Saying goodbye to the dead inevitably raises religious issues in any nation. The followers of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism believe that life is eternal and that the rule of causation governs birth and death. So, the moment of death marks a genuinely significant turning point. Many of the procedures and rituals in the soka funeral services were borrowed from Japanese folk tradition and religions like Shintoism because they did not develop from Buddhist teachings.
Beliefs in Soka Gakkai
Soka Funeral services are fulfilled by a Soka Gakkai chief and not more Buddhist priests, unlike other Buddhist funerals. This member presides over the recitals and the Sutra chanting. Soka practitioners believe that having the chief conduct the funeral with the Sutra’s entire heart and heartfelt chanting is more profound and heart-rendering than just rituals performed by a priest. The Soka Gakkai members often claim that the ceremonies themselves do not will assist in attaining enlightenment. Instead, the leader and members recite the Sutra and chant the Daimoku.
Setting up the venue
Overall, the modernized, minimalist aesthetic of the Soka Funeral is in line with the beliefs of its adherents. It embodies the belief that attaining enlightenment is more a result of their faith and practices of the Buddhist way. If the family needs posthumous Buddhist names, they can approach sermons delivered by Buddhist priests or pray for others.
Role of the chief
The Soka Gakkai was regarded as a lay Buddhist organization under the Nichiren Shsh branch before 1991. It is thus a comparatively recent religious movement. Additionally, teachings emphasized assisting practitioners in realizing their total capacity, leading good lives, and contributing to society. Soka, which translates from Chinese as “Value Development,” funerals, and death were given less attention than the importance of living one’s current life well. Soka burial ceremonies are not widely covered in new media venues like the Internet.
How to choose Soka funeral services?
One should choose one of the soka funeral services that ensure the following.
- Death collection from a hospital, hospice, or home
- Delivery of the deceased to our safe place for cleaning
- Transport of the casketed deceased to the HDB void deck where the wake will be conducted
- Gathering the ashes of the deceased from the cremation
- On-site management and coordination services
- Picture frame
- The funeral/memorial hall’s drapes and carpet
- Standard embellishments
- Personnel to assist in the setup of Soka ceremonial objects
- Decorative flowers for the altar of the deceased
These will ensure one bid goodbye properly to their loved ones who passed away.
