Buddhist funerals in Australia: Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan traditions

Buddhism treats death not as an ending but as a transition within samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. Funeral rites across all Buddhist schools aim to support the deceased's consciousness as it moves from this life toward rebirth or, for those who have achieved it, nirvana.

Summary

Australia's Buddhist community practises three broad traditions, each with distinct funeral customs. Theravada Buddhism (predominant among Thai, Sri Lankan, Burmese and Cambodian communities), Mahayana Buddhism (Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese communities), and Vajrayana or Tibetan Buddhism each approach death with different rituals, texts and timelines. Cremation, chanting, merit-making for the deceased, and structured memorial periods are consistent across all three.

The Buddhist Council of New South Wales and the Australian Sangha Association can help families arrange funerals within their specific tradition.

Theravada funeral rites

In the Theravada tradition, monks begin chanting while the person is still dying. They recite the Abhidhamma (the philosophical teachings of the Buddha) at the bedside, and this chanting continues after death.

The family washes the body and pours scented water over one hand of the deceased as a gesture of respect and farewell. The hands and feet are bound with white thread, which monks later hold during the funeral procession, linking the sangha (monastic community) to the deceased.

A Pamsukula (forsaken robe) is offered to the monks during the ceremony. Offering robes and food to monks generates merit (punna) that is dedicated to the departed. Buddhists believe this merit eases the deceased's passage through rebirth.

Cremation follows. Six days after the funeral, a monk delivers a sermon to the family at their home. Memorial services are then held on the 3rd, 7th, 49th and 100th days after death.

Mahayana funeral rites

Mahayana funerals typically last three to seven days and are often held at funeral parlours rather than in the family home. The atmosphere is formal and structured around continuous chanting.

Monks or lay practitioners chant the Amitabha Sutra to invoke Amitabha Buddha and guide the deceased toward the Pure Land (a state of enlightenment beyond the cycle of rebirth). Vegetarian meals and joss sticks (incense) are offered throughout the mourning period.

A ji ling (temporary spirit tablet) is set up at the service to represent the deceased's spirit and receive offerings and prayers. After the mourning period, the ji ling is replaced by an an ling (permanent spirit tablet), which is placed at the family's home altar or at a temple. The an ling ceremony, called "settling the spirit," marks the formal transition from active mourning to ongoing remembrance.

During the 49-day mourning period (seven weeks), Mahayana Buddhists believe the deceased's consciousness passes through the bardo (intermediate state), where karmic evaluation determines the nature of rebirth. The family holds weekly rites on each seventh day, making offerings and chanting to generate merit for the departed.

Tibetan Buddhist funeral rites

Tibetan (Vajrayana) Buddhist funerals are shaped by the Bardo Thodol, commonly known in English as the Tibetan Book of the Dead. This text is read to the dying person before death and then recited for 49 days afterward to guide the consciousness through the bardo.

Tibetan Buddhists believe the consciousness can hear and respond to the instructions in the text, and that the guidance helps it move through the visions and experiences of the intermediate state. A lama (teacher) or monk leads the recitations.

Offerings are made to monks throughout the 49-day period. Food is left outside for birds, an echo of the Tibetan sky burial tradition in which the body is offered to vultures as a final act of generosity. Sky burials are not practised in Australia (they are not permitted under Australian law), but the symbolic offering to birds continues as a cultural practice within the diaspora.

Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan practices compared

Cremation and burial

Cremation is customary across all Buddhist schools, following the precedent set by Gautama Buddha, whose body was cremated after his death. It is not an absolute religious requirement. Burial is permitted.

In Australia, Buddhist cremations take place at standard crematoria. Some temples have relationships with specific funeral homes and crematoria that are familiar with Buddhist rites and can accommodate the chanting, offerings and extended family gatherings that are part of the ceremony.

The Chenrezig Institute in Queensland (chenrezig.com.au) and the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo (stupa.org.au) are two significant Tibetan Buddhist centres in Australia that can advise families on funeral arrangements within the Vajrayana tradition.

The 49-day mourning period

Mahayana and Tibetan traditions mark 49 days (seven weeks of seven days) as the period during which the consciousness transitions between death and rebirth.

The family holds weekly memorial services, making offerings of food, incense and prayers at the home altar or temple. Vegetarian meals are the norm. Social events and celebrations are avoided.

Theravada traditions follow a different timeline, with key memorial observances on the 3rd, 7th, 49th and 100th days. Some families also hold annual memorial services (matakabhatta, or food for the dead) on the anniversary of the death.

The mourning period also serves the living. Families practise generosity, reflect on impermanence, and generate merit through acts of charity and devotion. Donations to temples, feeding monks, and supporting community organisations are all considered meritorious.

What to expect if you are attending

Buddhist funerals are open to non-Buddhist guests. The atmosphere is quiet and contemplative. Chanting is conducted in Pali (Theravada), Chinese or Japanese (Mahayana), or Tibetan, depending on the tradition.

Dress in white or muted colours. In some traditions, black is also appropriate, but avoid bright colours (particularly red, which is associated with celebration and joy). Remove shoes if the service is held in a temple.

You are not expected to chant or recite prayers. Observe respectfully, follow the lead of the family, and offer condolences quietly. Bowing slightly with palms pressed together (the anjali or wai gesture) is a respectful greeting but is not required of non-Buddhist guests.

Flowers (white or yellow are preferred) and fruit are appropriate offerings. Some families request donations to a temple or charity in lieu of flowers.

A common misconception is that Buddhists do not mourn or express grief. The Buddha did not prohibit lay followers from expressing respect and sorrow through local customs. Families grieve openly, and the structured mourning period provides a framework for processing loss over weeks rather than days.

Glossary

Related information

• How much does a cremation cost in Australia?
• How much does a funeral cost in Australia?
• Same-day funeral logistics (Muslim, Jewish, Hindu)
• Find a Buddhist funeral director
• Back to: Australian funeral traditions

Frequently asked questions

Do Buddhists require cremation?

Cremation is customary and preferred across all Buddhist schools, following the example of Gautama Buddha. It is not strictly mandatory. Burial is permitted. Tibetan Buddhists also practise sky burials, though this is not available in Australia.

How long is the Buddhist mourning period?

Mahayana and Tibetan traditions observe a 49-day period. Theravada traditions hold memorial services on the 3rd, 7th, 49th and 100th days after death.

What should I wear to a Buddhist funeral?

White or muted colours. In some traditions, black is also acceptable. Avoid bright colours, particularly red. Remove shoes if the service is held in a temple.

Can non-Buddhists attend a Buddhist funeral?

Yes. You are not expected to chant or participate in the recitations. Observe respectfully and follow the lead of the family.

What is the significance of the spirit tablet?

In Mahayana tradition, a temporary spirit tablet (ji ling) represents the deceased during the funeral and mourning period. It is later replaced by a permanent tablet (an ling) that is kept at the family altar or temple for ongoing remembrance.

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Summary