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Death is very important in Buddhism as it is central to the concept of samsara. Samsara is the cycle in which all people are born, live, die and are reborn. This means that death is something that has to happen so that the cycle of samsara can move forward. It enables a person to be reborn so that they can try to achieve enlightenment.

This is linked to the importance Buddhists place on funerals. Funerals are important as they provide a reminder of the Buddha's teachings. For example, if Buddhists can remember the Buddha’s teachings regarding impermanence, then they can remember that nothing lasts forever. This helps Buddhists to accept that everything changes, which in turn helps them to reduce their suffering by encouraging them not to hold on to things.

Theravada death and mourning traditions

Theravada Buddhists believe that rebirth happens straight after a person has died. Theravada Buddhist funerals involve a shrine with the dead person’s picture and an image of the Buddha surrounded by candles, flowers and incense. In order to assist the dead person’s transfer to another rebirth, relatives will offer charity to monks or a monastery in order to gain positive karma for the deceased. In Sri Lanka, cloth (to be used for their robes) is given to monks on behalf of the deceased.

A monk leads the funeral service, which involves giving a talk and carrying out important rites. Monks recite mantras, which remind the mourners of impermanence. Theravada Buddhists usually cremate the dead person, following the example of Gautama Buddha, but the person may also be buried. Family members usually help during the ceremony by carrying the person and lifting them up, which marks the final stage of the funeral.

One week, three months and one year after the death, monks visit the home of the relatives and lead ceremonies to increase the dead person’s positive karma.

Mahayana death and mourning traditions

In the Mahayana tradition, when someone is dying, relatives and loved ones whisper the name of the Buddha into their ear so it is the last name they hear. After death, the body is usually cremated. The funeral often takes place a few days later to allow the first stage of rebirth to occur. In the Mahayana tradition, the various stages of rebirth are believed to take up to 49 days (or seven weeks).

In Japan, when a body has been cremated, relatives retrieve the bones from the ashes and place them in the burial urn, feet first ensuring they are not upside down. The urn is then buried in a family grave or temple.

Tibetan (Mahayana) traditions

The Tibetan Book of the Dead is read to people who are dying or recently deceased. Even if the person has already died, it is believed to assist the departed soul in moving between rebirths. Not all Tibetan traditions use the Book of the Dead, but all will chant guidance and wisdom to the dead and dying as they move towards their next rebirth.

Tibet is mountainous, and finding a suitable burial site or enough firewood for cremation can be hard. Therefore, a ‘sky burial’ may take place. This is when the body of the deceased is placed high up on a hill or mountain so that it can be eaten by vultures. Monks chant mantras around the body. Buddhists believe that, if vultures eat the body, the deceased had no sins.

Once this has happened, the remains of the body are collected and burned. Prayers are said and lamps are offered every seven days. A sky burial is regarded as a lesson in impermanence as the body is given up. It is also seen as a last act of generosity in feeding the vultures.