Do Budhists bury or cremate their dead?

Answer 1

Buddhists see the body as an impermanent vehicle which will eventually die and decay.

This death and decay is seen as part of the normal cycle of life and this impermanence of the body is the same impermanence which is inherent in all phenomena and all things, whether they be a person, a continent, a feeling, a planet, an idea and even the universe.

Theravada (Southern Buddhism) traditionally cremate the body some 7 days after death following a week long ceremony which marks the end of a person's life and highlights the impermanence of all phenomena. Part of the ceremony is the chanting of certain Buddhist Mantras which specifically remind those present that from birth to death this impermanence is evident and that without the wisdom to understand this impermanence we are all just wanderers throughout our many rebirths.

The final part of the ceremony is the cremation of the body and the elaborate casket and decorations which were part of it.

I hope I've helped you understand a little of Buddhist ceremony and practise.

A Buddhist..

Answer 2

Buddhist Cremation

Answer 3

I must stand in opposition to your first answer. Buddhists believe that any part of the body that is burned, will not go to the Golden Pagoda. So burial is the only other option.

When I was in Vietnam, where most of the people were Buddhists, the physiological operations of the Americal Division, used fire as a great deterrent to opposing forces, due to their fear of fire in their religion.

Answer 4

Buddhists typically follow the old Indian tradition of burning the body at death. This precedence was set as a result of The Buddha's body being cremated.