Do we burn paper products in a Buddhist Funeral?

It is hoped that by burning these paper products, the deceased in the afterlife will get to enjoy these material goods and have a peaceful afterlife. it is believed that whatever we burn here on Earth, the decedent will receive in the other world. However, unbeknownst to most of us, a pure Buddhist Funeral does not entail the burning of these paper products. Pure Buddhists believe that the soul will be rebirth in Nirvana in a new body from a lotus. Chanting helps to cleanse the soul and helps with this process but burning of the paper products is not exactly needed.

Most of us come from a Taoist descent and hence we will feel uneasy if paper products are not burnt in a Buddhist Funeral. In fact, for the Taoists Funerals, burning of paper products are an act of filial piety to the decedent. Some of us may choose a Buddhist Funeral over a Taoist one to simplify things and to keep things within a budget (A Buddhist Funeral is typically cheaper than a Taoist Funeral). We emphasise this and hence accommodate to families with mixed beliefs by offering ala carte paper products items that can be burnt in a Buddhist Funeral as well. In today’s society, it is not uncommon to see more people conducting a Buddhist wake instead of a Taoist one to keep things simple and burn paper products at the same time.