It is to be Cherished

Zou Qi Ying

The funerals Ive attended have all been very much the same. However， funeral practices are deeply ingrained in culture and hugely varied traditions tend to reflect a wide array of world views and beliefs to some extent.

Many Vajrayana Buddhists in China believe in the transmigration of spirits after death—that the soul moves on， while the body becomes an empty vessel. People must return it to the earth. Its a practice thats been done for thousands of years.

I remember the moment when the funeral of my great grandma was held. It was not a small thing to hold a funeral for a big family. When I got to the old home， there had gathered many people dignifying in manner with a serious face. The solemnity and demure， reverance and sacredness rushed into my mind in waves， refreshing my heart and soal. The adults put on a piece of white cloth and the children in red. A monk said prayers in the house， where memories were shared and tears were shed. Some special persons were invited to play sad music while the attendees sat together in the yard and had lunch or dinner. As the Master told， a funeral could be arranged as a happy event. In the countryside， the funeral should last for three days. Arriving at the graveyard， everyone placed flowers on the casket just before it was lowered into ground. A few years ago， when her husband passed away， he was cremated. At that time I was young and was afraid to see the burial. So what impressed me most was my great grandmas funeral. I could deeply feel the sorrow of losing her.

The loss of our flesh and blood made us independent from then on. But we could behave as they expected by leading our life positively. There is no limit to goodness of life. It grows more abundant with each new encounter. The more you experience and appreciate the goodness of life， the more there is to be lived.

Death is not the end. Heaven or hell is not the final destination.And the memory will not fade. We should always remember the ones who are important to us even though they have gone. Also it is vital to cherish someone around us who is still alive， for not regret after we lost them.

It is called ‘life，just as the loss of our beloved， and more other happinesses or unhappinesses included， these events are strung together in a series we call life that should be cherished. Yet we are alive； let us live. As a comfortation to the one who has been in heaven， let us grasp the meaning of life until we depart this earth.

我所參加的葬礼都是一样的。然而，丧葬习俗在文化中根深蒂固，各种各样的传统往往在一定程度上反映出广泛的世界观。

在某种程度上，中国许多金刚佛教徒相信死后灵魂的轮回，即灵魂继续前行，而身体则变成一个空的器皿。人们必须把它还给地球。这是千百年来的一个惯例。

我记得我曾祖母的葬礼隆重举行的那一刻。为一个大家庭举行的葬礼可不是件小事。当我到达老家时，那里聚集了许多面容严肃、举止端庄的人。庄严、肃穆、敬畏和神圣，一阵阵地涌上心头，使我心旷神怡。大人穿上一块白布，孩子们穿上红色衣服。一个和尚在屋里祈祷，在那里分享着记忆，流着眼泪。一些特别的人被邀请在院子里演奏悲伤的音乐，而与会者一起在院子里吃午饭或晚餐。正如大师所说，葬礼可以安排为一件喜事。在乡下，葬礼应该持续三天，到达墓地时，每一个人在棺材放在地上之前都把鲜花放在棺材上。几年前，当她丈夫去世时，他被火化了。那时我还年轻，不敢去看葬礼。所以给我印象最深的是我曾祖母的葬礼。

我能深深地感受到失去她的悲伤，从此失去了我们的骨肉之躯。但是我们可以按照自己的预期行事，积极引导我们的生活，生命的美好是无限的。随着每新的相遇，它变得更加丰富。你越是体验和欣赏生命的美好，生活越是精彩。

死亡不是天堂，地狱不是终点。记忆不会褪色。我们应该永远记住那些对我们很重要的人，不要因为失去了他们而后悔。

这些事件串在一起，我们称之为生命，珍爱我们的生活。作为一个在天堂的安慰，让我们把握生命的意义，直到我们离开这个地球。

【作者简介】Zou Qi Ying， Jiangsu Yancheng middle school Class 11 in senior three.