Let’s examine the topic of Buddhism and cremation for those unfamiliar with this faith group’s beliefs. We will also briefly summarize what you might expect from an American Buddhist funeral.

It’s important that you understand that the act of cremation is the same, whether you pay for a basic cremation package or a traditional service followed by cremation. Another term for basic cremation is direct cremation. Here’s what you need to know about this most cost-effective end-of-life choice.

Here’s a brief history of cremation. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, human cremation is more common than traditional burial in the U.S. (59.3% vs 35.7%).

This statistic may surprise you depending on where you live in the country and your age. You may remember a time when cremation seemed rare in your community, and it may feel like this method of disposition is relatively new. But, a partly cremated body found on a funeral pyre in Israel shows evidence of human cremation in Israel dating back 9,000 years.

We know that you don’t like thinking about this subject. But at some point, someone will have to plan your funeral. Funeral preplanning is when you make your own funeral arrangements before you die. At-need funeral plans occur when a person dies with no funeral plans in place. So let’s compare preplanning vs at-need cremation.