Funeral Service

 

1. Five Precepts:

VANDANĀ - Homage

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā sambuddhassa

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā sambuddhassa

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā sambuddhassa

Homage to Him, the Blessed One, the Exalted One, the Fully

Enlightened One!

TI-SARAṆA - Three Refuges

Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi

Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi

Saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi

Dutiyampi buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi

Dutiyampi dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi

Dutiyampi saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi

Tatiyampi buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi

Tatiyampi dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi

Tatiyampi saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi

I go to the Buddha as my refuge.

I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.

I go to the Sangha as my refuge.

For the second time, I go to the Buddha as my refuge.

For the second time, I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.

For the second time, I go to the Saṅgha as my refuge.

For the third time, I go to the Buddha as my refuge.

For the third time, I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.

For the third time, I go to the Sangha as my refuge.

PAÑCA SĪLA - Five Precepts

Pānātipātā veramaṇi sikkhā padaṃ samādiyāmi

Adinnādānā veramaṇi sikkhā padaṃ samādiyāmi

Kāmesu micchācārā veramaṇi sikkhā padaṃ samādiyāmi

Musāvādā veramaṇi sikkhā padaṃ samādiyāmi

Surā meraya majja pamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇi sikkhā padaṃ

samādiyāmi

I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from killing living beings.

I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from taking things not given.

I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct.

I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from false speech.

I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from distilled and fermented

liquor (drinks and drugs) that causes intoxication or heedlessness.

6. Chanting

BUDDHA VANDANĀ - Homage to the Buddha

Iti’pi so bhagavā, arahaṃ, Sammā sambuddho, Vijjā caraṇa sampanno, Sugato, lokavidū, Anuttaro purisa damma sārathī, Satthā deva manussānaṃ, Buddho, bhagavā’ti.

Such indeed is the Blessed One, exalted, Perfectly Enlightened, endowed with knowledge and virtues, Well-gone, Knower of the worlds, a Supreme trainer of persons to be trained, Teacher of gods and men, Enlightened and Blessed.

DHAMMA VANDANĀ - Homage to the Dhamma

Svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo Sandiṭṭhiko akāliko Ehi-passiko opanayiko Paccattaṃ veditabbo viññūhi’ti.

Well expounded is the Dhamma by the Blessed One, visible here and now; not delayed in time, inviting one to come and see; onward leading to Nibbana to be attained by the wise, each for himself.

SAṄGHA VANDANĀ - Homage to the Saṅgha

Supaṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka saṅgho Uju paṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka saṅgho Ñāya paṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka saṅgho Sāmīci paṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka saṅgho Yadidaṃ cattāri purisa yugāni aṭṭha purisa puggalā Esa bhagavato sāvaka saṅgho Āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo Dakkhiṇeyyo añjali karaṇīyo Anuttaraṃ puññakkhettaṃ lokassā’ti.

Of good conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One. Of upright conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One. Of wise conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One. Of dutiful conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One. That is to say: the Four Pairs of Persons, the Eight Kinds of individuals, this community (Saṅgha) of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy of gifts, is worthy of hospitality, is worthy of offerings, is worthy of reverential salutation, is an incomparable field of merit for the world.

Karanīyametta Sutta

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.08.piya.html

Karaṇīya Mettā Sutta (Sn 1.8) The Discourse on Loving-kindness 

Karaṇīyam-attha-kusalena, yantaṃ santaṃ padaṃ abhisamecca, 

This is what should be done by one who is skilled in goodness and who knows the path of peace: 

Sakko ujū ca suhujū ca, suvaco cassa mudu anatimānī, 

Let them be able and upright, straightforward and gentle in speech, humble and not conceited,

Santussako ca, subharo ca, appakicco ca, sallahuka-vutti, 

Contented and easily satisfied, unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways. 

Santindriyo ca, nipako ca, appagabbho, kulesu ananugiddho. Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful, not proud and demanding in nature. 

Na ca khuddaṃ samācare kiñci, yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṃ. Let them not do the slightest thing that the wise would later reprove, 

Sukhino vā khemino hontu, sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā. Wishing: In gladness and in safety, may all beings be at ease. 

Ye keci pāṇa-bhūtatthi, tasā vā, thāvarā vā, anavasesā, Whatever living beings there may be, whether they are weak or strong, omitting none, 

Dīghā vā ye mahantā vā, majjhimā rassakā aṇuka-thūlā, The great or the mighty, medium, short, or small, 

Diṭṭhā vā ye ca adiṭṭhā, ye ca dūre vasanti avidūre, The seen and the unseen, those living near and far away, 

Bhūtā vā, sambhavesī vā, sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā. Those born and to be born, may all beings be at ease.

 Na paro paraṃ nikubbetha, nātimaññetha katthaci naṃ kiñci, Let none deceive another or despise any being in any state. 

Byārosanā paṭīgha-saññā, nāññam-aññassa dukkham-iccheyya. Let none through anger or ill-will wish harm upon another. 

Mātā yathā niyaṃ puttaṃ, āyusā eka-puttam-anurakkhe, Even as a mother protects with her life her child, her only child, 

Evam-pi sabba-bhūtesu, māna-sambhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ. So with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings, 

Mettañca sabba-lokasmiṃ, māna-sambhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ, Radiating kindness over the entire world: spreading upwards to the skies 

Uddhaṃ adho ca tiriyañca, asambādhaṃ averaṃ asapattaṃ. and downwards to the depths, outwards and unbounded, freed from hatred and ill-will. 

Tiṭṭhañ’caraṃ nisinno vā, sayāno vā, yāvatassa vigatam-iddho, Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down, free from drowsiness, 

Etaṃ satiṃ adhiṭṭheyya. Brahmam-etaṃ vihāraṃ idham-āhu. One should sustain this recollection. This is said to be the sublime abiding. 

Diṭṭhiñca anupagamma, sīlavā dassanena sampanno, By not holding to fixed views, the pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision, 

Kāmesu vineyya gedhaṃ, Na hi jātu gabbha-seyyaṃ punaretīti. Being freed from all sense-desires, is not born again into this world. 

3. Dedication of Funeral Clothe

Imaṃ mataka vatthaṃ bhikkhu saṅghassa dema ///

(I dedicate this funeral clothe to the community of Mahā Saṅgha)

4. Stanzas on Impermanence

Aniccā vata saṅkhārā - uppāda vaya dhammino

uppajjitvā nirujjanti - tesaṃ vūpasamo sukho /// (Mahā Parinibbāna Sutta)

(All things are impermanent -They arise and pass away

Having arisen they come to an end -Their coming to peace is bliss)

5.Transferring Merits

Idaṃ me ñātinaṃ hotu - sukhitā hontu ñātayo ///

(May this merit be shared with my relatives! May those relatives be well, and happy!)

Further Reading:

• Read this article on Impermanence by Bhikkhu Bodhi.
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