Death in Buddhism: Concepts and Practices of Farewell and Commemoration

In this seminar, we will approach the topic of death in Buddhism from various perspectives. We will begin by exploring what it actually means to die in Buddhist terms. What happens to the deceased—where "are" they after their death? Following this, we will examine practices through which people in a Buddhist context bid farewell to the deceased. What funeral practices exist, and what goal do the people involved pursue (not individually, but according to Buddhist teachings)? In addition to this important question, we will also examine rituals performed to commemorate a deceased person. For example, at what intervals are the deceased remembered, and is this a practice for the deceased or the still living person?

This range of questions will be addressed not only on the basis of texts, but also with a view to the material side of religious practice. The excursion to the Ekô House of Japanese Culture not only provides a basic insight into a Buddhist ritual, but also ties in with the seminar topic, as it is a ritual commemorating a school's founder. We will also engage in discussions with Buddhist priests to reflect what we learned in the seminar on actual practice.

–This seminar will be held in German–

(Machine translation.)