Summary of Essential Practice Points: Buddhism

1 Religious contacts and religious practices:

There are different traditions of Buddhism in Ireland. Clarify the tradition of Buddhism followed and the name of a spiritual contact. In emergency situations contact the local Buddhist centre or one of the centres named under Developing a local Buddhist contact. (Fulltext of Essential Point 1 in Religious contacts and religious practices)

2 Food and the content of medicine:

Many Buddhists are vegetarian or vegan. Clarify food preferences and inform the person if medicine contains an animal product. (Fulltext of Essential Point 2 in Food and the content of medicine)

3 Family dynamics and decision making:

Some Western Buddhists living in Ireland were raised in Christian families who may not be familiar with Buddhist death-related customs. As much as possible this needs to be taken care of before the moment of death as it is vital to maintain a peaceful environment. If deemed necessary, assistance could be provided to a family, through social work or family intervention, to resolve any issues. The wishes of the person are paramount. (Fulltext of Essential Point 3 in Family dynamics and decision making)

4 Death-related religious rituals:

Generally, Buddhist teaching views life and death as a continuum, believing that consciousness (the spirit) continues after death and may be reborn. Rituals vary among Buddhist traditions and individual Buddhists may have specific wishes for the time of death. Where possible, discuss individual needs with the person and clarify requirements with a spiritual contact.

In an emergency follow these protocols:

• Buddhists from all traditions are likely to prefer to have a clear state of mind approaching death and may wish to reduce any mind-altering medication.
• If death is imminent the spiritual contact identified by the person should be called so that the appropriate prayer practice can be initiated.
• Preferably a dying Buddhist should be moved to a private area to allow prayers to be conducted in privacy.
• All Buddhist traditions believe that awareness is retained for some period after clinical death. Maintain a calm, stable and compassionate atmosphere around the person before, during and after clinical death to facilitate the consciousness (spirit) leaving the body.

(Fulltext of Essential Point 4 in Death-related religious rituals)

5 Cleaning and touching the body:

In some traditions specific protocols apply to touching cleaning a body. Unless a spiritual contact advises otherwise, apply these practices to all Buddhists.

• Delay moving and laying out the body for a minimum of four hours to allow for prayers necessary to be conducted.
• Buddhists believe that the spirit should be allowed to leave gently via the crown of the head. Clarify with the spiritual leader if it is necessary for the head to be touched in the traditional way to enable the departure of the spirit. If so, the practice should be attended to before moving or cleaning the body and should be carried out by the spiritual leader or another Buddhist.
• When the body has to be moved it should be done with care and gentleness.
• Some Buddhist teachers have requested that the head is not touched after clinical death
• Do not wash the body unless it is essential to do so. Conduct only essential cleaning, for example clean excretions such as blood or excrement. Use as little touch as possible in any cleaning/washing that is done.

(Fulltext of Essential Point 5 in Cleaning and touching the body)

6 Personal and religious items:

Some Buddhists may wear religious items that must be replaced if removed. Some may also place prayer mandalas (sacred symbols drawn on material) on the body after clinical death and these need to be replaced if removed. (Fulltext of Essential Point 6 in Personal and religious items)

7 Initiation ritual:

In the case of imminent threat to life of a newborn infant no initiation ritual is necessary. (Fulltext of Essential Point 7 in Initiation ritual)

8 Foetal, infant and child death:

The death-related practices described in Essential Practice Points 4 and 5 need to be followed for children of Buddhists, unless a family or spiritual adviser directs otherwise. (Fulltext of Essential Point 8 in Foetal, infant and child death)