No tourist trip Hello,
i've been to a sky burial too, and I understand its a hard ritual. Actually, much harder than us, westerners, we're used to accept. still, its more earthgrounded than anything we know and again.... anything we would accept. I guess you fill this as well. I just don't like the title of your last picture "Shocked? Amazed?" Sounds like a zoo! but it's far from being one.
learning to go away from their own body that much is astounishing, we shall respect them. not show ourself in front of tribal rythm
i mean no offence. the picture is no bad by itself and your showing it, which is good. i simply don't like the title
jp
Shocking tale it needs lot of guts to see in practical what you have witnessed.Can u upload the rest of images or send me ,I'll always appreciate you god willing. Thanks.
I know it is hard to watch it but this is the reality as well as the traditions of Tibetans for a long time. The word impermance says it all. It is called practice of giving.Even though it is dead, still it is use in a good away. Environmentally, it is not polluting anything, feeding the birds at the last moment.
Here in US I feel, when you get driver's license, there is this form to fill, You want to be donor.
it is exactly the same. the only thing difference is raw, real and prayers.
Good Idea I like this idea. It's ecologically sound. I think people make too much fuss over dead bodies charging people so much money. Another idea is to be placed directly in the earth with trees growing through the body.
holy kora of mount kailash very amazing,great ,your will power appreciable, it is all GODS blessing you did it with much devotion;
i and my wife during august 2008 went there along with a pilgrim group; enjoyed; at that my age was 71; still iwe would like to make another trip if GOD permits;
i have noted good information on your experience;may GOD bless you in your adventures in exploring on this good earth;
pics I have pictures from a Thai website showing the process from the beginning. Very strange way to see of your loved ones. It was described as a "funeral for the tibetan rich". I think it must be the opposite, surely the rich don't have to carry bodies thrown over the back of a motorbike.
I first thought it was someone disposing of a body after a murder, because there is a rope around the neck, and the body had been hogtied. It still looks suspicious, so I am glad I found your post to clear this up!
Too Gruesome Ohh god..it's horrendous ..so gruesome..God help me...why they butchered human body like that. It just like feeding a slain body to tiger or lion to be eaten....yike
Against Human Nature Thank you my brother for enlighting us with this information. The topic is very interesting particularly to those who have no background about it. I have read so many articles and researches about this type of burial. In my view, this practice is against human nature and considered as violation to the dead (The dead must be gently treated as if they are still alive). My question is still (Where is Human Rights Organization????). I have much to say, but I don't want to divert the topic into docrine and religion clashes. Again I repeat the statement: This practice is inhuman since it doesn't elevate the dead's soul to higher ranks (through vultures)as it is allegated; rather, it degredates the dead. Any type of justification for practicing this burial ritual is weak and childish.
Finally, I would like to appologize for my harsh words toward this religious phenomenon, however, the practice in itself is harsher.
sky burial I'm sure the ritual was very disturbing to watch, however, I think it's a very ecological way to go. Unembalmbed ground burial in a sheet sounds good, although the decomposition process would be decidedly slower.
Sky Burial Truly amazing, I can understand why they treat death the way they do, the Tibetans are very commited to their faith..this is life in its purest and thats something we ALL need to see from time to time..I dont judge just because they treat death differently to that which we all consider "normal"..I thank you so much for sharing..having just come back from Tibet makes it a little easier to understand what you have experienced.
Nicely done there Hello! well..well..well... you have inspired me to check out the postal services and the men that got pissed off at you on intoxicated terms.. hahahahahaha
wish me luck :)
The best teaching It's the last best gift from the dead to the livings. We need to comprehend who we really are- just a part of nature. And in the end we all return to nature. That's all what it's about. The core teaching of Buddhism; there're really no "you", just a mix of nature plus a "self" feeling. Life comes and goes just like that. When you stop holding on to the "self" feeling completely, then you'll be free from everything and that5's called "Nirvana"
Video of ceremony About three years ago I viewed on Public Broadcasting the ceremony from beginning to end
so it has been publicized. A truck brought a body up a mountain road, dumped it. One of
two attendants cut a piece of flesh, waved it at the vultures backed away and waited
until the bones were cleaned then crushed the bones, vultures ate the pieces. I would
like to review the video but could not find it.
Jeff Mertz and Kimball O'Hara are just sad people best left by the side of the road to wallow in their own bitterness.
I have left notice in my will that this is the way I wish my remains to be disposed of.
I have studied and practised Buddhism for over 20 years, and everything about it is blindingly logical. This, although not intrinsically part of Buddhism in general, no less so.
fascinating.
Thanks for the input.
Compared to being embalmed, stuck in a box, and paraded around town, this burial method doesn't seem so bad, except for the part where the monk goes and bashes up the bones. I can understand why, but really, that's gotta be one of the worst jobs ever.
My POV Hi, I am a Tibetan who grew up in India. After the Chinese took over the Tibetan government in 1959 and banned it's currency and flag etc lot of Tibetans had to leave home and so many of us grew up in India without experiencing much of our culture.
I have heard of sky burial and it doesn't shock me at all. It's natural thing for a Buddhist. It seems insensitive to broadcast photos of dead people in any form but if the family didn't mind it then who are we to criticise. Personally I wouldn't want to have my loved ones' remains shown to the world but if others want to show it and there are people who want to see it I am not going to worry about it.
But the comment by one obviously Chinese guy Eric Blair (IGeorge Orwell is definitly turning in his grave) set me thinking. The reason some Tibetans or Tibet supporters shy away from broadcasting the sky burial is for fear of being judged by narrow minded bigots like Eric Blair. If you think the custom of sky burial is so barbaric, what do you think of people who execute their prisoners half dead so that they can harvest the organs for sale. I guess when you wear rubber gloves to pull the organs of a half dead human it's more civilized than donating a dead body to hospitals or vultures..
Yongji Terraces rice fields, China I am 82 years old and hiked up to the Ping An Guest House to see the rice terraces with two of my daughters. They sometimes had to help me, but I made it. We stayed overnight and the food was very good. Your pictures are great. I loved the village and its people. For 20 yuan a Yao woman undid her hair and showed us how to wind it again. the Zhuang people sure were trying to sell us things and we did bargain before we bought. Great trip!
Anthropology Student Thank you for sharing your experience from a Western Perspective. Not many can understand another culture nor process something such as you have witnessed. I would enjoy talking more if you would like to email me. I am currently being taught Anthropology of Religion- Death and Afterlife and today we talked about Sky Burials. Also I am a photographer who may travel to that area and have some questions.
That the family let you watch let alone take pictures shows the erosion of Tibetan culture and their disconnection to what is meant to be a very spiritual experience in the studies of Dharma. I was also lucky enough to experience a sky burial but I wouldnt have dreamed of taking photos. I cant believe you actually did.
Jp
non-member comment
No tourist trip
Hello, i've been to a sky burial too, and I understand its a hard ritual. Actually, much harder than us, westerners, we're used to accept. still, its more earthgrounded than anything we know and again.... anything we would accept. I guess you fill this as well. I just don't like the title of your last picture "Shocked? Amazed?" Sounds like a zoo! but it's far from being one. learning to go away from their own body that much is astounishing, we shall respect them. not show ourself in front of tribal rythm i mean no offence. the picture is no bad by itself and your showing it, which is good. i simply don't like the title jp