It is a common practice in most communities to conduct religious service for dead during the prescribed periods following the funeral. The Buddhist practice is to take partake in alms giving and to transfer merits to the departed. To do this relatives and friends of the deceased usually invite a number of monks and offer them requisites such as food and medicine. These offerings which contribute to the material welfare of holly people is considered to be an act of merit. Understanding Buddhist also extend thier donations to charitable institutions, needy persons and religious building projects as well as to publish free religious booklets and literature for distribution to the public to perpetuate the memory of the departed ones.
Devotees who give the offerings do so with pure hearts and develop wholesome state of mind. They do these good deed in memory of the dead person and develop wholesome mental links with the dead person. If the departed one is in a favourable position to receive these mental radiations (transference of merit) he will be greatly benefited. If on the other hand he is not in such a position, then the good deeds are not wasted because they will help the giving persons who generated such good thoughts to reach a higher lever of spiritual well-being.
Buddhists monks in any temple will gladly assist members of the bereaved family with regard to what needs to be done to conduct such an alms giving service.
Sadhu.........
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