Buddhist Funeral Services With Respect for Your Traditions
Buddhist funeral traditions vary by family, community and practice. We take the time to understand what is important to you and work with your temple, monk, teacher or family to create the time and space needed for your traditions.
Guidance That Begins With Listening
There is no single Buddhist funeral tradition.
Practices surrounding death may be influenced by a family's country of origin, Buddhist school, temple and personal beliefs. Some families may request chanting or prayers soon after death. Others may wish for quiet time with the person who died, a traditional service, cremation, burial or ceremonies held over several days.
Our role is not to tell your family how a Buddhist funeral should be conducted. It is to listen, understand what your tradition calls for and help make it possible.
Time for Prayer and Chanting
We provide space for chanting, prayer, meditation, and quiet reflection before or during the service.
Coordination With Your Temple
We’re happy to work with your monk, teacher, temple, or Buddhist community to help honor your family’s traditions.
Respectful Care of the Body
If your tradition includes specific wishes for moving, dressing, or preparing the body, please let us know.
Cremation or Burial
Whether your family chooses cremation or burial, we’ll help coordinate the customs that are important to you.
A Funeral Shaped Around Your Tradition
Buddhist funerals may include:
Chanting or sutra recitation
Monks, teachers, friends or family may chant or recite Buddhist texts before or during the funeral. Chanting plays an important role in a number of Buddhist funeral traditions.
Meditation and quiet reflection
A service may include periods of silence, meditation or reflection.
Incense, flowers and offerings
Families may wish to place flowers, incense, photographs or other meaningful items near the person who died.
Time with the person before cremation
Some families wish to spend time chanting, praying or simply sitting quietly before cremation.
Ceremonies after the funeral
Depending upon the Buddhist tradition, additional prayers or ceremonies may take place in the days or weeks following death. In some Tibetan Buddhist traditions, for example, prayers may continue during a 49-day period.
Your family does not need to fit into a predetermined funeral package. We can build the arrangements around the practices that matter to you.
Call Renaissance
We will talk with you about what has happened, where the person is located and any immediate religious or cultural requests we should know before bringing them into our care.
Tell Us About Your Tradition
Let us know whether your family follows a particular Buddhist tradition and whether a monk, teacher or temple will be involved.
We Coordinate
We will coordinate with your family and religious community.
Gather and Remember
Your gathering may take place in our chapel, at your temple, graveside or another location.
Cremation or Burial
When ceremonies are complete, we will carry out the cremation or burial arrangements. If cremation is chosen, we offer an on-site crematory
Frequently Asked Questions About Buddhist Funerals
We've answered some of the questions families ask us most often. If you don't see yours here, we're always happy to help.
Do all Buddhists choose cremation?
No. Cremation is common in many Buddhist communities, but it is not universal. Some Buddhist families choose burial, and practices vary among different Buddhist traditions.
Can monks or Buddhist teachers conduct a service at Renaissance?
Yes. Your monk, teacher or other spiritual leader is welcome to lead ceremonies in our chapel. We can work with them regarding the setup, timing and needs of the service.
Can chanting take place before cremation?
Yes. We can discuss providing your family, monks or members of your Buddhist community with time for chanting or prayer before cremation.
Can we spend time with the person before the funeral or cremation?
Yes. Talk with us about what your tradition requires. Some Buddhist traditions place particular importance on the period immediately following death or on spending quiet time with the person before cremation.
Does the person have to be embalmed?
Not necessarily. Whether embalming is appropriate depends upon the arrangements, timing and condition of the body. If your Buddhist tradition includes particular preferences about preparation or handling of the body, please tell us before arrangements are made.
Can we have incense during the service?
Often, yes. Because incense involves smoke and fire considerations, let us know what your ceremony requires and we can discuss how to accommodate it safely.
Can we have both a Buddhist ceremony and a more traditional visitation?
Yes. Families often combine religious traditions with personal ways of gathering and remembering. We can help arrange both.
Can family members participate in the cremation?
We can discuss opportunities for family participation, including being present at the crematory or witnessing the beginning of cremation.
We're Here When You're Ready
Whether you need guidance now or are planning ahead, we're here to listen and help you take the next step