Buddhist Funeral Traditions

Buddhist Funeral Traditions

Since 1969, our staff at Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory has been meeting the funeral, burial, and cremation needs of families throughout the Corona and Riverside areas. One of the main reasons so many people come to us is because they know we will know how to take care of their family – no matter their cultural or religious background.

For Buddhist families, they have a funeral ceremony that is both beautiful and meaningful. Buddhists believe the soul is reincarnated after death. Since death is not the end, it’s not to be feared. Buddhists generally favor cremation because the Buddha himself was cremated. They believe this process releases the soul from its physical form, allowing the transition into a rebirth. Another traditional custom is witnessing the cremation. Since we own and operate our own crematory, we’re able to make this easy and comfortable for the family.

Prior to the funeral, many Buddhists hold a wake – a calm, peaceful time for loved ones to pay their respects and express condolences. We will usually help the family set up a centerpiece on an altar. It will typically have the casket, a photo of the person who died, candles, offerings (including flowers and fruit), and an image of the Buddha. Monks or laypeople often lead chanting, with those present invited to join or sit quietly.

We will then host the funeral before the burial or cremation, or as a memorial service after cremation. Family members typically wear white or cover their clothing with a traditional white cloth, along with a headband or armband. We can also arrange for monks to come and perform Buddhist rites, lead chanting, and deliver sermons. Those in attendance may join in chanting and give a eulogy. Other rituals include giving offerings, presenting cloth to the presiding monk on behalf of the person who died, and burning incense to sweeten the air. We are happy to help the family coordinate all of these elements. We also offer funeral webcasting, so loved ones who perhaps are too elderly to travel or those who live in other countries can be a part.