How Many Monks Should I Have For A Buddhist Funeral?

In ancient past, funerals are a grand affair and the more the number of monks chanting at a Buddhist Funeral, the better it is deemed to be. Today, it is common to see only one monk doing the chanting at a Buddhist Funeral and people are getting used to this. We will discuss the significance of having more monks at a chanting session at a Buddhist Funeral.

Merit Accumulation

The chanting is thought to cleanse the sins and increase the merits for the decedent. The larger the number of monks that is involved in the chanting, the more the merit is generated. This is also why we encourage family members of the deceased to participate in the prayer chanting session if they can. This accumulation of merit is believed to help the decedent’s spiritual journey and future rebirth.

Combined Power

Buddhism believes in the power of energies and in this case, the greater the number of monk chanting, the greater the spiritual energy. This amplifies the power of the prayers than just one monk chanting. This cohesive effort in prayer is deemed to beneficial for the deceased.

Unity And Community

Community is important in every religion and Buddhism is no exception. The Buddhist community in general prefer to have more monks chanting at a Buddhist Funeral. In some cases, if the deceased is a fervent worshipper or member of a particular temple, the temple might send some groups of monks over to the Buddhist Funeral to chant on a voluntary basis. This act is a show of how cohesive and supportive the Buddhist community is in times of a member’s need. It helps the fellow Buddhist member to feel a sense of belonging to a larger spiritual family.

Purification Effect

As sentient beings, we all have emotional and physical attachments to things on Earth. As such, it is believed that the decedent’s soul will not be ready to leave until all these attachments are released and only the decedent has the choice and will to do it. Chanting will help by cleansing the negative energies and this helps release negative attachments that the decedent’s soul might have on Earth. Chanting is also thought to have a purifying effect on those who attend the Buddhist Funeral wake.

Peace Of Mind

Sometimes, funerals are conducted not just for the decedent but more for the surviving bereaved family members. It is understandable that at moments like this, bereaved families might feel helpless and want to do the best for the deceased. Engaging more monks to pray at the Buddhist Funeral seems to be one method that family members use to help with the feeling of helplessness. Witnessing the monks chanting at the Buddhist Funeral can also help put the bereaved families’ hearts at ease, knowing that they have done their best in assisting the deceased through the afterlife.

Traditional Values

Sometimes, more monks are requested for the monk chanting session on the final nights of Buddhist Funerals more to follow traditions than anything else.

Whether to engage 1,3,5 or 7 monks for a Buddhist Funeral is really dependent on (1)how much you believe in these religious traditions, (2)how superstitious you are and (3)how much budget you have to spend on a funeral. There is no hard and fast rule as to how many monks you need to have for a Buddhist Funeral but the minimum number is one monk. You still need to have at least one monk to lead in the various Buddhist rites. In recent years, more and more families are opting for simpler funerals with only one monk but the choice is entirely up to you. Feel free to call us at +65 94892424 for a customized solution.