Which funeral prayer may be offered at the place of death according to the Japanese Buddhist death ritual?

• A. Kaddish
• B. Makura-gyo funeral prayer
• C. Amida
• D. Rosary

Answer: (B)

In Japanese Buddhist death rites, the prayer given at the bedside of the dying is Makura-gyo, the pillow sutra. This short sutra recital is performed at the place of death to comfort the person and guide the consciousness toward a favorable transition, usually by a priest or family member. It is distinct from broader practices like reciting the name of Amida Buddha (Namu Amida Butsu) and from prayers of other faiths. The other options come from different traditions or forms of prayer that aren’t the bedside funeral prayer used in this ritual: Kaddish is Jewish, the Rosary is Catholic, and while nembutsu to Amida is common, Makura-gyo specifically denotes the bedside sutra recitation at the time of death.