Yesterday we completed the funeral of my great nephew-in-law.
Puum was a good man, a dedicated family man. He was a give you the shirt off his back type of guy. Didn’t have much of anything was quite generous with the little he did have. Cancer took his life far too early.
The funeral was as much a celebration as it was a tragedy. His cancer was painful but his suffering was not a long drawn out affair. About three months from diagnose to death. His suffering was physical, his families suffering was emotional. They greatly desired to ease his burden but were unable to help him. It was well timed in that his children are adult and his grandchildren too young to understand the finality of death.
First the disclaimer – I am reporting on my personal observations of a family members funeral services and Cremation Service. Thai Buddhist Funerals and Cremations may be performed differently elsewhere. Protocols change. Cost and affordability come into play. Often the cremation may occur months or years after the funeral. All is up to the family and their spiritual advisor.
The services were performed at Bangkoks Wat Laksi. A few words about Wat Laksi. It appears to me that Wat Laksi has developed into an assembly line crematorium center. It is/was quite efficient. Yet, with many services occurring it was, at times, quite noisy as chanting ceremonies stepped on each other.
Wat Laksi has seven dedicated Sala. With two, possibly three other “standby” rooms available. There was one long row of five Sala’s with a storage room that could be used as an additional Sala if needed. We used the center Sala which was set off from the row of Salas. It had the largest outside area for chairs to be set up for visitors. There were five other funerals going on along with ours. Each funeral/Sala had a blackboard itinerary/schedule shown on it. Our funeral was three days of viewing and a fourth day for the cremation. There were two single day viewings/cremations. One five day viewing then cremation and another three day viewing followed by the day four cremation.
Our Funeral Viewing Day One – Family members only about 40 folk.
Viewing Day Two – Friends and Neighbors – about 120 folk.
Viewing Day Three – Employees and Business Associates – about 50 folk.
Cremation Day Four – About 100 folk.
Days one and four were all day affairs.
Days two and three were single chanting sessions starting about 6 PM.
Day Four Cremation. We started with a chanting ceremony at about 10AM. Food offerings to the Monks at 10:45, followed by our lunch after the monks had eaten.
At about 2 PM the Main Officiating Monk provided a sermon – about a half hour. Including an overview of Puum.
Then the body was transferred from the refrigerated holding casket to the cremation casket. After the transfer the Cremation Casket was placed on a dolly. The attendees formed a line (quite a long-line) and led the casket on it’s trip three times around the crematorium. The casket was then placed on an altar at the front of the crematorium. All the pictures, flowers, decorations, etc. were staged/dressed onto and around the casket and altar.
Then another eulogy was given by one of Puums work bosses along with (I believe) the Pu Yai of his neighborhood.
After their eulogies and speeches, flowers (paper) were distributed to each of the attendees. The attendees then paid last respects (again a long line) each depositing their flower into/onto several large collection platters. After all the attendees resumed sitting. Puums casket was opened. The flowers were placed into the casket. A coconut was opened and the milk poured over the body and flowers. Then the casket was resealed and placed at the entrance door to the Crematorium.
Then the four Monks did another round of final chanting. The crematorium door was opened. The casket was pushed into the crematorium. The door closed and the button pushed.
As an FYI the crematorium is gas fired and feed by approximately thirty large gas cylinders.
Within five minutes of pushing the “ignition” button, the lay persons were disassembling all the flowers, wreaths and commemorative decorations.
And now the final chapter has been closed and Puums family can move on with their lives.
Any questions feel free to ask.
Our Day Begins
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?...id=45375&stc=1
AM Sala and Staging
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?...id=45374&stc=1
Caskets
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?...id=45376&stc=1
Buddhas
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?...id=45377&stc=1
AM Preparatory
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?...id=45378&stc=1
