Death and Mourning

• Kammic Energy: This leaves a Buddhists body on death and is reborn in a new one.
• Transfer the Merit: Family and friends of a Buddhists donate to a worthy cause and transfer the merit (the kamma) to the deceased to help them have a favourable rebirth.
• Cremation 


  The act of burning the dead.
• Tibetan Sky Burial: Taken up into the mountains, given a ceremony and left for vultures to feed on. Remains are placed in a chorten.
• Chorten: Tibetan Buddhist stupa where remains from a Tibetan Sky Burial are placed. Offerings are made every 7 days for 49 days.
• Pure Land Buddhist Burial: Coffin is placed with head facing west in the direction of Sukhavati, chants of 'Namo Amida Butsu', relatives collect bone fragments from the ashes using chopsticks. Remains are kept for 49 days with prayers being said every 7 days.
• Sukhavati: The paradise where Amitabha Buddha lives, and where Pure Land Buddhists aim to be reborn.
• Namo Amida Butsu: "Namu" means "I take refuge", and "Amida Butsu" means "in Amida Buddha" the Amitabha Buddha.
• Stupa: Buddhist shrine that is shaped like a dome. The cremated remains of revered teachers are placed here and it becomes a site of worship.
• Anicca 


  Impermanence. This is contemplated by mourners.