fee, or cremated together with the body on the final day of the funeral wake.
Singapore Buddhist Funeral Cost
In Singapore, placing the funeral wake at void decks are the most cost effective and a typical Buddhist Funeral for 3 days at the void deck is $5,000 plus. We customise the packages to suit the budget of families who require a Buddhist Funeral Service. Call us now to customise a Buddhist Funeral Package within your budget at +65 9489 2424.
Singapore Buddhist Funeral Peripherals
Pure Buddhism typically does not involve the burning of any paper items. However, due to the higher costs and complicated rituals that Taoist Funerals entail, many Singaporeans are choosing to keep things simple, to do a Buddhist Funeral and then to add on the burning of items. In this case, families will be able to do a mixed religion funeral while still keeping costs within the budget.
Things To Refrain At A Singapore Buddhist Funeral
Attending a Singapore Buddhist Funeral can be tricky especially if it is your first time. It is good to be mindful that as much as we are becoming more open as a society, there are still certain decorums that should be followed especially at such an event. Do not wear bright-coloured clothes while visiting a funeral wake. Wearing black, white, beige or neutral colours would be the safest. Red colour has to be avoided at all means. The length of your pants or dress should cover beyond your knees as a form of respect for the event and towards the decedent. Many people today wear slippers or sliders while attending a funeral wake but if you can, wear proper covered shoes as this is a form of respect you show to the person you are visiting as well.
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