Theravadins Buddhist follow the Indian custom of burning the body at death.

The Buddha body was cremated and this set example for many Buddhist.

When someone is dying in a Burmese home, monks come to confront them

They chant, such as: "Even the gorgeous royal chariots wear out ; and indeed this body too wears out. But the teaching of goodness does not age ; and so Goodness make that known to the good ones."

After death, while he dead person is being prepared for the funeral fire, the monks continue to chant in order to help the dead ones good energies to be released from their fading personality.

The monks come with the family to the funeral.

The family and all their friends give food and candles to the monks.

Goodwill is created by these gifts and it is believed that good will helps the lingering spirit of the dead person.

There are two main traditions that are observed

The funeral ceremony lasts over 49 days.

The first seven days are the most important.

For family in poor circumstances, the period may be shortened from 3-7 days.

It is the responsibility of the daughters to bear the funeral expenses.

The head of the family should be present, at least the first , possibly the second , prayer ceremony.

The head of family should also be present for the burial or the cremation.

The second tradition, the prayer ceremony is held every 10 days.

The initial ceremony and three succeeding periods of ten days until the final burial or cremation.

After 100 days, a final prayer ceremony is conducted but it is optional.

In the Mahayana traditional, it is believed that , between death and rebirth , there is an intermediate period called Antarabhava in Sanskrit or the Brados in Tibetan. It is an important period which has an influence on the form that rebirth shall take.

Funeral rites are the most elaborate of all the life-cycle ceremonies and ones entered into most fully by the monks.

This teaching is never in a stronger position than when death enters a home.

Buddhism may have won its way the more easily because it had more to say about death and the hereafter than ha animism.

The people rely upon upon monks to chant the sutras that will benefit the deceased.

To conduct the rites for the dead nay be considered the one indispensable services rendered the community by the monks.

For this reason, the crematory in each large temple has no rival in secular society.

This idea that death is suffering relieved only by the knowledge that it is universal that gives an underlying mood of resignation to funerals.

Over the basic mood of gloom , there are grown up a feeling that meritorious acts can aid the condition of the departed.

Not all the teaching of Anatta (not self) can quite eradicate anxiety lest the decreased exist as pretas or as beings suffering torment.

For this reason relatives do what they can to ameliorate their condition.

According to the tradition, when a person is dying an effort should be made to fix his mind upon the Buddhist scriptures or to get to repeat one of the names of Buddha , such as Phra Arahant.

The name may be whispered in his ear if the person is far gone

"Ci , ce, ru and ni " which represent heart , mental concepts form from Nibbana are written on a piece of a paper and put in the mouth of the dying man.

It is hoped that if the last thoughts of the patient are directed to Buddha and the precepts that the fruit of this meritorious act will bring good to the decreased in his new existence.

After death, a bathing ceremony takes place in which relatives and friends pour water over one hand of the decreased.

The body is then placed in a coffin and surrounded with wreaths, candies and sticks of incense.

Sometimes, the cremation is deferred for a week to allow distant relatives to attend or to show special honor to the dead.

In this case, chapter of monks comes to the house one or more times each day to chant from the Abhidharma , sometimes holding the bhusa yong ,a broad ribbon attached to the coffin.

Food is offered to the officiating monks as part of the merit-making for the decreased.

Food is offered in the name of the dead is know as Matakabhatta.