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What happens when we die?
Comparing Catholicism and
Buddhism
Life after death: Almost all religions teach that
a person's personality continues after death.
In fact, many religious historians believe that
this belief was the prime reason that
motivated people to originally create religions.
Christianity and Buddhism are no exception.
However, they conceive of life after death in
very different forms:
How do Buddhist and Christian beliefs
on life after death
compare?
Buddhism teaches that humans are trapped in a
repetitive cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth.
One's goal is to escape from this cycle and reach
Nirvana. Once this is attained, the mind
experiences complete freedom, liberation and nonattachment.
Suffering ends because desire and craving -- the
causes of suffering -- are no more.
Christianity teaches that everyone has only a
single life on earth.
After death, an eternal life awaits everyone:
either in Heaven or Hell.
There is no suffering in Heaven; only joy.
For the inhabitants of Hell, suffering the absence
of God is eternal without any hope of cessation.
How do Catholic and Buddhist death
rituals compare?
The ways in which religious people deal with death
and the funeral rites they carry out are linked with
their beliefs about life after death.
Both Catholic and Buddhist death rites:
Have priests and monks offer comfort to the dying.
Show respect and remembrance for the deceased in
their funerals.
Include symbolic rituals to ensure that people go on to
whatever their next life will be.
Give the relatives and friends of the deceased time to
mourn. People often say that showing their grief
formally helps them to get over their loss.
Symbolic rituals
Catholic
In Requiem Mass at church the
Eucharist remembers Jesus’
sacrifice and resurrection. Belief
in his divinity is basis for hope of
afterlife and all songs and prayers
continue this theme.
Buddhist
Rituals to ensure spirits go on
to their next life: not
disturbing body first few
hours and praying for 49
days.
Treatment of the coffin with
Easter candle, white cloth and
water refers to Baptism/new life
in their symbolism.
Temple funeral’s symbolic
prayers, incense and flowers
emphasise reincarnation
theme.
Burial rather than cremation
reflects traditional belief in bodily
resurrection at the end of time
(From Book of Revelation).
Cremation follows Buddha’s
practice and reflects belief in
reincarnation.
Rituals used in Catholic and Buddhist funerals are
similar in that they both use symbolism.
But the different beliefs about the afterlife lead to
different meanings for the symbols
Catholic Resurrection theme
versus
Buddhist Reincarnation theme.
The pain of grief is universal and both Catholics and
Buddhists are comforted by other rituals performed
on behalf of their loved ones which also help them
through the grief cycle.
Coping with grief
Catholic
Sacraments of anointing of the
sick and reconciliation aids
peaceful death for the suffering
and consoles their family.
Buddhist
Dying at home with scriptures
being chanted helps for a
peaceful death for the suffering
and consoles their family.
Vigil at home is informal chance
for community to support the
grieving and praying the rosary is
an opportunity for the living to
pray for the dead.
Merit can be gained for the dead
by the living making offerings to
monks eg food and candles.
Formally showing grief in a funeral
can help with loss if it is a positive
experience preparing for, and
participating in the rituals
As the ritual burning of incense
reminds them, death is only
temporary and not to be feared.
How do Catholic and Buddhist beliefs about
what happens after death connect with how
they live their lives on earth?
They both have beliefs in an afterlife which
suggests that:
There are consequences to our earthly lives.
As humans with freewill we can make moral
choices .
We want to be rewarded, not punished and
both religions give guidelines as to what is the
right way to live.
If we are believers seeking Heaven or Nirvana:
Our lifestyle will be based on ethics.
We follow rules like the Christian ‘Greatest
Commandment’ and the Buddhist ‘First Precept’ .
Some find support living in a community of believers
such as a Catholic religious order or the Sangha
(Buddhist monks).
Prayer and meditation will add to our faith and
spirituality.
What happens when we die?
Concepts which apply to both Catholics and Buddhists
Grief
Our human awareness of our
mortality means that we seek
meaning and purpose to our
existence and that we can lead
our lives, not just live them.
When we respond to loss we
share common patterns of grief.
Our spirituality can be a support
when facing the mystery of death
and provide rituals which help us
cope with grief.
Religion
Catholics and Buddhists have beliefs
about the soul and afterlife based on
the lives and teachings of the
founders of their faith.
Death rituals are performed to
honour the deceased and to express
religious beliefs about the afterlife.
Beliefs about the afterlife suggest
that there are consequences to the
way we lead our lives . Ethics
encourage us to do what’s right
rather than what’s wrong.