What does a Buddhist do at a Catholic wake?

SteadyBlue

Hello everybody-
Soon I will be needing to attend a Catholic wake for a kid I graduated High School with. The thing is, being formerly Catholic, I know how these things work, and I know how a Catholic would act in such a setting. However, what I don't know is what a Buddhist does at a wake. Are there any special prayers or anything that I should be aware of for this situation?

With Metta-

SB

SherabDorje

Would you feel dishonest just acting like a Catholic would? That is actually what I would recommend. You know the drill. Is there anything wrong with just doing that?

As far as I know there are no special Buddhist prayers for a Catholic wake. You may recall Protestant visitors to Catholic churches would just sit rather than participate overtly. You could do that.

I think it's best to do whatever keeps the lowest profile under the circumstances. IMHO.

Linc

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

nanadhaja

When I attended a cousins funeral a while back,I stood when others stood and sat when they all sat.When people prayed I sent metta.
I don't see a conflict here.
As Lincoln says...When in Rome
With Metta

Mountains

I thought this was going to have a punch line

SteadyBlue

Ok, thank you guys. I really appreciate your help as I'm learning all this new material.

Roger

What I'd do? I would practice being absolutely selfless. Not that I'm an expert in comprehending the fullest meaning of what I just said.

What I mean is I would be totally available for everybody I had contact with at the wake. Sort of invisible, like a therapist. It's a good place to practice love and compassion.

The people there have great need due to their grief over the occurrance of death. Buddhism makes us contemplate death a lot more than most people therefore we're prepared to be very helpful in such a context. It my case it would be like me being a forth grader helping the second graders with some tips on playing kickball in the playground. (sorry, that's kind of funny, but I didn't mean to make a joke here).

Just be there and help people; it's exhausting BTW. Do what Lincoln said above, "When in Rome...." Except via your willingness to help others get around the death thing, maybe with a few mentions of different views of death which just happen to be Buddhist IMO? There is absolutely zero need for you to call attention to your B. by different overt behaviors. Do all the stuff the other people do, kneeling, crossing,holy water thing etc.

Good luck. Like most other beginning Bs I'm trying to connect some joy with sadness when people die but I'm only making slow progress.