Question: Is it necessary to choose favourite clothes before death? Does that not create attachment if eventually not done? Will any clothes the deceased may like do?
Answer: From https://purelanders.com/2015/12/30/important-guidelines-3-after-dying-pure-land-passport-section-4c : ‘[9] Choice Of Clothes: The deceased should be changed to his or her preferred clothes (if they are not already on)…’ This is not to create attachment but to avoid creating aversion.
Q: Is injection of preservatives is compulsory for showing the face of the deceased in Singapore?
A: From same link: ‘[11] Embalmment: Avoid embalmment as it might cause pain and distress if the consciousness is still within the body or near, and is attached to it. Make-up which involves more touching is not needed. Casket should be closed if facial expression is unpleasant.’
Open casket requires embalmment – which is not just injection, but withdrawal of blood. This inner and outer touching and moving essentially goes against the Third Great Essential at https://purelanders.com/2015/12/30/the-third-great-essential-%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E5%A4%A7%E8%A6%81-pure-land-passport-section-3d
From https://purelanders.com/2017/02/23/should-we-follow-new-funeral-trends : ‘[9] … embalmment… involves touching of the whole body, especially on the inside, due to blood being pumped out of veins and embalming fluid (based on several chemicals) being pumped in the arteries, bearing in mind that they pervade the entire body. Also, parts of the body, including the legs (as extremis) will be squeezed to feel for whether the fluid has reached them. Again, this is excess touching, of the lowest regions of the body too [which might simulate lower rebirth if consciousness departs from there].’
