Death and Mourning in Buddhism

Buddhist View of Death

In Buddhism, death is not the end but a transition in the cycle of birth, death and rebirth, known as samsara.
This cycle continues until a person achieves enlightenment (Nirvana), a state of freedom from suffering and the cycle of reincarnation.
The actions in a person’s life, known as karma, influence the quality of their future lives.

Buddhist funerals often take place in a funeral home, not the temple. Monks may come to conduct the ceremony and lead prayer.
The body is often cremated, and remains may be collected to be kept in a funerary urn or scattered.
During funerals, sutras or Buddhist scriptures are chanted by monks.
In some traditions, memorial services may continue for several days after the death.

Following a death, a mourning period of up to 7 weeks can occur, with rituals taking place on certain days. This corresponds with the belief in the Tibetan Book of the Dead that the deceased’s consciousness takes 49 days to travel to their next life.
This period is seen as a time for the bereaved to come to terms with their loss, and to pray for a favourable rebirth for the deceased.

Throughout the mourning period, family members may perform memorial rituals such as making offerings at the temple, chanting sutras, meditation and making merit in the name of the deceased.
These rituals can take different forms depending on the specific Buddhist tradition, but all are ways to express love and compassion towards the departed, cultivate the same virtues in themselves, and support the deceased in their transition to their next life.

The Buddhist teaching of impermanence is particularly relevant in times of loss, helping adherents cope with their grief by acknowledging and reflecting on the temporary nature of all things.
Buddhism encourages acceptance of death as a part of life and a moment of change, not an ultimate end. This can provide a comforting perspective during the grieving process.