In Singapore, many Taoist and Buddhist practices and beliefs blur the lines between each other. Typically associated with people of the Chinese ethnicity, these religions and ideologies are further compounded with folk Chinese beliefs – more of traditions and...
The veneration of one’s ancestors is a traditional practice in Chinese culture. Due to Confucius’s teachings and the proliferation of Buddhism in Singapore, one is taught to be respectful to their parents, elders and ancestors. This concept of filial piety is...
In Singapore, planning for a funeral would typically present you with a few venue options. If the deceased or family members live on a private property with enough space, they can choose to hold the wake and funeral in their residential area. But for the majority of...
No one wants to have to plan a funeral. But when it happens, what needs to be done, needs to be done. Where do you begin? If you find yourself in the position of having to handle the logistics of a loved one’s death, here are some things you should be doing. 1. Get a...
Funerals, in general, can be pretty expensive. There are several factors that affect the amount of money you may spend on a funeral. The services you require, the quality of the services provided, and the reputation of the funeral parlour you employ all contribute to...
The Qingming Festival, translated to mean the ‘Pure Brightness Festival’, is a day where the Chinese pay respects to their ancestors and celebrate the warming weather of spring. It is a time for honouring the past with a spirit of celebration that includes both...
Reincarnation is a popular doctrine in Buddhism, and many practices during Buddhist funeral services hinge on the hopes of aiding the departed person to transition well into their next life. However, it may be strange to also note that not all Buddhists believe in...
Many Buddhists believe in some form of reincarnation. While there is some disagreement on how exactly reincarnation ‘works’, there’s no denying that beliefs in reincarnation can greatly affect one’s actions in this lifetime. For some, reincarnation offers hope. For...
Death can happen to anyone. From the death of our first pets, to the death of elderly relatives – some of our first encounters with death are fuzzy at best. If you have young children, you might be wondering what’s the best way to explain the situation to them. The...
Buddhism is a belief with several core principles. One of which is the concept of ‘suffering’, which is central to how Buddhists view life. At its essence, the first noble truth of Buddhism teaches that ‘Life is suffering’. What does this mean for Buddhist believers?...
