Hello everyone, today the weather is cloudy, the sky is clear. Passing the soul with mourning and beliefs, the inherited rituals
This morning I went to send my brother off.
While the undertaker was slowly collecting my brother's bones piece by piece, my heart felt empty as if something was missing. Seeing these small bones made me think of my brother's once strong body. A feeling of sadness mixed with peace replaced them. When all the bones were collected, gathered and molded into human figures according to tradition, I felt a little relieved as if I had fulfilled my duty as a younger brother to the fullest. While we were moving my brother's bones to the Trang River, I looked at the vast sky and thought of the Buddha's teaching that all things are impermanent, birth, aging, illness and death are the nature of life.
The undertaker explained about collecting bones as an important step in the ritual after cremation. The purpose is to collect the remains of the deceased to be used in further rituals such as placing them in a coffin or floating the ashes.
The ladle is used to cut the bone fragments, white cloth is used to wrap the bones, perfume is used to bathe the bones.
And the reason for molding the bones into human figures The undertaker said that he believed that shaping the bones into the shape of a person would help the soul of the deceased be fulfilled and go to a good place happily. It is a final way to show respect to the deceased. In Buddhist beliefs, it is believed that the human body is made up of 4 elements: earth, water, wind, and fire, and 32 bones represent these elements. Collecting the 32 bones is considered to be collecting all the components of the body.
Of course, facing the death of a loved one is very difficult.
A gentle breeze blew. After the Boonmen ceremony, I carried the white cloth that wrapped my brother’s bones to the Trang River Bridge, accompanied by monks and relatives. The atmosphere was filled with silence and mourning. Yesterday, we sent my beloved brother to heaven. Today, it was time for us to perform the floating ashes ceremony to send my brother’s soul to a good place.
When we arrived at the Trang River Bridge, the monks chanted to dedicate merit to my brother. Then, I slowly threw the small white cloth that wrapped my brother’s bones into the water. The water flowing through Trat quickly absorbed my brother’s bones. As I watched my brother’s bones slowly disappear, I felt more at ease. I believed that my brother would go to a good place and be happy.
The floating ashes ceremony today was not only to send my brother’s soul to a good place, but also to encourage all family members to be mindful and do good.