Buddhist Funerals Comprehensive Guide
Overview of Buddhism In Singapore and Southeast Asia
All over the world, Buddhism is a major religion with a huge majority of Chinese subscribing to the religion. Buddhism is said to be conceived in northeastern India, also known as Nepal today around the 5th to 6th century BCE. A lot of the beliefs in Buddhist stem from the teachings of the Buddha. The most important doctrines Buddha taught included the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path. More about these doctrines can be found here.
Two main branches of Buddhism are the Mahayana and Hinayana branches. If you are reading this, it is likely that you or someone close to you are a Buddhist and that is why you would like to find out more about the rituals surrounding death.
It is no surprise then that in Singapore, with the majority of the people being Chinese ( natives and migrants), a large population of the people are Buddhists. Buddhism’s belief of the impermanence of life places a lot of emphasis on accumulating good merit and building the soul rather than on material goods. This is probably why the traditional Buddhists do not have the practice of burning paper monies, paper houses or other effigies. Today, it is not uncommon to see paper products being placed at so-called “Buddhist Funerals”. This is due to the influence of Taoism, and many families have chosen to infuse the traditions of these two religions when it comes to funerals in Singapore so as to stay within budget ( Taoist Funerals are pricier than Buddhist Funerals).
How Buddhist Funerals Are Done In Singapore
In the ancient past, there is also the practice of leaving the body of someone who has passed on untouched for eight hours. In the eight hours, volunteers with the Buddhist faith would gather together to pray for the decedent’s soul. Leaving the body as it is for such a long time is hugely possible as most bodies back then do not go through the process of embalming. Coffins were without a viewing panel and embalming was also not as advanced as it is today where there is even soft embalming!! This practice has by the way been done away with most of the time in today’s day and age due to (1) better embalming techniques and chemicals that allow for palatable viewing of the decedent, (2) impracticalities of leaving the body untouched in Singapore’s hot humid climate and (3) hospitals and nursing homes having limited time for the corpse to be cleared from the wards.
Buddhist Funerals in Singapore now begin usually with the preplanning of the funeral where the deceased himself or herself, or the next of kin of the deceased would purchase a funeral plan in advance of the demise so as to (1) lock in the package prices to hedge against inflation, (2) decide for himself or herself what he or she wants for the final send off and (3) to relieve emotional and financial burden off their loved ones. There are of course those who find funeral directors like us only when they need one for fear that finding us earlier “curse” the one who has yet to pass on. Superstitions like these in Asian societies are not surprising. There are also those who have no chance to do so as the death happens suddenly, with no notice. In cases like this, we advocate using Harmony Funeral Care’s framework for choosing an undertaker to arrange for the funeral.
Framework For Choosing A Company To Handle Buddhist Funerals
According to the book, Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, there are two systems that the brain form thoughts. Decisions formed by system 1 are automatic and fast. They are usually a by-product of our experiences that leads to intuition. System 2 decisions are slower because it involves a logical thought process. In this case, funerals that have to happen quick and without any planning beforehand due to an unexpected, sudden death often means that family members plan the funeral in a haste, based more on emotions, system 1 rather than system 2. Family members who had the privilege of time to plan for the funeral usually use system 2 in making decisions since they would have done their due diligence when choosing a funeral company.
At Harmony Funeral Care, we have our CARE framework to help guide you through your decision making process in choosing a funeral company.
The CARE Framework
A simple guide for choosing the right funeral service
When families are faced with arranging a funeral due to a sudden death, decisions often have to be made quickly while emotions are high. The CARE Framework helps families focus on what truly matters.
C — Compassionate Guidance
Who will care for your family during this time?
A good funeral director does more than organise logistics. They provide calm guidance, answer questions patiently, and support the family through every step.
Ask yourself:
- Do they listen and understand your needs?
- Do you feel supported and respected?
The right team should make a difficult journey feel less overwhelming.
A — Authentic & Meaningful Farewell
Does the service honour the life of your loved one?
A meaningful farewell reflects the person’s beliefs, values, and personality.
This may include:
- Religious or cultural rituals
- Personal tributes or sharing
- Photo displays or memory tables
- Music or readings that mattered to them
A funeral should be more than a procedure — it should be a tribute to a life lived.
R — Reliability & Transparency
Can you trust the arrangements and the pricing?
Families should have clarity and peace of mind.
Look for:
- Clear explanation of what the package includes
- Honest advice on what is necessary
- No hidden or unexpected costs
Transparency builds trust during a vulnerable time.
E — End-to-End Support
Does the support continue beyond the funeral?
Funeral arrangements are only part of the journey.
Good funeral care may also include:
- Guidance on administrative matters
- Advice on ash placement or memorial options
- Support resources for grief and healing
Because caring for a family does not end when the funeral ends.
The CARE Question
Before choosing a funeral service, simply ask:
Does this company truly CARE for my family and my loved one?
If the answer is yes, you are likely in good hands.
Singapore Buddhist Funeral Flow
After choosing a funeral company, it is normal to want to know what to expect next. There are three stages of the funeral process as stated below:
- Collection of the decedent
- Bringing the decedent back to the wake venue
- Final send off to the burial ground or crematorium
A Buddhist Funeral would typically have a list of traditions to follow e.g. covering deities with red paper, covering reflective surfaces with newspaper, of which we will inform and share with the family when time comes.
- Collection of the decedent
During the collection of the decedent, it is wise to have clothes including inner wear, shoes and dentures well prepared. We will also ask you for your choice of whether to have the decedent embalmed. Embalming is strongly encouraged if you intend to have a coffin with a viewing panel so as to ensure that people remember your loved one is the best possible way. ForB us, we usually bring the body back to the embalming care centre, massage the body first ( lest rigor mortis has set in) before cleansing and embalming the body. A female embalmer can be engaged upon request.
- Bringing the decedent back to the wake venue
We will help you to book the wake venue - either a funeral parlour, church or void deck and set up the place before bringing your loved one back to begin the funeral wake. There will be monk chanting and food offerings in this stage and this will last from 1 to 9 days, depending on family’s preferences.
- Final send off to the burial ground or crematorium
Before departing the wake venue, there will be a prayer session by reverend monks for the cleaning of the soul. The monk will also cleanse the house of the dearly departed before concluding with a final prayer session either at the crematorium or burial ground.
Generally a Buddhist Funeral is simpler than a Taoist one and is also less costly which is why it is gaining popularity in recent years.
After the completion of the funeral, there are still post-funeral events which we will assist you in namely - anniversaries and milestone prayers for the dearly departed. The first forty-nine days after death are usually the most important as the soul is said to be still lingering around while waiting for rebirth.
I hope this article helps to give you a simple overview of Buddhist Funerals in Singapore. Call us for a free consultation call to see if we are a good fit for you now at +65 94892424. Reputation is important to us so you can be sure we promise to deliver nothing but the best. Our main aim is to advocate death literacy as much as possible to Singaporeans.
Why choose Harmony Funeral Care?
At Harmony Funeral Care, we aim to preserve over 60 years of tradition of serving bereaved families. We take pride in providing the best support that one can find in grief and offer:
- Dedicated And Experienced Staff To Guide You
- Competitive Funeral Packages To Ensure Affordability For All
- Free Video Montage On Funeral Day
- Transparent Pricing With No Hidden Costs
Call us now at +65 9489 2424 for a non-obligatory consultation!
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A humble service done in remembrance of Mr Tee Hock Chwee, founder of Hock Hin Undertaker established since 1963
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