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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 49

We can use Buddhist funerals to remind ourselves of
our own mortality and encourage ourselves for more
committed practice of the Dhamma.

Most Theravāda temples use Pāli in their chanting
services. What is the significance of chanting in
Pāli, a language that very few Buddhists themselves
understand?

Leading children on walking meditation, Pittsburg Buddhist Center, Pāli is the language in which original teachings of the
USA, 2023
Buddha are preserved. The Buddha purposely selected
vernacular languages to present his teachings in
order to reach a larger audience particularly ordinary
people. Pāli is the systematized arrangement of those
vernaculars. It is important to keep and chant Buddhist
discourses in this original language in order to preserve
the true meanings of those discourses. Pāli is also a
melodic language. Its sound vibrations can have a
positive impact on the listeners. However, we should
learn the meaning of what we chant. When we chant
Guiding a uposotha ceremony at Pittsburgh Buddhist Center, 2023 with an understanding of meaning, it is more effective.

Can we use rituals in pursuit of our spiritual
aspirations as Buddhists?

As mentioned earlier, rituals are useful in organizing
our social lives and bringing an order to our personal
daily life. They have little use in achieving any spiritual
goal. Spiritual development is achieved through
learning the Dhamma, following moral principles,
practicing mindfulness and meditation and developing
Leading the Wesak celebrations in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, 2023
wisdom. It is a gradual path. Through learning the
Dhamma, we have a sound understanding on how
suffering and defilements arise in our mind. Then we
behind them. When we conduct a Buddhist funeral, we
can voluntarily follow precepts to reduce suffering
should have two main goals. One is to help the bereaved
and defilements and be compassionate to all living
family and friends to go through the difficult time and
beings. A moral life supports the practice of meditation.
to develop a deeper understanding of the true reality of
Mindful observation of our own body and mind and
life. The second is to assist the dead by sharing merits
deeper levels of concentration can help us directly
with him or her. The standard form of Buddhist rituals
experience impermanence and selflessness. Such direct
should include a recitation of Buddhist discourses
experiences transform our mind to be completely free
which explain the reality of life (both in a traditional
from defilements and suffering. There is no magical or
language and a modern language), a practice of
miraculous way to bring about such a transformation.
meditation on death, showing our gratitude and respect
Only through committed practice of this gradual path,
to the deceased person, performance of meritorious
one can experience the complete liberation. EH
acts in the name of the deceased person and then a
formal dedication of merits to the deceased person.