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The practice of bereavement services and paying respects to our deceased departed has been an integral part of our cultural heritage for hundreds of years. The main factor of all lies in the practice of filial piety. Worshipping our ancestors is itself a sign of filial piety.
However, as we meander over time, the environment and thinking may change. Some of our younger generations may see the practice as a way of a hassle or backward. You can usually from the less burning of joss paper, incense, and giving of offerings during this ‘festive’ ghost month.
You can do a little test. Ask yourself, when is the last time you celebrated the death anniversary of a loved one? Or have you visited your dearly departed during the recent Qing Ming period? If your answers are ‘no’ to these two questions, then it might be you are busy at work; or perhaps you have forgotten about the practice.
The worrying question today is whether the millennials will continue preserving our cultural heritage in terms of worshipping our ancestors, even after we are gone.
Why Do We Need to Worship Our Ancestors?
One may argue that so the longer we remember our deceased loved ones in our hearts, we do not see the need to carry out the practice of worshipping them at the columbarium during their death anniversaries or Qing Ming Festival.
The key reasons why some people in Singapore or around the world worship their ancestors, are love and respect. Other than that, it is about knowing one’s roots. Our children may not understand what their great-grandparents look like. Their children may not know what our parents look like. Losing the customary practice of worshipping our ancestors is akin to forgetting about them.
Another reason for some is that ancestors will continue to shower blessings and good fortune on them and their families. Hence, worshipping our ancestors is an essential cultural heritage we must preserve.
Ancestor Worshipping During Contemporary Times With Nirvana Singapore
At Nirvana Singapore, we understand the importance of safeguarding our ancestor worshipping customs while keeping up with the times and needs of the younger generations today. Our columbarium provides state-of-the-art technology and a comfortable and conducive environment for visitors when they do their worshipping.
Moreover, at Nirvana Singapore, we have our in-house priests. They will conduct daily prayer sessions and chanting ceremonies on essential dates such as Qing Ming, Lunar Seventh Month, Winter Solstice, Yuan Xiao, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Chinese New Year. Moreover, the experienced priests at Nirvana Singapore will also conduct prayer sessions during the deceased’s death anniversaries and even birth anniversaries.
Nirvana Singapore will continue its responsibility to ensure the flow of our cultural heritage remains intact through many generations ahead. These dedicated services by Nirvana Singapore will ensure that the younger generations will never forget their ancestors. The prayers sent to them will give the families and their more youthful generations boundless good fortune.
Upholding the Customary Practices of Funeral Services in Singapore
The bereavement services team at Nirvana Singapore is also highly trained in the various customary funeral practices in the country. Its team has studied in depth the different beliefs and practices of the afterlife rituals to ensure that every little detail of the custom is well-taken care of.
Some may question why we must practise these afterlife customs during the funeral. What’s the logic behind it? The answer to this question is the same, regardless of religion – to let friends and families pay their last respect to the dearly departed and give them a proper send-off.
For a better understanding, let’s discuss the concept of the afterlife. Shall we?
The practitioners of Buddhism and Taoism believe in the concept of Samsara – the cycle of life, death, rebirth, and Nirvana. In simpler terms, death is the beginning of a new life. Each person has to go through countless cycles until they reach the state of enlightenment, which is known as Nirvana.
In terms of Buddhist funeral customs, the rituals made during the funeral ensure a safe journey for the dearly departed from death to rebirth. That journey will take 49 days.
Funerals in Singapore can hold up to seven days. Therefore, after the funeral, prayer sessions, typically on the 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 35th, 42nd, and 49th day after death, are recommended to ensure that the rebirth journey is smooth sailing.
In terms of Taoism, the concept of Samsara is similar to Buddhism. Only when a person passes away will they be judged by the court officials of hell on what type of next life they will be. Therefore, it is important to do good things and exemplify good virtues to improve our next life. Funeral prayers for Taoism are, therefore, about ensuring that the court officials decree that the dearly departed will be reborn into a much better life.
In terms of Christianity, the Bible teaches that when people die, their soul lives on. And the purpose of the funeral is to help the deceased to enter heaven while also offering support and comfort to the bereaved families.
Therefore, with solid knowledge and experience in the various types of funeral practices in Singapore, the bereavement services team at Nirvana Singapore can continue to help preserve such customs and traditions.
In summary, the mission of Nirvana Singapore is all about safeguarding the country’s cultural heritage of ancestors worshipping and funeral practices so that the younger generations and their descendants can continue to preserve these traditions for many years. Thus, passing down the eternal legacy of filial piety, heritage preservation, and love and respect. Protecting our cultural values will also ensure a peaceful and harmonious society in the future.
Therefore, let’s not forget our important values and continue to share them with our children!
About Nirvana Singapore 富贵山庄
Nirvana Singapore is a high-quality columbarium that provides quality niches and a conducive environment for ancestor worshippers. The bereavement services team at Nirvana Singapore also provides premium funeral services.
