Women and the Dead Body

The book says there isn’t a source of reference in Buddhist practice that denies women from touching or handling the dead body. No ill effects explained in women handling the body or no cruelty interpreted on to the dead body if the woman touches.

The prevailing culture in Bhutan with regards to women and the dead body is a culture limitations because of the fear that women carries soft heart, and would cry easily and more.

The fear and cry of those handling corpses would add fears and worries to the deceased disturbing their smooth transition from one to next phase of afterlives.

For the swift process of both the dead the the living, a fearless and kind person are recommended to handle.

***********************************************************************

Picture: Internet

Note: Referred the book "Guidelines to benefit the Deceased" by Khenpo Nima Shar while writing this post.

Khenpo Nima is a researcher with Tago Dorden Tashithang Buddhist University.

Funeral Rites and Rituals

Rite and rituals are not only part of practices mandated in Vajrayana text to benefit the transition of the deceased souls but also plays crucial roles in promoting age old traditions and culture.

No religion denies elaborate last farewell to help the dying. Observing continues rites and rituals for 49th day are considered the best and elaborate in our culture and also virtuous to the deceased. The merits decline as the observations of rite and rituals day reduces.

Tradition of observing rites on 7th, 14th, and 21st is mere traditional conducts to help the deceased. It is understood through dharma text that the life of the beings in the intermediate stage only last for a week and take rebirth. So on every seventh day, doing rites, dedicating merits, engaging in helping others in behalf of the deceased would help free the dead from intermediate stage to take higher good rebirth. It also helps the deceased overcome suffering and fears of the intermediate stage.

As a practice and a logical method while the deceased souls are wandering in the intermediate stage, it is important to burn offer Sur (the burnt scent offerings) as much as one could. One should not cry during offering meals to the decease’s soul as the unpleasant sound could frighten the soul and tear creates rain & snow of sufferings. Rather the one making offerings should recites Mani and dharma mantras.
It’s not only through performing rites & rituals that the deceased gain virtues/good karma but could also possess through lighting butter lamps, saving lives of animals, constructing Stupas (སྐུ་དང་མཆོད་རྟེན) & doing other virtues works and making dedications.

The family should avoid arguments and court cases before concluding rites. It is believed that the deceased possess worldly clairvoyance seeing whatever we do and read our minds. Thus lively rites and rituals would help in swift transition of the soul.

The deceased with no other means to look up to and acclaim their faith & devotion in the intermediate stage but to the Lamas/monks/anims performing the rites, so having great learned Lama/Monks/Anims with better dharma etiquette performing the rituals is the most important of the ritual prospect.

Engagement of inappropriate lamas would give the deceased lament feelings and would annoy them thus multiplying their sufferings. The deceased in intermediate stage, escalates their faith to the lamas and devotions to the Dharma if the lamas performing rites so does with integrity and great conducts.

So it is important that the Lamas and monks who are performing rituals to be mindful and do it sincere with hearts to help and raise the soul of the deceased.

***********************************************************************
Note: Referred the book Guidelines to benefit the Deceased by Khenpo Nima Shar while writing the post.
Khenpo Nima is a researcher with Tago Dorden Tashithang Buddhist University.

__________________________

Cremation Procedures

First thing while setting the funeral pyre, one should tread (Trod) the cremation spot and then place the Buddha Akshobya Manala. Stacking earthen pot filled with sesame oil on top of Mandala would be more beneficial than using modern oil tin.

As mentioned in the earlier post, the tightened corpse should be placed in the center of the fuel wood face down and the head directing towards the lama. The book do not mention about the tradition of the layers of fuel wood stack required (for men and Women) while preparing Pyre (FST will get it back with the information in next post).

Lighting pyres in practical requires utter attention. However, natural burning without slightest disturbances is advised to complete the process of burning.

If in case the corpse is completely burnt into ashes and one needs to extinguish the fire, it should be done by Saffron and Camphor mixed in clean water or by milk. The remains of ashes and bones are then collected in ash bags and thrown into the stream or river. There is custom of gathering some bone remains and making Tsa Tsas. The blessed Tsa Tsas are put into rivers, mountains and clean places.

The monks recite Moenlam and lay people Vajra Guru Mantras while throwing remains of ashes and bones into the river. Crying in this moment will affect in swift transition of the soul. So it is not advisable.

Lastly, the cremation spot should be sealed. During the cremation, alcohol and meat are to be avoided as the practice of Buddha Akshobya during the funeral ceremony is Kriya Tantra. Moreover consumption of impure meal can harm the deceased soul.

Kriya Tantra: The Kriya tantras or action Tantra, are concerned mainly with external conduct, the practices of ritual purification and cleanliness which includes meals.

Note: Referred the book: Guidelines to benefit the Deceased by Khenpo Nima Shar while writing the post.
Khenpo NIma is a researcher with Tago Dorden Tashithang Buddhist University.

Preparing dead body for Cremation

There are certain customs and means to follow while preparing the deceased body for the cremation which would benefit the dead person and mourning families at the highest level.
It is important to have astrological judgments considered like choosing morticians, time and the date of the cremation, etc.

First in procedures come the bathing of the deceased. Last bath to the dead should be honored with clean water mixed with saffron and Camphor (དྲི་བཟང་ག་བུར). One could consider milk water bathing as well.
The most important process in this section is pasting of Ayatana Dharani on the body parts.

Āyatana is a sense base. In Buddhism there are six internal sense bases known as organs and six external sense objects. Their pairs of sense bases relations:

• Eye and Visible Objects
• Ear and Sound
• Nose and Odor
• Tongue and Taste
• Body and Touch
• Mind and Mental Objects

Khenpo Shar in his book argues that most people are unaware of Ayatana Dharani, and those who know little about it do not do it accordingly but unconsciously place on the body.

The right way he conveys are, paint the printed Dharani by saffron and Camphor mixed in water or paint into Yellow. Dry and cut into precise pieces and paste onto body parts according to the text.

The last stage on this part is binding of the body. There is a tradition that the binding rope gets blessing from Lams and the Lama at the scene tie place the rope around the neck of Corpse. Hands of the deceased should be in folded or crossed position while binding.

The tying rope should be made from natural grass fiber, but not advised to use plastic or synthetic ropes in any situation.

**************************************************************************
Extracted from the book: Guidelines to benefit the Deceased by Khenpo Nima Shar.
Khenpo NIma is a researcher with Tago Dorden Tashithang Buddhist University.