buried or cremated?

[Buddy]

[quote author=Buddy]I've never ran across any material that explains why it is supposed to matter what is done to a body after death.

Buddhists claim that it takes a few days for the soul to completely separate from the body. During that time it is said proper treatment may mitigate potential confusion and/or terrors of the passing. They say cremation shouldn’t occur until then. The Tibetan Book of the Dead is actually a written account of what should be said to the corpse to explain the various experiences the dead dude is going through.

Can’t say I can verify this, but it seems interesting in light of near death experiences.
[/quote]

That is interesting. I wouldn't have a problem waiting a few days--even if the waiting were just for the heck of it.

 

[Nawd]

[quote author=Buddy]I've never ran across any material that explains why it is supposed to matter what is done to a body after death.

Buddhists claim that it takes a few days for the soul to completely separate from the body. During that time it is said proper treatment may mitigate potential confusion and/or terrors of the passing. They say cremation shouldn’t occur until then. The Tibetan Book of the Dead is actually a written account of what should be said to the corpse to explain the various experiences the dead dude is going through.

Can’t say I can verify this, but it seems interesting in light of near death experiences.

That is interesting. I wouldn't have a problem waiting a few days--even if the waiting were just for the heck of it.
[/quote]

From what I remember of the book, one should wait for three days before the body is 'laid to rest' and lay on their right side while dying. If that helps, so be it. :)

 

[Buddy]

From what I remember of the book, one should wait for three days before the body is 'laid to rest' and lay on their right side while dying. If that helps, so be it. :)

Interesting. We're starting to move into listology (a list of steps) for dying properly, in a context where enlightenment can come from doing nothing or less than nothing. Hmmm

 

[Mountain Crown]

The Tibetan Book of the Dead was actually a manual which a lama would read to a dying lama or disciple, treating death as the ultimate meditation where at various stages of dying there was a chance to either transcend the wheel of incarnation or wind up returning to it.

It’s my understanding that the counsel was that at these stages there are pleasing and alluring sensual lights - or a brilliant white light of which was not to be feared, but joined.

 

[skycsil]

I would go for cremation, no ceremonies at all. Don't want to feed the commerce that builds around the pain of others.
If I had enough money would leave a good amount for my loved ones to travel around the world and leave little handfuls of my ashes here and there. Just an excuse to give them a chance to travel and clear their minds. But since I don't, they could throw me around somewhere, as long as they don't keep the urn at home. That would be creepy.
The bird thing would be nice but suppose is illegal in most places.

 

[Mrs. Peel]

The Tibetan Book of the Dead is actually a written account of what should be said to the corpse to explain the various experiences the dead dude is going through.

Ha! When my mom passed away unexpectedly a few years ago, I made sure I was the first one who got to the funeral home so I had some "alone" time with her. I knelt by the casket and talked to her, she was a very strict Catholic and she worried over me in my later years after I "left" the church.

I said something along the lines of "Well, I hope by now you found out I was right and all that Catholic stuff was a bunch of bull$#*%l' :D I told her she could hang around and watch the funeral if she wanted to, but then she was to look for the light and go to it.

 

[Nawd]

From what I remember of the book, one should wait for three days before the body is 'laid to rest' and lay on their right side while dying. If that helps, so be it. :)

Interesting. We're starting to move into listology (a list of steps) for dying properly, in a context where enlightenment can come from doing nothing or less than nothing. Hmmm

Actually perhaps it is a level of awareness while dying, instead of doing nothing, one is focused on doing "something" instead. With an intention (aim) of dying well in accordance to personal belief systems.

 

[Mountain Crown]

Whenever I’ve been to a wake, even my father’s, it never felt to me like there was anything special or emotional about it.

It’s a very strange custom imo, to gather around a corpse that never “looks just like him/her.”

 

[Buddy]

It’s my understanding that the counsel was that at these stages there are pleasing and alluring sensual lights - or a brilliant white light of which was not to be feared, but joined.

Interesting the presumption of fear of the white light and an application of the Earthly 'face your fear' therapy for the afterlife or afterliving. I find myself less interested in the Book of the Dead than I am in why the authors think the way they do. But I guess that's another topic.

Thanks to Jerry and Dawn for sharing that info!

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Actually perhaps it is a level of awareness while dying, instead of doing nothing, one is focused on doing "something" instead. With an intention (aim) of dying well in accordance to personal belief systems.

Point taken! :)

 

[Renaissance]

I'm still ok with the 3 terms "thing" even though I don't tell it anymore but now I doubt since I've read sayings from Maître Philippe de Lyon who said that deads shouldn't be burnt because :
We have to give back to Mother earth what she gave to us, it will be hugely difficult to come back if we do so, etc...

I think the idea of "giving back to mother earth what she gave to us" is a good one, however, I think it doesn't need to be interpreted in strictly physical terms. Giving back for the live we've been given might be understood in terms of how we repay the universe for life - i.e. what we give through the lessons we've learned.

 

[Guardian]

No need for any ceremony either, just a party where everybody can enjoy themselves and drink toasts to me if they feel so inclined.

I feel the same way! PARTY! As far as the meatsuit goes, just drag my carcass into the woods and let the critters eat it. "Bacon fed Betsy" for dinner....tell all the buzzards

 

[Buddy]

As far as the meatsuit goes, just drag my carcass into the woods and let the critters eat it...."bacon fed Betsy" for their dinner. :)

OMG, I just went to a scary visual place.

 

[Mountain Crown]

why the authors think the way they do

I believe the claim is that the knowledge came through advanced meditation practices and from recall by those who remembered their past lives.

 

[Nawd]

No need for any ceremony either, just a party where everybody can enjoy themselves and drink toasts to me if they feel so inclined.

I feel the same way! PARTY! As far as the meatsuit goes, just drag my carcass into the woods and let the critters eat it. "Bacon fed Betsy" for dinner....tell all the buzzards

Drag you out to the woods to be eaten? Sounds like a strange, but interesting party. :D

 

[Gertrudes]

I think sometimes and to some people, cultural traditions are important, not so much for the deceased, but for the ones left behind. Sometimes the family needs the service, the burial, whatever ritual they are accustomed to, because in a way it helps them process the event, it has a familiar structure that they can follow at a very emotional time which allows them to say their goodbyes.

I see it the same way.

If I were to be buried, I'd rather be cremated or, it also ocurred to me:

As far as the meatsuit goes, just drag my carcass into the woods and let the critters eat it.

But then I would certainly not like to be leisurely walking in the woods, decide to plant a tree, (or do anything that would make me dig the soil) and find a woman's corpse. That would be way too creepy, so I think I'll pass on that one :D

However, I'd really leave it up to the ones left behind, if it were more important to them to have a funeral with my body on a casket, so be it. I won't be there anyway, so the funeral would be for them.

To me the act of getting together to honor a deceased one is much more important then what happens with his/her body. Several NDEs have said that prayers from family members and friends have impacted them a great deal and even made them go back, and I personally don't find it hard to believe it at all. Thoughts and wishes are powerful.
If by the time I die I have living people around me who care enough to dispose of my body in some way, I would like for them to gather, talk, share a meal, make a party, whatever. It is the fact that they are there, gathering, that would make it so meaningful, symbolic even, and not only help them process their grief, but perhaps on some level affect my soul's journey. A way for us all to say goodbye to each other, if you will.