In stark contrast to the other world religions studied in this unit, Buddhism has very few life cycle rituals. There is no evidence that Buddha required rituals, and no scriptural references to specific life cycle rituals. Rituals in Buddhism are more specific with different denominations and reflect the culture and normal societal practices in which that school developed. Buddhism has tended to merge into the everyday life of the countries where it has taken root.

Birth is listed as one of the 12 stages of life. In this cycle, each stage is the cause of the next and creates the cycle of samsara

Tibetan Birth Ritual

The symbol dhih is painted on the baby’s tongue in saffron powder in the hope the child will grow to be wise.

• Dhih symbolises perfect wisdom

• Saffron symbolises fire which in turn symbolises purity

• Child is taken to monastery to be named by the lama (priest)

• Father makes a small offering of money

Buddhists in Thailand mainly follow the school of Theravada Buddhism . Their Naming ceremony involves local monks chanting the Pancasila, the five precepts before the child is named either by the head monk or the father.

One common feature across all these ceremonies is the presence of monks who, while they might not necessarily lead the ceremony, are considered a valuable presence at the ritual.

It is common in many schools of Buddhism to join the Sangha when a child becomes an adolescent. Young boys spend from a few months to a few years within the Sangha. Here, they learn the teaching of Buddha before completing education.