Buddhist Rituals of Death and Rebirth
Abstract
In Buddhist thought and practice, death has always been a central concept. This book provides a careful and thorough analysis of the rituals and social customs surrounding death in the Theravada tradition of Sri Lanka. Rita Langer describes the rituals of death and rebirth and investigates their ancient origins, analyzing social issues of the relationship between monks and lay people in this context. This aspect is of particular interest as death rituals are the only life cycle ritual in which Theravada Buddhist monks are actively involved. Drawing on early Vedic sutras and Pali texts as well as archaeological and epigraphical material, Buddhist Rituals of Death and Rebirth establishes that Sri Lankan rituals are deeply rooted in their pre-Buddhist, Vedic precursors. Whilst beliefs and doctrines have undergone considerable changes over the centuries, it becomes evident that the underlying practices have largely remained stable. The first comprehensive study of death rituals in Theravada Buddhist practice, this is an important contribution to the fields of Buddhist studies, indology, anthropology and religious studies.
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The Ghost Festival does not exist in the Theravāda tradition.
“However, the Ghost Festival does not exist in Therava ¯da tradition.”
From Theravādizing Ghost Festival in Taiwan (2012) · cites this paper as Langer 2007
As with Sri Lankan custom, food offering is essential in the Chinese Ghost Festival.
“As with Sri Lankan custom (see Langer 2007, 148-153), the food offering is essential in the Chinese Ghost Festival.”
From Theravādizing Ghost Festival in Taiwan (2012) · cites this paper as Langer 2007
The author had never previously witnessed a sermon given at the end of a Chinese Ghost Festival, either Buddhist or non-Buddhist, and this custom is Sri Lankan.
“I had never previously witnessed a sermon given at the end of a Chinese Ghost Festival, either Buddhist or non-Buddhist, and this custom is Sri Lankan (Langer 2007, 125-29).”
From Theravādizing Ghost Festival in Taiwan (2012) · cites this paper as Langer 2007
In Sri Lankan ritual for the dead, chanting and food offering are important, but the ritual is usually conducted at the deceased relative's home and within the funeral context.
“While chanting and food offering are also an important part of Sri Lankan ritual for the dead, the ritual is usually conducted at the deceased relative's home and within the funeral context (Kariyawasam 1995, 44-45; Langer 2007 148-52).”
From Theravādizing Ghost Festival in Taiwan (2012) · cites this paper as Langer 2007
Food offering to sangha members who come to conduct ritual chanting is an integral part of Sri Lankan ritual for the dead.
“Food offering to sangha members who come to conduct the ritual chanting is an integral part of Sri Lankan ritual for the dead as Langer notes:”
From Theravādizing Ghost Festival in Taiwan (2012) · cites this paper as Langer 2007
In Sri Lanka, chairs for monks are covered by white cloth, and members of the laity customarily wear white during religious services.
“In Sri Lanka, the chairs for the monks are covered by white cloth, and members of the laity customarily wear white during religious services (see Langer 2007, 125; Wickremeratne 2006, 171).”
From Theravādizing Ghost Festival in Taiwan (2012) · cites this paper as Langer 2007
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Greene, E. M. (2016) · History of Religions · doi:10.1086/684276 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Theravādizing Ghost Festival in Taiwan
Cheng, W.-Y. (2012) · Contemporary Buddhism · doi:10.1080/14639947.2012.716704 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Early Buddhist Wisdom Literature: The “Book with Verses” (Sagāthāvagga) of the Saṃyutta nikāya
Shulman, E. (2023) · Religions · doi:10.3390/rel14101322 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Witkowski, N. (2019) · Journal of the American Academy of Religion · doi:10.1093/jaarel/lfz040 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Performing Theravāda: Introduction
Shulman, E. (2024) · Numen · doi:10.1163/15685276-20240001 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Gouin, M. (2013) · History of Religions · doi:10.1086/669650 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
From Riches to Rags: how new clothes for the dead become old robes for monks
LANGER, R. (2014) · Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland · doi:10.1017/s1356186313000345 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Langer, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Langer, Rita
- ORCID
- Langer, Rita
- Venue
- Routledge eBooks
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Published
- 2007-08-07
- OpenAlex
- W4249370283
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 5.17
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Routledge eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Indian and Buddhist Studies
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Study and Philosophy of Religion
- Keywords
- rebirth, Theravada Buddhism, Sri Lankan Buddhism, life cycle rituals, Pali texts, Buddhist epigraphy, Buddhist archaeology
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