Positive perceptions and rituals of death

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I am interested in any information on how different cultures handle death. The more obscure, and the more positive, the better.

For instance, I know that the Mexican Day of the Dead comes from the Mayans and Aztecs, and it is a celebration. It is believed to be a time when the dead can visit the living. I am not totally sure of all their beliefs about death, but I believe that they view death as a place that loved ones go, a place of rest, and a place from which they can come back on the Day of the Dead to visit and celebrate with the loved ones left behind.

I am interested mostly in inspirational and healthy cultural perceptions and rituals. Or at least something that shows some sense of celebration of life. It would be nice if this thread became a small source of inspiration and comfort to people, and a counterbalance to the fear and consternation that surrounds this natural part of life.

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Life is the best!

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Thok wrote:

Life is the best!

How do you know that?

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Not tough about the death, just get the life ..........

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Great idea for a thread, Kick . . . check out The Tibetan Book of the Dead. There are many "books of the dead," but i think, given what you've posted, you'll like that best. You can probably find something on-line.

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Thok wrote:

Not tough about the death, just get the life ..........

My suggestion: Try death and report back.

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Thanks Setanta, I am definitely going to check that out. I read an excerpt from it online. Very interesting. Could be exactly what I'm looking for.

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This may not be exactly what you're looking for, but it is somewhat related to the topic.

The plain's indians performed elaborate rituals in honor of the bison, which formed the center of their economy and religion. They felt that the bison must be so honored so that they would return to be once again killed for food. The indians weren't the mindless butchers of animals that we often picture them as being. Their close association with their prey forced them, out of conscience, to adopt a sacred attitude to them.

Slaughter of animals was often linked with religious rituals in the past, but we've lost that sacred link with our food because the growing and slaughter of animals is so remote from our lives. Even on the one day, Thanksgiving, when we could be honoring our food sources directly, we thank an intermediary, god, instead.

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Here is a website that has a self-study course for people to transition (or help others transition) into death. Anubisist Training is very interesting -- especially the cross-cultural similarities.* I've heard of a few people who have hired these transition people to ease the death of their loved ones. How much of the basis for the Anubis belief is true... who knows?

And here, for a very different view, is how the Catholic Encyclopedia describes the preparations for death.

The small Burke Museum in Seattle had a show last October that showcased the ritual beliefs regarding death of several cultures. It is no longer on their website but here is a description:

Reverent Remembrance

*Here is one of those odd similarities. Anubis is portrayed as a jackal-headed god who guides the dead in the underworld. The Aztecs believed that a dog acted as a guide for the dead in the underworld.

Quote:

In any case, to go to Mictlan "the ninth and deepest new stratum of the unknown" (Matos Moctezuma 1971: 89) it was essential to undertake a long road full of perils and menaces, through the eight underworld levels prior to Mictlan's final abode. The soul had to pass between two clashing mountains, to run the gauntlet of a great snake and huge lizard, to traverse eight deserts and eight hills, and to encounter a wind full of stone knives. Finally, but not until the end of four years, the soul reached the great river which must be crossed by swimming. The aid of a red dog was necessary for this final stage and a dog of this colour was reared in the house and slain at the funeral by thrusting an arrow down its throat. The body was placed by the side of the defunct, with a cotton string around its neck for guidance purposes. "The dog was to perform the part of Charon, and carry the king on his back across the deep stream called Chicunanhuapan ?'nine waters', a name which points to the nine heavens of the Mexicans" (Bancroft, 1883: 605).

from: Mortuary Practices Among the Aztec

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Positive perceptions and rituals of death

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