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.
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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.
__________________________
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.
__________________________
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