Taipei City Government Held its First Buddhist-Style Joint Cremation Ceremony - Dharma Drum Mountain Was Invited to Preside Over the Ceremony

In order to promote simple funeral ceremonies, Taipei City Government's Mortuary Services Office held its first Buddhist-Style Joint Cremation Ceremony at 7:00 am on July 25 at the Taipei City Mortuary Services Office Second Funeral Parlor. Dharma Drum Mountain was invited to preside over the ceremony, praying for the seven deceased to be reborn in a good place, as well as for their family members to have peace in body and mind.

The Dharma ceremony was presided over by Venerable Guo Chi, DDM Branch Monastery Administration Managing Director. He led the assembly to recite the Heart Sutra and the Mantra of Rebirth in the Pure land. He also gave Buddhist teachings to the deceased, quoting DDM founder Master Sheng Yen's verse and words: "Thus come and thus gone, but actually neither come nor gone. Be it a great or small matter, there is nothing to worry about. There is no need to be concerned about the flowers in sky and the moon in water; the most important thing is to be reborn in the Pure Land". "Death is not the end, but the beginning of another life." Before moving the coffins for cremation, Venerable Guo Chi also extended loving care and encouraged the family members of the deceased by stating that, even if they are reluctant to let go of their loved ones, they should learn to generate a heart of blessing. After all, the best blessing to the deceased is the physical and mental health and peace of their families. Afterwards, the coffins were transported to the cremation chamber amidst the Buddha name recitation of more than 40 fellow Buddhists and volunteers.


Yu Ya-kai, a family member of the deceased, stated that the Dharma ceremony was very solemn, while Venerable Guo Chi's Buddhist teachings made her feel calm. She believed that her younger brother had been reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, without any hindrance and attachment. She also pointed out that one of her family members' cremation remains was placed in a permanent resting place in an eco-friendly manner. The ritual was simple, solemn and ecological, which inspired her family to use the same method to bury her younger brother's ashes.    

Zheng Sheng-mei, a family member of another deceased and member of the DDM End-of-Life Chanting Group, indicated that her husband was deeply inspired by Master Sheng Yen's Buddhist funeral service. Therefore, before his passing, he decided to choose cremation and bury his ashes in an eco-friendly manner. Today, her hubsand was able to receive blessings from so many fellow Buddhists in this Buddhist-Style Joint Cremation Ceremony, which made her feel calm and warm.

Venerable Chang Jer, Director of DDM Department of Social Care, stated that Dharma Drum Mountain and the Taipei City Government co-organized the first Buddhist-style Joint Funeral in 1994 promoting simple funerals, which has been widely recognized by the general public for the past 30 years. The Buddhist-Style Joint Cremation Ceremony also conveys the meanings of environmental protection and the function of education. Both the guidance of Buddhist teachings and the blessings from so many fellow Buddhists were the greatest comfort for the family members of the deceased.


Text: 張曜鐘
Photo: 李東陽、張曜鐘
Translation: YKL
Editing: Keith Brown