Toh 2116A Cremation Ritual

Scripture Exposition: A Cremation Ritual (Ro Sreg Pa'i Cho Ga)

Context

The scripture “A Cremation Ritual” (Toh 2116) belongs to the Treatise Collection within the Northern Mahayana Canon and is particularly consistent with the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It provides detailed instructions on conducting encoffinment and cremation rites from the perspective of the Mahayana Dharma. It is not merely a set of funeral customs, but an act of practice and instruction.

In the Tibetan tradition, death is not regarded as an end, but as an important transition within the cycle of samsara. The cremation ritual, therefore, not only honors the dignity of the body from which consciousness has departed, but also provides an occasion to cultivate compassion, generate bodhicitta, and guide the consciousness of the deceased toward the path of awakening. This scripture reflects the approach of Tibetan masters, who systematized elements of practice within every detail of the ritual.

Main Content

The scripture teaches that the cremation ritual should be performed with the following essential elements. First, the officiant of the ritual—usually a monastic or persons of sincere spiritual aspiration—must generate the resolve of a bodhisattva: seeking nothing for oneself, but acting for the liberation of all sentient beings. Next, the death of the deceased is regarded as an opportunity to relinquish worldly attachments—an opportunity to dissolve memories and lingering regrets, thereby bringing about a renewed purity of consciousness.

The cremation process is conducted according to the principle of the three gates: body (the body being prepared for burial), speech (prayers and Dharma recitations), and mind (mental concentration upon images of Dharma protectors or buddhas). Together, these elements form a comprehensive setting for practice, transforming a funeral rite into a sacred Dharma assembly.

The scripture also emphasizes that those participating in the ritual should visualize the flame consuming the body as the fire of wisdom, rather than as ordinary physical fire. In this way, the ritual becomes a profound teaching on the nature of impermanence, non-self, and what is called “Abhidharma”—the teaching concerning associated dharmas.

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