Dead Monk

[ThaiPauly]

I won't post a picture on here because its been haunting me for three days.

However my Wife and her family attended the cremation of a Monk who She and her family knew well about 10 days ago near Chiang Mai, there were apparantly hundreds of people there.

I was really surprised to see that they had somehow managed to get this (very respected) Monk standing up with his eyes wide open and a semi-smile on his face.

I zoomed in on the pic (I won't put it on the Computer) and you could clearly see the decomposition with his forehead turning black amongst other things.

My Wife is also having bad dreams and already feels that his presence is in our house, I am working away right now so She is very scared to be alone at night.

What is the meaning of this kind of ceremony?

I am aware that revered people are kept for 100 days before thier cremation, but I always thought they were kept in coffins, not strung up like some kind of puppet

Can anybody shed any light on what seems to be a really pagan type of ritual and one I find hard to associate with Buddism?

[Austhaied]

G'day TP. Tell the missus not to worry. The only spirit that exists is the "spirit of loving kindness and compassion". The only demons that exist in the higher dimensions are the illusions of those who have made their own demons by performing bad karmic deeds due to selfishness.

Any "so called" religion that needs any rights and rituals is under the spell of the illusion of the ego.. Just like some stupid kids story book, nothing more.

A true Buddhist would show love and support for the deceased and all in attendance.

If the funeral puts fear into anyone, how can they be called loving and compassionate.

She is always welcome at our place mate, you know that.

Anytime at all.

Regards.

Just remember that we are "spiritual beings having a human experience".

Dying is not the end... but a new beginning.

Edited May 13, 2008 by Austhaied

[Austhaied]

TP.

The Seventh Seal has been opened mate. No need to worry about any evil spirits from now on, they're all going on a holiday soon.

[garro]

Hi Paul, the Buddha suggested that monks need to view decomposing corpses to remind them of the impermanence of life. Perhaps the dead monk make a request that his body be used to teach this lesson. I'm not sure how much lay people are expected to witness this, but it was obviously too much for your wife. I hope her fears leave soon.

[Merlin]

That was one of the first shocks for me, living in Thailand, when I was invited to the ceremonies for the dead husband of our landlord. They asked me to bring my video camera and make a VCD (!) of the proceedings. This was in the days when hand held video recorders and DVD burners etc were still kind of new and expensive.

My shock was when I saw the open casket and the deceased in there open for all to see, and all the little children running around and looking in curiously.

But then, 45 days later when I went back for the cremation, and there he was again - well into the decomposition process. His daughter broke down, seeing him in that state, but that was the only time I saw any expression of emotion by any of the relatives.

That was one of the first times I really began to understand I was living in a different place. . .

[Artabus]

My father (Brit) died in Bkk last October, his Thai partner arranged the funeral. I felt it was a complete mix, some of it decidely Buddhist, but quite a lot of it not so - some superstition, some Chinese influence, some popular Thai elements. Hard to tell exactly though, I must say.

Certainly a culture shock for me, despite some exposure to Asia. Apart from all the ceremonies revolving around the corpse, my "favourite" part was the replica scale model made from his ashes and the remnants of his bones. I'm still recovering from that!

I gather up country the corpse is burnt in the open whilst everyone watches (as at the ghats in India). The other day here in Vientiane they were burning someone - quite openly - in a skip in the grounds of a local Wat. In Hong Kong there is a temple with a long dead monk's corpse on display - but at least he's covered in Gold. Much improves things...

I find the theory of death easy to accept, but the exposure to its reality was certainly harder to deal with.

[garro]

My father (Brit) died in Bkk last October, his Thai partner arranged the funeral. I felt it was a complete mix, some of it decidely Buddhist, but quite a lot of it not so - some superstition, some Chinese influence, some popular Thai elements. Hard to tell exactly though, I must say.

Certainly a culture shock for me, despite some exposure to Asia. Apart from all the ceremonies revolving around the corpse, my "favourite" part was the replica scale model made from his ashes and the remnants of his bones. I'm still recovering from that!

I gather up country the corpse is burnt in the open whilst everyone watches (as at the ghats in India). The other day here in Vientiane they were burning someone - quite openly - in a skip in the grounds of a local Wat. In Hong Kong there is a temple with a long dead monk's corpse on display - but at least he's covered in Gold. Much improves things...

I find the theory of death easy to accept, but the exposure to its reality was certainly harder to deal with.

This is what I think is good about facing death once and a while. It is very easy to accept death intellectually and quite another to really face it. As Buddhist, I think that it is a reminder of the impermanent nature of this life and that we better get our skates on if we wish to progress along the path. I previously spent time working in a hospice as a nurse so I have some familiarity with death, it is not something that the mind likes to focus on, but it is beneficial.

Edited May 18, 2008 by garro